Is America already in a civil war? According to Brad Onishi, author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism — and What Comes Next, the religious right is acting increasingly as though it’s ready for combat. Onishi explains white Christian nationalism, an ideology that wants Christian people in the United States to be privileged, saying only Christians should be citizens, or that the church should have a veto on American law and policy. He notes that Christian nationalism is pervasive in right-wing American politics currently and is the root of the current political and religious unrest.
Onishi describes the religious underpinnings of the January 6 Capitol attack and its implications, with all the resentment and rage still there and not likely to go away anytime soon. There are plenty of instances of people – elected officials, right-wing media figures, and Mega Pastors – who are using provocative language and making extreme statements that overlap between far-right politicians and far-right religious figures.
Christian nationalism is a reactionary movement seeking the restoration of a time before the Civil Rights Movement, immigration reform, and other landmark progressive social and political changes, where they believe Americans were following their covenant with God as an exceptional nation on Earth. They see the current special status of the country as threatened and are willing to take extreme actions to maintain power over secular people, Muslims, Buddhists, etc., making them accept a second-class position in the country.
Onishi believes that we live in a country where we have to prepare for political violence, and the warning signs of a low-level civil war are already visible. There are little fires everywhere that point towards deep civil unrest and mistrust in the public square, and extremist groups are finding themselves on the same side due to their shared bigotry and values. The rising wave of Christian nationalism is a cause for concern as they see any means necessary to achieve their goals, even if it means seizing control of the government and remaking mainstream culture in God’s name.
In conclusion, we must come together to talk about these issues and take measures to de-escalate tensions, find common ground, and work towards a peaceful coexistence of people from diverse backgrounds. We must also promote tolerance, respect, and human rights, particularly targeting marginalized communities, in our policies and practices.
