Historically, nationalism has often turned out to be a bad idea. The most obvious examples of nationalism leading to atrocities include the Nazi regime in Germany and Benito Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship in Italy, but today’s geopolitical scene involves a variety of problematic nationalistic movements, including in India, Turkey, Brazil, and Hungary.

Even though nationalism frequently leads to violence or even genocide, people keep trying it. Perhaps the logic is something like “As great as MY nation is, maybe this time it will work!”

Here in the United States, nationalism has usually come with a particularly Christian flavor. Aside from the usual concerns associated with nationalism, this pairing of politics and religion poses unique challenges. Does it even make sense to combine a political ideology like nationalism with a religion like Christianity (especially Catholic Christianity, which is all about universality and solidarity across borders)?

On this episode of Glad You Asked, theologian and activist Jim Wallis discusses the nature of Christian nationalism, whether nationalism can ever be truly Christian, and how people of faith should respond to the resurgence of Christian nationalism in the United States today. Wallis is the founder of Sojourners and the author of 12 books, including America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America (Brazos). He is the inaugural chair and founding director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice.

You can learn more about this topic in these links.

“Any religion allied with nationalism is dangerous,” by Stephen Schneck
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202304/any-religion-allied-with-nationalism-is-dangerous/

“Christian nationalism distorts the faith, says Lexington Bishop John Stowe,” by Heidi Schlumpf
https://www.ncronline.org/news/christian-nationalism-distorts-faith-says-lexington-bishop-john-stowe

“How one evangelical leader uses the Bible to expose the ‘False White Gospel,’” by John Blake
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/28/us/evangelical-christianity-false-white-gospel-wallis-cec/index.html

Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries USA, an order of Catholic priests and brothers who live and work with the most vulnerable among us. To learn more, visit claretians.org.