In this 2024 election season, Christian nationalism has continued to garner interest and produce inconsistent findings regarding its scope, threat, and future. 

 

Some people might say that Christian nationalism is here, there, and everywhere, but our survey with Technites indicates that even amidst significant media attention, only 28% of Americans have heard of Christian nationalism. Even experts disagree on what it is. Though most definitions share basic themes, they often reflect varying approaches to the topic taken by scholars in different fields.

 

However, most Americans hold at least some attitudes that are consistent with Christian

Nationalism. Of the 14 items that we used to classify the groups in this study, we found that 83% agree with at least one item; 71% agree with at least two to five items; 31% agree with at least six to 10 items; and 3% agree with 11 to 14 items. 

 

There were zero CN Adherents who answered all 14 of our scale questions in the “expected” direction, and only 31% answered more than seven questions in the expected direction. While this is substantially larger than non-Adherents (7%), it still leaves 69% of those categorized as CN Adherents answering fewer than seven questions in a way consistent with what we would expect to see given previous research on the topic. Even among CN Adherents then, only a minority of individuals consistently hold even a majority of the most pernicious attitudes we tested in the survey.

 

This distinction between misconception and reality matters especially in our conversations with one another. We must look beyond the label itself and toward the beliefs that people hold. Context is vital. Robert Jones, president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), said in our report, “Just because someone describes themself as a Christian Nationalist is no cause to start church discipline proceedings. Similarly, just because someone expresses concerns with Christian Nationalism doesn’t mean they’re a woke progressive Christian. Much of the disagreement is between good people who hold different definitions of the term.” 

 

This does not mean we should dismiss CN’s threat, but our study uses measures and analysis designed for CN to provide a more accurate view of its prevalence in the nation’s religious landscape. And not only that, but it’s important to understand that many individuals in the study appeared to not have a clear understanding of what they were agreeing with.

 

Part of this likely comes from the fact that the phrase “Christian Nationalism” combines terms that may seem innocuous or even favorable to many Christian Americans. After all, many people are proud to identify as Christians and are also patriotic. As one respondent asked, “[I]s it the same as [being] Christian?” Without being explicitly taught about the term, and about the ideology’s history and anti-democratic aspirations, people may find themselves identifying with the ideology on the basis of an initial misunderstanding.

 

Here are some practical takeaways for engaging with others in a respectful and neighborly way in such a polarizing time: 1) Prioritize understanding over labeling. Resist the urge to label based on limited data or vague associations. Instead, engage in conversations that explore more specific beliefs and motivations. 2) Focus on building relationships. Instead of taking an “us vs. them” approach, seek common ground while still remaining firm in opposing harmful ideologies. 3) Model neighborly faith. Instead of assuming the worst about those who hold differing views, model Christ in your community through humility, compassion, and love. 

 

By moving beyond misconceptions and stereotypes, we can take significant steps toward understanding our neighbors, bridging divides, and fostering a healthier civic and religious landscape.