The Case for Christian Nationalism: The Coercive Power of Cultural Christianity

Overview of Chapter Five of Stephen Wolfe's polemic in favour of Christian Nationalism

In this chapter Wolfe leaves his mixed syllogisms behind to argue that Cultural Christianity would be a defining feature of a Christian Nation. Of course, he has a very specific conception of cultural Christianity in mind, one that is fairly narrow in its application, and, not surprisingly, relatively hostile to alternative conceptions of the good.

Cultural Christianity, as a mode of Christian religion, is pre-reflective, prejudicial judgment on the rightness of Christian belief and practice. pp. 210

I start us off with his concluding paragraph, one that will no doubt give you a flavour for the unapologetic nature of Wolfe’s argument:

Christians need to recover an assertive will for their good and have the spirit and resolve to exclude what is bad. We should use social power to oppose those who threaten them and who attempt to subvert our faith or exploit its moral demands. That means opposing, suppressing, and excluding the very sort of people who run the American regime. A Christian society that is for itself will distrust atheists, decry blasphemy, correct any dishonoring of Christ, orient life around the Sabbath, frown on and suppress moral deviancy, and repudiate neo-Anabaptist attempts to subvert a durable Christian social order. A Christian nation that is true to itself will unashamedly and confidently assert Christian supremacy over the land. pp. 240-241 (emphasis added)

Sections: Self-Conception of a Christian Nation / Cultural Christianity is Socially Coercive / Proper Stations in Life / On ‘Radical’ Generosity / Think of the Children! / Strawmanning Russell Moore / On Persecution / What’s Next