Last night, at my atheist discussion group, we heard a presentation about what has come to be called "Christian nationalism."  What is it?  Christian nationalism is a movement that interprets the Bible as calling American Christians to establish a "Christian" state, a nation in which all laws, edicts, and proclamations are based on the tenets of the Bible, at least as certain Christians interpret them.  Put another way, church and state become one.

    Moreover, as many Christian nationalists see it, this goal is to be achieved through physical force and coercion.  If this sounds like the attempts of some Muslims to impose Sharia law upon their respective nations, well, it is:  Christian nationalism is nothing more than the efforts of some well intentioned (but, in my view, deeply mistaken) believers to create a nation in which Christianity will be the sole arbiter of what is right and wrong.  And all dissent be dammed.

    For me, it's a frightening development in the decades long work of some evangelical Christians to make American into a "Christian" nation (whatever this means).  It's a dream of delusion.  One of America's strengths is that its body politic allows, without legal penalty, for religious diversity and cultural and political expression.  Although I believe fervently in the fundamental framework of Christianity, I also believe that this framework is not about forcing Christianity on anyone.  It is rather a vision of human flourishing amidst and fueled by the grand and loving (and indiscernible) purposes of God.

    Once again, we must be very careful in claiming we always and absolutely know the will of God.

    By the way, I'll be traveling a bit for the next couple of weeks, and will be posting sporadically, if at all.  Thanks for reading!