A History of Christian Nationalism
Throughline
Religious Freedom and the Founding Paradox
The United States was not formally founded as a Christian nation, as evidenced by the Constitution's provision for separation of church and state and the absence of religious tests for officeholders. The First Amendment guarantees religious freedom, rejecting the notion of a state or federal church. Despite this foundation, many founders assumed the nation would remain predominantly Protestant, unaware of future waves of diverse immigrants, including Catholics and Jews. This duality reflects the initial uncertainty surrounding religious freedom and highlights how early American Protestants, viewing themselves as a persecuted minority, used the Exodus story to frame their own narrative, demonstrating the complexities inherent in the founding principles of the nation.
