167: Straight White American Jesus (w/Bradley Onishi)
Aug 17, 2023
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Dr. Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism, discusses his personal experience with evangelical Christianity, the intersection of religion and identity, navigating life after leaving the church, the power of faith and embracing uncertainty, spiritual warfare in conservative Christian communities, the formation of coalitions among Christians, and recent news and conspiracy theories.
The belief in an imminent apocalypse motivates urgent action to reclaim America as a Christian nation and justifies extreme measures to save the country from its impending doom.
Projection becomes a common defense mechanism, allowing people to project their fears and failures onto others rather than introspecting and addressing their own issues.
The rise of spiritual warfare language within conservative Christianity provides explanatory power and transforms political opponents into demonic entities, justifying extreme actions and promoting a sense of purpose and unity among followers.
Deep dives
The Perennial Conspiracy Theory of Conservative Christianity
The perennial conspiracy theory of conservative Christianity in America is the belief that America is a Christian nation and that it is facing an imminent apocalypse. This narrative asserts that the country's departure from God's will has led to a spiritual battle between good and evil. This conspiracy theory motivates urgent action to reclaim America as a Christian nation and justifies extreme measures to save the country from its impending doom.
The Influence of Urgency and Projection in Conspiracy Theories
The urgency generated by the belief in an imminent apocalypse drives individuals to embrace conspiracy theories. The vacuum of authority and identity in modern society allows charismatic figures, such as mega church preachers, to fill the void and promote their own ideologies. These ideologies, whether based on material wealth or spiritual progress, appeal to individuals seeking purpose and empowerment. Projection becomes a common defense mechanism, allowing people to project their fears and failures onto others rather than introspecting and addressing their own issues.
The Satanic Panic and its Impact
The Satanic Panic emerged in response to societal changes, such as women entering the workforce and children being placed in daycare. It projected fears of a spiritual demonic force corrupting youth culture, leading to heightened anxieties about moral decay and the erosion of traditional values. This panic allowed religious leaders to divert attention from their own institutional abuses and attract followers by presenting themselves as spiritual warriors fighting against the forces of evil. It harnessed the concepts of urgency and projection to mobilize support and reinforce belief systems.
Linking Spiritual Warfare and Conspiracy Theories
The rise of spiritual warfare language within conservative Christianity can be attributed to the perception of being marginalized in society. This concept explains societal changes and events as the result of a spiritual battle for control. It provides explanatory power and a unique narrative exclusive to fundamentalist Christian communities. Spiritual warfare transforms political opponents into demonic entities, justifying extreme actions and promoting a sense of purpose and unity among followers.
Coalition Building Across Religious Groups
The podcast episode explores the phenomenon of coalition building across religious groups, particularly highlighting the collaboration between conservative Christians and Muslims in recent protests. This unexpected alliance demonstrates the shifting dynamics within religious affiliations and the potential for cooperation despite theological differences. The episode emphasizes that this coalition should not be seen as representative of all Christians or Muslims, but as a specific example of the changing landscape of religious activism and shared concerns.
Apocalyptic Religion and Political Motivation
The podcast delves into the political motivations often associated with apocalyptic religious beliefs. It highlights the idea that apocalyptic religions not only perceive a crisis but also assert that members of the faith possess hidden knowledge and responsibility to reshape the world according to their ideal vision. This political motivation stems from a sense of persecution and victimization, particularly among white conservative Christians, who see themselves as the rightful inheritors of the country. The episode suggests that this desire to reclaim authority and restore a perceived mythological past fuels their engagement in political activism.
Dr. Bradley Onishi, is the author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism - And What Comes Next. He is the co-host of the excellent Straight White American Jesus podcast. His work has appeared in the New York Times, NBC News, Politico, Rolling Stone, Huffpost, and many other outlets.
Bradley got personally drawn into evangelical Christianity as a teenager—and from a secular family—and had the strange experience of burying his part-Japanese heritage in a white coded, Christian Nationalist identity. It took him years of scholarship to see how this political ideology had been baked into the religious indoctrination. Now he’s a religious studies scholar, doing work in the world from that perspective. And his struggles with all of this stuff have brought his empathy and his humility up to the surface in really profound ways.
Bradley has a lot of family history in Maui, and on his behalf and for people there who have just survived a catastrophic fire and now must bury their dead and rebuild, we would like to encourage you to consider donating to the Maui Mutual Aid Fund.
