With the topic of Christian Nationalism gaining steam across the country, Kansas Interfaith Action made the subject the key focus of its latest public presentation Sunday afternoon.
KIFA organized a panel discussion titled “Countering the Threat of White Christian Nationalism,” which featured KIFA Director Moti Rieber, Washburn University Associate Professor of Religious Studies Chris Jones and Emporia Presbyterian Church Reverend Phyl Stutzman. For his role, Jones was charged with defining the terms of Christian Nationalism.
While speaking with KVOE News Jones defined Christian Nationalism as “the idea that the United States is intrinsically a Christian nation and should be a Christian nation.” He added that Christian Nationals, like any American citizen, want to see their “core ideas represented in laws.”
This desire is one of the major issues found by Rabbi Rieber who stated Christian Nationalism is not representative of all Christians and is instead a “version of the religion that is used for political ends.” Furthermore, Rabbi Rieber stated KIFA’s purpose with the panel discussion was to talk about how “Christians of good conscience can push back against this tendency and support a democracy that works for everyone.”
Reverend Stutzman says in her opinion, Christian Nationalism can, like many other issues of note within society, lead to a large amount of divisiveness amongst individuals both as Christians and Americans.
Stutzman adds that if we are to overcome the issue we have to be willing to come together and discuss the topic in a constructive manner much like Sunday’s panel discussion.
Sunday’s presentation was a part of KIFA’s Small Cities Project to foster engagement in Emporia, Manhattan, Newton and Salina. For more information visit kansasinterfaithaction.org.
