DeepSummary
The episode features a conversation between Dahlia Lithwick, Rachel Lazar of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and author Katherine Stewart about the rise of Christian nationalism and its influence on the Supreme Court. They discuss the movement's history, goals, and strategies, including its focus on shaping the judiciary and eroding the separation of church and state.
Stewart explains the theology and ideology behind Christian nationalism, including the belief that America should be a Christian nation governed by biblical principles. She highlights the movement's authoritarian tendencies, embrace of violence, and efforts to undermine democracy and public education in favor of private religious schools.
The guests examine how the Supreme Court's recent rulings on issues like abortion and LGBTQ rights reflect the influence of Christian nationalist groups. They express concern about the potential for further erosion of rights and the imposition of a religious agenda, as outlined in documents like Project 2025.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Christian nationalism is a political movement, not just a religious one, that seeks to reshape American laws and institutions according to a conservative Christian agenda.
- The movement embraces authoritarian tendencies, a comfort with political violence, and aims to undermine democracy in pursuit of its goals.
- Christian nationalist groups have been strategically working for decades to influence the federal judiciary and erode the separation of church and state.
- Recent Supreme Court rulings on issues like abortion and LGBTQ rights reflect the growing influence of Christian nationalist ideologies within the highest court.
- The Christian nationalist movement is open about its anti-democratic goals, as outlined in documents like Project 2025, but the broader public has been slow to recognize the extent of the threat.
- Core beliefs of Christian nationalism include the notion that America is a Christian nation governed by biblical law and that adherents have a divinely-mandated right to dominate all spheres of society.
- The appeal to violence and the idea of a persecuted Christian majority battling satanic forces serve to justify anti-democratic actions in pursuit of the movement's agenda.
- Undermining public education and funneling taxpayer money toward religious schools are key objectives for institutionalizing Christian nationalist control.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “We're not listening. We need to pay attention to what movement leaders say, and we need to take them at their word.“ by Catherine Stewart
- “The imposition of religion and the most backwards part of it, other than the fact that the government is doing it and undermining church state separation is that they're doing it in the name of religious freedom, right? Just think of how backwards that is, basically imposing one narrow, kind of most powerful type of religion in America on everyone, taking away the majority of our religious freedom.“ by Rachel Lazar
- “If you believe that rights are God given instead of given by the people, then you can see how you can jump quickly to. And I can use violence to protect those rights.“ by Rachel Lazar
- “The end goal of this christian nationalist movement has to be the toppling of democracy to achieve their goal. And that's why we saw so many of them fueling the insurrection.“ by Rachel Lazar
Entities
Person
Product
Organization
Company
Book
Episode Information
Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
Slate Podcasts
6/8/24