Christian Nationalism
CFS-Fall 2022
Eight Weeks (9/22-11/10)
Thursdays 9am-11am
Course Title:
Christian Nationalism in America
Course Description:
In recent years an aggressively politicized form of Christianism has become more active in America. From moralistic legislation, to religious privilege, “school choice,” book bans, weaponizing prayer and an attempted insurrection, a belief in America as a “Christian Nation” has energized a sectarian movement that threatens core principles of secular democracy. We will shine a spotlight on the most egregious cases and highlight national organizations pushing back with educational, ethical and legal force.
Recommended Texts:
Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers; Andrew Seidel, The Founding Myth; Gorski and Perry, The Flag and the Cross; Anthea Butler, White Evangelical Racism
Instructor:
Chris Highland has been teaching at OLLI since 2016. With degrees from Seattle Pacific University and San Francisco Theological Seminary, he was a minister and chaplain prior to becoming a humanist celebrant. Author of numerous books, Chris writes the “Highland Views” column for the Asheville Citizen-Times. http://www.chighland.com.
Week One (9/22): What is Christian Nationalism?
Gorski and Perry: Survey Questions
Video: Katherine Stewart
Week Two: Is America a Christian Nation?
Christian Nationalist-related Organizations
Video: Tony Perkins: Family Research Council
Declaration and Constitution as Imagined by CN
Rep. Huffman on WCN (one-minute!)
Video: Andrew Seidel
Week Three: Religious Privilege, Exceptionalism & Freedom of Religion
Modern Roots of the Invasive Tree
Franklin Graham: “Never been a Christian nation”
“The Deep Story” (Flag and Cross)
Secularized WCN (Flag and Cross)
Video: JFK to Houston Ministers
Video: BJC: Amanda Tyler (CNN)
Week Four: The Issue of Power
Flag and Cross: What WCN is NOT
Paula White: White House is Holy Ground
“Re-claiming” (Madison County)
Video: Anthea Butler
Week Five: Sexual Politics and Morality
Lakoff: Conservative Moral Hierarchy
Mark Burns (SC)
Mark Robinson (NC)
Week Six: Expanding Worldviews
What Does “Judeo-Christian” Really Mean?
The Hagees with Powerful Friends:
Video: Christians United for Israel
Rauschenbush (Interfaith Alliance)
Gideons (“Who are the Gideons” PHOTO)
Video: The Life Book (Gideons, “How To” #1)
Week Seven: Apoplectic for the Apocalypse
Video: Boebert
Video: Charlie Kirk (Turning Point USA)
Video: Turning Point USA in Dream City
Video: Interfaith America (Eboo Patel)
Week Eight: Power of Pushing Back: Positive, Practical Ways Forward
What Can Be Done? (Flag and Cross)
Laser (Perspective, Church and State)
Congressional Freethought Caucus
Video: Tisby
Video: Kamau
Friendly Freethinker 
