Exploration of Syncretism in American Evangelicalism and Christian Nationalism

American evangelicals in the antebellum period embraced syncretism by intertwining racist assumptions with their religious beliefs, supporting slavery and perpetuating racial inequalities. In later decades, conservative evangelicals accused those advocating desegregation of being syncretic while disregarding their own syncretism in devaluing African American contributions to the church. The concept of syncretism is not about labeling who is or isn't a syncretist, but rather understanding how individuals adapt to cultural norms within their religious context. Christian nationalists, viewing themselves as purists, fail to recognize their own participation in syncretism by incorporating secular trends into their religious beliefs. This syncretic pressure exists across various Christian denominations, emphasizing the importance of critically evaluating cultural norms in alignment with faith and sacred texts to avoid straying from religious principles and values.