What exactly is Christian Nationalism?
Plus 8 ways it may still be negatively impacting you
Issue #5 | Publication Date: September 26th, 2025
With the recent death of Charlie Kirk dominating the headlines, conversations around Christian Nationalism have simultaneously been catapulted to the forefront of mainstream media.
While those of us who were indoctrinated into this ideology “know it when we see it,” I’ve started noticing that there’s not always a clear understanding of what the term Christian Nationalism actually means amongst those engaging in the online spaces I’m a part of.
So my goal with this email is to provide some clarity around the terminology, as well as to discuss how folks who were indoctrinated with a Christian Nationalist identity may still be struggling.
What is Christian nationalism?
At its core Christian Nationalism is the belief that the nation should be defined by traditional Christian values and that the government should actively enforce that status.
It’s a political-religious movement that influences not just policy, but daily life, identity, and social norms.
Think of Christian Nationalism as a Venn diagram where three circles overlap:
- A conservative political identity
- A Christian worldview
- Organized policy efforts
When those three come together, the result is a movement that uses legal and cultural systems to enforce religious beliefs on a national level.
In religious homes and communities Christian Nationalism looks like:
- Preaching politics from the pulpit and telling members who to vote for
- Using phrases like, “take back this nation for god”
- Conflating patriotism with enforcing “Biblical family values” at the level of government
- Fighting for religious symbols, such as the Ten Commandments, to be displayed in government buildings or schools
- Encouraging members to enter politics specifically to promote religious agendas
- Excluding or vilifying those of other faiths or no faith as “un-American”
- Whitewashing American history to promote the idea that the Founding Fathers intended the U.S. to be an explicitly Christian Nation
Before moving on, it’s important to clarify:
Not every Christian is a Christian Nationalist.
Not every politically conservative person is a Christian Nationalist.
And not every high-control religion promotes a Christian Nationalist agenda.
3 intersecting areas that result in Christian Nationalism
So now, let’s take a closer look at what each of these areas look like in practice and how they work together to create the framework of Christian Nationalism:
1. Conservative political identity
The first area of the Venn Diagram is a conservative political identity.
What this looks like
A political outlook that favors traditional social norms, often limited government in economic terms, and a preference for order and continuity in social life.
In practice, this can include supporting policies that uphold “traditional” family structures, resist progressive social changes, and push back against what is framed as cultural decline.
How it connects to Christian Nationalism
Conservative political identity provides the networks and institutions that allow religious claims to influence public policy.
Not all people who are politically conservative want the state to enforce a single religion, but the political language and networks here make policy enforcement feasible.
2. A Christian worldview
The next area of the Venn Diagram of Christian Nationalism is holding an explicitly western Christian worldview.
What this looks like
A belief that Christian faith and symbols are an important part of day to day life, which can be theological, cultural, or rhetorical.
This includes beliefs centered on scripture as moral guidance, faith in Jesus’s teachings, and values like compassion, forgiveness, and spiritual growth, often emphasizing a “personal relationship” with God.
How it connects to Christian nationalism
The Christian worldview serves as the moral framework and value system that Christian Nationalist policies work to enforce.
Essentially, it provides the language of “religious freedom” and “moral values” that gets translated into policy positions.
3. Organized policy efforts
The third and final area making up the Venn Diagram of Christian Nationalism is organized efforts to shape government policy.
What this looks like
This involves structured efforts to influence laws, policies, and institutions through lobbying, grassroots organizing, think tanks, electoral strategies, or legal challenges.
These efforts are characterized by formal organizations with clear agendas, specific policy goals, and coordinated action plans designed to create sustainable, systemic change.
How it connects to Christian Nationalism
Deliberate political action oriented towards making laws, school curricula, public symbols, or state practices reflect a Christian priority. Some notable institutions are Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, and American Center for Law and Justice.
That can mean lobbying for laws that restrict abortion, oppose LGBTQ equality, allow religious displays in government spaces, or change voting and civic procedures to favor a particular voting bloc.
Understanding the influence of Christian Nationalist leaders
When you consider the overlap of the three areas outlined above, it helps explain how the underlying intent of a Christian Nationalist ideology is really to permeate families, schools, and social institutions for the purpose of social control and state-sanctioned religious (Christian) influence.
It’s important to recognize that while Kirk’s death pushed Christian Nationalism into mainstream headlines, many other leaders had already been advancing this agenda for decades.
Some of the most notable Christian Nationalist leaders include:
- Billy Graham: 1918-2018
- Jerry Falwell: 1933-2007
- Pat Robertson: 1930-2023
- Phyllis Schlafly: 1924-2016
- James Dobson: 1936-2025
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I wanted to identify some of the key figures throughout the last century who have been instrumental in trying to mainstream a Christian Nationalist agenda.
Although Kirk wasn’t technically a Christian Nationalist at the start of his career, stating as recently as 2018 that there should be a separation of church and state, he publicly reversed his view on this by 2022.
As you can see from the above list, Kirk was neither new nor unique in this movement. What set him apart was his role as the ideological face of a younger generation.
The reality is that Christian Nationalism has been a growing, insidious force for decades. Kirk was merely building on the networks and institutions that leaders like Graham, Falwell, and Dobson had begun establishing long ago.
And it is now, with ever-increasing alarm, that those of us who swam in these waters during our indoctrinated years are looking on as this ideology is ushered into the spotlight with seemingly open arms.
The unique impact to folks indoctrinated into Christian Nationalist ideology
If you were indoctrinated into a religious group where a Christian Nationalist agenda was at the forefront, this ideology probably became woven through every area of your life.
Looking back, you may now notice how it influenced your family life, schooling, friendships, and even your sense of safety in the world.
Unsurprisingly, indoctrination into Christian Nationalism can leave a lasting imprint on how you see yourself and others, even long after leaving your former religious group.
Some ongoing impacts may include one or more of the following.
Fear of questioning authority
Growing up, you may have been taught to obey leaders unquestioningly, whether in church, school, or family.
Even after leaving those systems, you might still feel guilt, anxiety, or hesitation when you challenge authority, speak up, or set boundaries.
Confusion around identity
You may struggle to separate your sense of belonging as a citizen, a former member of your faith community, or simply as yourself.
Christian Nationalism often merged these roles into a single, “correct” identity, which can make it hard to know who you are outside those frameworks.
Internalized hierarchy
Messages about who counts as a “good person” or a “true member” of society can leave you carrying biases or shame, especially around gender, race, sexuality, or political beliefs, even after leaving the faith.
Anxiety about loyalty and safety
Growing up in a system where faith and civic obedience were linked can make you hyper-aware of rules, authority, or “correct” behavior. Even small deviations might trigger guilt or fear, particularly around family expectations or public actions.
Difficulty trusting institutions
When religion and government were presented as inseparable, it can be hard to know which systems or authorities are safe, fair, or neutral. This can show up as skepticism toward schools, politics, or even healthcare systems.
Struggles with civic engagement
You might avoid participating in political or community life out of fear of making a ‘wrong’ choice, or alternatively, immerse yourself in spaces opposite of Christian Nationalism and risk burnout or re-traumatization.
Emotional labor in relationships
You may find yourself constantly monitoring what you say or do around family, friends, or coworkers to avoid judgment, conflict, or exclusion.
Lingering guilt or shame around belief
Even after leaving the faith, messages about sin, morality, and “right” behavior can continue to influence self-worth and decision-making.
These impacts are normal responses to growing up inside a belief system that intentionally wove together faith, morality, and political loyalty.
But being able to recognize the ways you may still be impacted is the first step towards reclaiming autonomy, safety, and clarity in both your personal and civic life.
If any of this feels familiar, know that you are not alone in this process. Untangling these influences takes time, patience, and often support from others who understand what it means to rebuild a sense of self outside a high-control system.
You get to decide what values, beliefs, and commitments feel right for you now. That’s the work at this moment in time, and it can make all the difference as we see what comes next for our country.
Going Deeper
To help make sense of these experiences and begin reclaiming your own perspective, consider journaling on the following questions or discussing them with a therapist: