Government-Supported Religion

In Minnesota, A Secular Government Caucus Will Oppose Christian Nationalism

  Rob Boston

Here’s some interesting news out of Minnesota: A group of state legislators has created a Secular Government Caucus to oppose Christian nationalism and uphold the separation of church and state.

“We are troubled by the efforts from some politicians to push a Christian Nationalist agenda, where right-wing Christian politicians are attempting to break down the wall of separation between church and state in order to push their beliefs on others,” the caucus co-chairs said in a media statement.

This is a welcome development for several reasons. Here are three of them:

Caucus members have identified the problem – and the solution: Christian nationalism is a toxic political movement that seeks to merge a narrow version of Christianity with the power of the state to force people to live under theologies not of their choosing. The way to stop it is to spark a national recommitment to separation of church and state.

It proudly embraces the word “secular”: Secular government, although often portrayed as a bogeyman by Christian nationalists, is a positive, indeed necessary, feature of America’s political system. Our religious freedom rests on the secular government created by our Constitution. That principle protects religious freedom; it doesn’t erode it. We should embrace secular government and advocate for it vigorously.

The caucus includes people of faith and people of no faith: Christian nationalists speak for a tiny percentage of the American religious community. Their oppressive agenda is opposed by many Christians, not just non-Christians and the non-religious. One way to stand up to Christian nationalism is for people of diverse faiths and philosophies to link arms and make it clear that the concept is un-American, dangerous and alien to our shared civic values.

Christian nationalists are known for targeting state legislators through Project Blitz and other efforts. In Minnesota, a new force will be there to meet them.

Lawmakers in other states, please take note.

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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