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This week’s newsletters have discussed the White Christian Nationalist history of the words heretic and infidel, the WCN obsession with public executions (which we could also call Inquisitions), and the very public rift between WCN extremist Joel Webbon and WCN extremist Mike Huckabee.
Whether or not they have consolidated enough power, we are starting to see that public jockeying for control.
I’d prefer to get them to fight each other as much as possible. We the People can lean on the cracks in their coalition. Here are a few ideas we can deploy.
Start asking politicians and other public figures who profess to be Christians about their faith.
Ask specific questions like what are you trusting to get to heaven? and who do you believe is going to heaven? and so-and-so says she is going to heaven; if you disagree, why do you disagree?
Compare and contrast their answers. I guarantee there will be disparities.
Hammer them with questions about those disparities. Which answer reveals who is the “Real” Christian? Why is this person’s answer “wrong?” Mike Johnson said this about “True” faith. Are you saying his faith is “wrong?” Is he really going to hell?
I’d ask every one of these people why James Talarico isn’t going to heaven, for example. So many White Christian Nationalists have attacked his faith, called him heretical and worse, and even fantasized about killing him. Make them explain their position, because forcing them to explain themselves yields more WCN disparities over which we can get them to fight.
Like:
The pope condemns the death penalty on behalf of the Catholic church. Why are you in favor of public executions? (This could lead to a “Catholics aren’t real Christians” statement, which could be used to widen the rift between Catholic and Protestant WCN factions.)
When is Jesus Christ supposed to return to earth? What is the nation of Israel’s role in Christ’s return? (The heated debate over “purifying the earth for Christ’s return” is something these people will fight one another to the death over. Clearly. Since Joel Webbon wants Mike Huckabee to be executed for his premillennial heresy.)
Why is Paula White-Cain, a woman, head of the White House Faith Office? Shouldn’t this position be held by a man? How would you handle female spiritual leaders like her? (Answers along these lines could peel off compliant WCN women who’ve gone along because they’ve been given power. What Hegseth has done to the military re: women and minorities, these WCN men will to do to WCN women who’ve amassed power and influence. Point that out.)
Can a true Christian lose her salvation? Why or why not? (Again, this will get them pointing fingers about who among the WCN camp is a heretic. Which means they’re arguing with each other.)
Is becoming a Christian a one-time act? Or is it a life-long journey of sanctification and purification? (See commentary on previous questions.)
Americans don’t have to be Bible scholars to ask these and similar questions. But we do need people who know how to focus group, build campaign-type messaging, and run media influence campaigns to get involved in this effort.
More journalists also must learn how to recognize White Christian Nationalist language and ask curious, thoughtful questions. Anyone can watch how Doug Wilson vibrates with a fanatical craving to trumpet his extremist beliefs. But we must also go beyond merely giving people like him a platform and start showing Americans how radicalized, incoherent, and power-hungry White Christian Nationalists are - to the point that they would kill each other to advance their own WCN agendas.
Supporting the people who educate, inform, and call out White Christian Nationalism is crucial. Capitalism has conditioned us to view those who cover similar ground as competition, but I am DELIGHTED every time anyone is given a public platform to talk about WCN. We need so many more people doing this work if we ever hope to convince Americans to take the WCN threat seriously.
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