In this episode, Craig Thompson interviews Paul D. Miller about his book, The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism? They discuss the personal background of Paul Miller, the relationship between Christianity and America, the concept of separation of church and state, and the dangers of Christian nationalism. They also touch on the influence of Christianity on the American founding, the definition of nationalism, and the importance of American ideals over heritage. The conversation explores the tension between nationalism and progressivism and the need for constructive dialogue. The conversation explores the topics of American identity, human flourishing, the relationship between Christianity and America, the role of Western and Judeo-Christian values in promoting freedom, the impact of ideas on history, the importance of democracy, the tension between free speech and promoting certain beliefs, the role of local involvement in shaping communities, the establishment of national holidays, and the dangers of Christian nationalism.
Takeaways
- Christian nationalism is the belief that America is a Christian nation and that the government should enforce a specific cultural and religious template.
- The historic Baptist emphasis in political theology is the separation of church and state, which is essential for religious freedom.
- Christian nationalism violates both constitutional and theological principles by giving the government jurisdiction over cultural and religious identity.
- American identity should be defined by the ideals of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, not by specific cultural or religious backgrounds.
- Nationalism and progressivism are two extremist, illiberal movements that fuel each other and hinder constructive dialogue. Neither the left nor the right is offering a vision of American identity or human flourishing that is satisfactory.
- The desire to avoid oppression is universal and not uniquely Western.
- Democracy is not impossible, but it requires a desire for peace and a willingness to live together without killing each other.
- Public libraries should be open to all citizens, regardless of their beliefs, but there should be a code of conduct that regulates behavior.
- The government should not have the power to ban certain groups from accessing public resources.
- There is a need to balance the celebration of national holidays with an understanding of the historical context and the exclusion of certain groups.
- Christian nationalism is an over-realized eschatology that seeks to build a version of the kingdom of God on earth, which is not the purpose of Christianity.
- The church should be the Christian nation, reflecting the true glory of the kingdom of God.
- There is a danger in merging the power of religion and politics, as history has shown.
- It is important to have an understanding and appreciation of our history as a nation, while also recognizing the flaws and striving for a more perfect union.
Sound Bites
- “The historic Baptist emphasis in political theology is the separation of church and state.”
- “Christian nationalism is when you say America is a Christian nation and the government ought to keep it that way.”
- “To be an American means to accept the ideas of the Constitution and the Declaration, to be loyal to them and to participate in the drama of our life in this land.”
- “Neither of them is offering a vision of American identity that I can support.”
- “We’re so busy tearing each other down on either side that we don’t have the opportunity to actually encourage human flourishing.”
- “There’s nothing uniquely Western about not wanting to be oppressed.”
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