What's on Our Mind 2-24-2023

Christian nationalism is gaining traction in America, which could place our religious rights and our other rights in great jeopardy. A recent Pew survey found that most U.S. adults, mainly Republicans, believe America’s founders intended the country to be a Christian nation. Many say they think it should even be a Christian nation today.

 

Another survey found that four in ten Christian nationalists agree with the statement that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.” 

 

One of JAC’s core issues is separation of religion and state. When government mixes into religion, persecution and discrimination follows. Jews have experienced this first hand throughout history. Today, however, we are seeing the meddling of government into religion by members of Congress, school boards, and candidates running for elected office.

 

The fourth largest school district in Pennsylvania has adopted book banning. That policy was reviewed and approved by a law firm which is an arm of an anti-LGBTQ, Christian nationalist group designated as an extremist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has said that, “We need to be the party of nationalism and I’m a Christian, and I say it proudly, we should be Christian Nationalists.” Her colleague Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) received a standing ovation with supporters after urging that “the church is supposed to direct the government.” 

 

Nikki Haley opened her campaign rally with a prayer from a controversial priest. As support for Christian nationalism grows and the GOP clammers for that support, there will be an even greater call for making America a Christian nation.

 

When Christian nationalists use their religious views to create policy, it becomes easy for them to discriminate against the LGTBQ+ community, debunk science, or misconstrue anything else to meet their religious objective — even deny contraception and reproductive health services.

 

JAC candidates Reps. Dan Kildee (D-MI), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Susan Wild (D-PA), and Sean Casten (D-IL) are members of the House Freethought Caucus. The Caucus aims “to protect the secular character of our government by adhering to the strict constitutional principle of the separation of church and state.” 

 

Their work has never been more important, and JAC is here to make sure they get reelected.