Robert Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute and author of "The End of White Christian America," delves into the seismic shifts within American religion and politics. He discusses how white Christians, once a majority, are now a minority among younger demographics, fueling a sense of cultural loss. Jones explores the rise of movements like the Tea Party, the changing identities within Christianity, and the implications of these shifts on American political landscapes. His insights reveal the tension between evolving values and traditional beliefs.
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insights INSIGHT
White Christian America Defined
White Christian America, a cultural and political force built by white Protestants, has shaped the nation.
Race has increasingly unified this group, despite historical divisions between denominations.
insights INSIGHT
Racial Issues, Not Abortion, United the Right
The narrative of abortion as the central issue uniting the Christian right is misleading.
Reactions to the civil rights movement in the 1960s were the key driver of white evangelicals' shift to the Republican party.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Rethinking the Narrative
Robert Jones, raised Southern Baptist, had to re-evaluate his understanding of the Christian right.
Jerry Falwell's criticism of MLK Jr.'s public activism reveals the racial undertones of his rhetoric.
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The end of White Christian America
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In this book, Robert P. Jones explores the significant demographic and cultural changes in the United States, particularly the decline of white Protestant Christians as a dominant force. Jones draws on decades of polling data to explain how this shift has impacted American politics, social values, and cultural norms. He discusses the rise of anxieties among white Christians, their reactions to changes such as same-sex marriage and racial justice, and the implications of these changes for the country's future. The book also forecasts how white Christians might adapt to their new reality and the consequences if they do not[2][4][5].
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About seven in 10 American seniors are white Christians. Among young adults, fewer than three in 10 are. During the span of the Obama administration, America went from a majority white Christian nation to one where white Christians are a minority. That’s an earthquake, and we’re living in the aftershocks.
This is a story that Robert Jones, the head of the Public Religion Research Institute, tells in his book The End of White Christian America. Much of Donald Trump’s support is driven by a sense of religious loss, not just racial or national loss. Many of the debates playing out on the American right — particularly the Sohrab Ahmari-David French fight — reflect the belief that these are end times for a certain strain of American Christians, unless emergency measures are undertaken.
This is not, to put it lightly, a perspective that’s treated sympathetically on the left. What could carry more privilege than being a white Christian? But that’s why, if you want to understand American politics right now, it’s important to try to see the other side of this one. I’m going to be exploring this more on the show in the weeks to come, but I wanted to start with Jones, who knows the data here better than anyone. This is part of the deep context of American politics right now. Seeing it clearly makes a lot of our fights more legible.
If you liked this episode, you may also like: “David French on the Great, White Culture War” and Jennifer Richeson on “The most important idea for understanding politics in 2018.”
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