We the People Say No!
A majority of Americans reject the antidemocratic extremism of Christian Nationalism...
On July 4th, we gathered in communities across the nation to celebrate the 247th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence with parades and picnics, parties and pyrotechnics…. and plenty of libations.
Our founding fathers fought for freedom. To liberate us from royal tyranny and religious persecution.
While ardent supporters of religious freedom, they did not hold identical spiritual views and were skeptical of religious dogma. This, in large part, is why they favored a secular nation.
Thomas Jefferson, our third President and author of the Declaration of Independence, described the First Amendment to our Constitution as building “a wall of separation between church and state.”
Wolves in sheep’s clothing…
Christian Nationalists have long sought to tear that wall down, dissolve our democracy and establish a theocracy… with them in charge.
Their hypocrisy is staggering.
They wrap themselves in the flag, yet they seek to destroy the very freedoms our flag symbolizes.
Their movement is not Christian. It is a coalition of political zealots that threatens our way of life.
They reject liberty and justice for all, oppose equality, vilify diversity and equity, and are outraged at the concept of inclusion.
Their mission is to empower what they call “True Americans,” which means only those who look like them, act like them and think like them.
They claim they are doing God’s will, yet their ideology flies in the face of the teachings of Christ, who taught us to love our neighbors, not vilify and hate them.
The good news: On both sides of the political aisle, a majority of Americans reject Christian Nationalism.
58% of Republicans and Republican leaners say the federal government should never declare any religion as the official religion of the United States, while a quarter of Republicans (26%) say that the government should declare the U.S. a Christian nation.
By comparison, among Democrats and those who lean toward the Democratic Party, 80% say the government should never declare any official religion, and just 6% want the government to declare the U.S. a Christian nation. ~Pew Research Center
The ReAwaken America Tour, led by confessed felon and former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and a host of antidemocratic conspiracy theorists, Q-Anon supporters and nazi sympathizers, is at the vanguard of the white Christian Nationalist movement.
Over the last two years, ReAwaken America has visited over 15 cities and engaged thousands of people, offering participants conspiracies and baptisms, extremist sermons and misinformation, and becoming a singular force propagating the “Big Lie” that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election – against all evidence to the contrary. This tour’s messages reinforce the idea that there is no separation between church and state. In 2022, SPLC polling of a nationally representative sample of people in the U.S. found that nearly two-thirds of people disagree with the tour’s promoters and strongly support the separation of church and state. ~Southern Poverty Law Center
We the People
We celebrate Independence Day because we are proud to be Americans. We love our democracy, our freedom and our liberty.
A majority of Americans say a resounding NO to those who would tear down our democracy and put themselves in charge.
No to those who spread wild conspiracy theories and traffic in racism and hate speech.
No to those who affiliate themselves with white supremacist groups and members of radical militias.
No to those who twist scripture for self-serving political purposes.
No to cults posing as religious organizations.
No to the lies, to the lust for power, to the desire to end our precious democracy.
Not now. Not ever.
No.
Resources:
Trends and Threats of Hate and Extremism 2022-Pew Research Center
In U.S., Far More Support Than Oppose Separation of Church and State
Right-Wing ‘ReAwaken America’ Tour Brought Irreligious Abomination to San Diego