Speaker Mike Johnson's Ties To The Christian Right
Nov 15, 2023
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Exploring Speaker Mike Johnson's ties to the Christian right, including the extremist aspects of the New Apostolic Reformation movement. Examining the influence of Christian nationalism in politics and its association with the January 6th events. Discussing the presence of race within the movement and misconceptions about far-right organizing. Contrasting views on government and religion between Mike Pence and Mike Johnson.
Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, has strong ties to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a subset of Christian nationalism that seeks to establish Christian control over societal institutions.
The rise of the NAR movement within conservative Christianity and its alignment with right-wing politics has significantly impacted evangelicalism and highlighted divisions within the evangelical movement.
Deep dives
Mike Johnson's Ties to Christian Right and Extremist Theology
Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House, has strong ties to the Christian right, particularly the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. The NAR, a subset of Christian nationalism, embraces pro-authoritarian and anti-democratic beliefs, seeking to establish Christian control over various societal institutions. The movement's extremist theology emphasizes restoring the kingdom of God in America through cultural dominance. Johnson's connections to pastors involved in spreading false claims about the 2020 election and the January 6th attack on the Capitol have raised concerns. These ties highlight the growing influence of the NAR within conservative Christianity and its alignment with right-wing politics.
The Shift in Evangelicalism and Conservative Christianity
The rise of the NAR movement within conservative Christianity has significantly impacted evangelicalism. While this ideology was once on the fringes of the evangelical movement, it gained prominence during the 2016 election and the Trump presidency. Pastors subscribing to NAR theology became influential faith advisors to Trump, leading to increased political power. Mike Johnson, as Speaker of the House, exemplifies the growing influence of NAR-aligned leaders within the conservative Christian base. Divisions within the evangelical movement have become more apparent since 2016, with differing philosophies on how to achieve their shared goals.
Extremist Ideology and Concerns for Democracy
The extremist theology embraced by the NAR and its affiliates raises concerns for American democracy. The NAR's belief in America's divine role and Christian dominance in society, coupled with declining Christian identification, creates a sense of urgency among NAR adherents. While the NAR movement represents a small proportion of Americans, their organization and alignment with powerful political figures like Mike Johnson are worth noting. The movement's involvement in spreading conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and the January 6th attack on the Capitol underscores the potential threat it poses to democracy. The support for NAR-aligned politicians signals a shift in the Overton window of acceptable political ideology within the Republican Party.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., has long-held ties to Christian activists and leaders — some of whom are linked to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and the growing Christian nationalism movement. We explore what those views are, and why they matter in today's political landscape.
This episode: political correspondents Sarah McCammon & Susan Davis, and domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef.
The podcast is edited by Casey Morell. It is produced by Jeongyoon Han. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
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