Old Glory as Jesus: The Relevance of Christian Nationalism in U.S. Politics

Abstract

Why, despite significant trends towards secularization, has Christian nationalism continued to influence political attitudes and communication? This dissertation investigates the construction of and continued identification with Christian nationalism among Americans. First, I explore the construction of Christian nationalism through social media. Using content, I find that Christian nationalism offers a distinct topic profile, pattern of emotion language use that emphasizes fear, and reader response, compared to other religious and patriotic accounts. Second, I employ a survey experiment to test the effect of racial and religious demographic change on support for Christian nationalism among White Christians. Knowledge of the decline of Christianity in the United States (but not of White Americans) amplifies support for Christian nationalism and perceptions of discrimination against Christians, mediated by feelings of fear and disgust. Finally, using survey analysis and in-depth interviews, I find that, for Black Americans, widespread support for Christian nationalism broadens the boundaries around American identity. I conclude by discussing the implications and limitations of my findings.