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New study: Washington ranks second in resisting Christian Nationalism while Idaho lags behind
PRRI finds 77% of Washingtonians resist Christian nationalism versus 57% in Idaho, as faith leaders in Battleground, Washington, and Moscow, Idaho, work to counter Douglas Wilson’s growing influence.
By Harper Haase | FāVS News Reporter
Washington residents are among the most likely in the nation to resist Christian nationalism, according to a new Public Religion Research Institute study. That holds true even though one of the movement’s most prominent leaders, Pastor Doug Wilson, preaches just across the state line in Moscow, Idaho.
They found that the majority of United States citizens resist Christian nationalism, though it varies greatly by state and demographic. Washington scored the second highest resistance rate at 77%, while Idaho had only a 57% resistance rate.
What are the trends of Christian nationalist resisters?
Matthew Boedy, author of “The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy,” who is expert on Christian nationalism and a professor in the University of North Georgia’s English department, said Christian nationalists will likely remain a minority throughout the country.
“Christian nationalism aims to run our government from a minority position. It doesn’t intend to be a majority, and has a very strong persecution complex,” Boedy said.
While many resisters are atheists and non-christians, according to the study, there is a large population of faith-based resisters as well. Boedy confirms this.
“A strong majority of evangelical Christians are against it as well as people in the Presbyterian church, Reformed church and Baptist groups who do not want it because of the long-standing separation of church and state in America,” he said.
The study also shows how Western states like Washington, Oregon and California had the highest rates of resistance, and that resisters tend to be liberal, college-educated or Democrats. Boedy says this isn’t the full story.
“I think that the Western states having the strongest resistance rates is not just a liberal argument, but it is people who really believe in the independence of religion, who want to have religious faith in their lives and not be interfered with by the government,” he said.
Christian nationalism in Washington State
The teachings of Douglas Wilson have spread to areas in Washington, one hotspot being the small town of Battleground. Over the past six years, new churches have popped up in the town and businesses have been bought and given makeovers — all returning to the same person: Camden Spiller, co-owner and CEO of Maddox Industrial Transformer. He is linked directly to a Christian nationalist church with pastor C.R. Wiley.
Kate Lore, a prior minister at various churches, social justice activist and a common guest speaker at Battleground churches, published a letter titled “Don’t blame Jesus for Christian Nationalism” in response to the changes happening in Battleground.
“When civic documents stop being inclusive and begin sounding like church sermons, a line has been crossed,” she writes in the letter.
In Battle Ground, even trying to stay out of the fight can draw fire.
For example, David Lindner, a pastor for a neutral church in Battleground, lent his church parking lot to Christian nationalists and received backlash from the community.
As the town becomes increasingly divided, some faith leaders still try to find a third way. The Rev. April Hall of Battleground Community United Methodist Church aims to be a peaceful mediator for the community. As a queer female reverend in a highly conservative town, she hopes to provide a safe and inclusive space for all, including people who are part of or used to be part of Christian nationalism.
“I’ve been working with a couple groups to figure out how we can confront without pushing Christian nationalists away,” she said. “We need people who are in the middle and willing to talk to others (who might not agree) because it isn’t happening in Congress or the House or with the president.”
She aims to welcome anyone and be open to having conversations and discussions to bridge the gaps between supporters and resisters. Hall says that as the Christian nationalist voices become louder in Battleground, so do the resisters.
“I do feel like with Marie Glusencamp getting voted in again, that it seems to be trending toward the middle,” she said. “people are catching on, and I think the resistance will get stronger once people notice the trends.”
Christian nationalism resisters in Moscow, Idaho
Idaho scored a low percentage — 57% — for Christian nationalism resisters, presumably due to Douglas Wilson’s Christ Church presence in Moscow. However, the majority of the town remains resistant to Christian nationalism, led by various groups including the United Church of Moscow, self-proclaimed to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ communities, and the Unitarian Universalist Church on the Palouse, a congregation known for being activists in the community for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and other minorities directly targeted by Douglas Wilson’s teachings.
The majority of citizens in Moscow still oppose the extreme teachings of Doug Wilson as seen by the town electing city council members who do not support Christian nationalism, despite Liberty PAC partnering with Christ Church to try to push their candidates.
Political Strategist Scot Nakagawa keynoted “United in Community,” an event intended to build community around preserving democracy. He is introduced by Joann Muneta, chair of the Latah County Human Rights Task Force, which co-organized the event with the United Church of Moscow. / Photo by Tracy Simmons (FāVS News)
How Christian nationalism is measured in the United States
Christian nationalism is the effort to enmesh Christianity and the United States government, moving toward a country governed by the rules of a specific sector of Christianity. PRRI used five questions to measure citizens’ views on Christian nationalism, and participants chose on a scale of completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree or completely disagree:
- The U.S. government should declare America a Christian nation.
- U.S. laws should be based on Christian values.
- If the U.S. moves away from our Christian foundations, we will not have a country anymore.
- Being Christian is an important part of being truly American.
- God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society.
They were then scored and placed in four different categories: rejectors, skeptics, sympathizers and adherents. Find the full study and statistics here.
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