Robert P. Jones, president of the Public Religion Research Institute and a leading scholar on religion and politics, discusses the profound impact of white Christian nationalism on American democracy. He highlights how white Christians shifted allegiances from the Democratic to Republican Party and their overwhelming support for Trump. The conversation delves into the historical roots of these political dynamics, revealing how faith intertwines with racial identity and voting patterns, and stresses the need for greater moral accountability in the Christian community.
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insights INSIGHT
White Christian Support for Trump
White Christian voters' consistent support enabled Trump's 2024 relevance.
Their unwavering support since 2016 has been crucial for him.
insights INSIGHT
Party Sorting by Race and Religion
The two major U.S. political parties have largely sorted themselves by race and religion, not just ideology.
This sorting significantly impacts political divides.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Carter and the Christian Right
Jimmy Carter's lack of evangelical support stemmed from his pluralism, not his stance on abortion.
The Christian right's birth originated from defending Bob Jones University's racist policies.
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The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity
Robert P. Jones
In this book, Robert P. Jones delivers a groundbreaking analysis of the symbiotic relationship between Christianity and white supremacy in America. Drawing on history, public opinion surveys, and personal experience, Jones argues that white Christians have not just been complacent or complicit but have actively constructed and sustained a project of protecting white supremacy and opposing black equality. The book exposes how deeply racist attitudes have become embedded in white Christian identity and calls for an honest reckoning with the past and work toward repair in the present. Jones emphasizes that this is not just a matter of moral obligation but also essential for the integrity of white Christianity and the future of the American experiment.
The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future
The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future
Robert P. Jones
The social sources of denominationalism
H. Richard Niebuhr
In this book, H. Richard Niebuhr examines the social and historical contexts that have led to the formation of various Christian denominations. He argues that the divisions within Christianity are largely a result of social and economic factors, such as class differentiation and racial segregation, rather than purely theological differences. Niebuhr distinguishes between churches and sects, noting that churches often serve the needs of the middle class while sects serve the needs of the disinherited. He also discusses the impact of nationalism, sectionalism, and immigration on denominationalism, and highlights the ethical failure of the divided church in addressing these social issues.
This episode of Faithful Politics takes a deep dive into the impact of white Christian nationalism on American democracy with Robert P. Jones, president of PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute). Host Will Wright and Jones analyze the pivotal role white Christians played in the 2024 election, drawing from Jones’s Time Magazine article, “What White Christians Have Wrought,” and his latest book, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future. The conversation traces the historical and cultural forces that have shaped white Christian political allegiance, explores the divide between religious and racial groups in voting behavior, and examines how Trump’s continued support reflects deeper systemic challenges. This episode provides a candid look at the intersection of faith, politics, and social identity, highlighting what’s at stake for the future of pluralistic democracy.
Why Christian Democrats Are Seen as the “Wrong Kind” of Christian: https://open.substack.com/pub/faithfulpolitics/p/why-christian-democrats-are-seen?r=1bt7sx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: and the Path to a Shared American Future: https://a.co/d/3jLsPfQ
Faithful Politics 
