America Still Fighting Over Christian Nation Status
The Christian Past That Wasn't featured in Religion News Service article on Christian America debate
Today, Religion News Service published Bob Smietana’s article about the ongoing debate over America’s religious status. At year 250, Smietana says, America is still fighting over what it means to be a Christian nation. Is America a Christian nation? Smietana didn’t answer the question, but he did provide numerous points of view for a thought provoking article.
Smietana interviewed Holly Hollman, John Fea, Matthew Avery Sutton, Daniel Darling, and me for the article. Some of the controversy is due to different ways of defining “Christian nation.” If that term is defined culturally, then it makes more sense to call America a Christian nation. However, if one goes back to the system of government we have been given, then one can make a case (as I do) that our government is secular. Religion is left to the people and religious institutions.
At least that’s what I believe. I urge you to click the link and read Smietana’s article. Also, consider picking up The Christian Past That Wasn’t which takes a deep dive into all of these issues.
The Christian Past That Wasn’t: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History (May 2026) is published by Broadleaf Books and available to order for Kindle and hardcover at Amazon or wherever books are sold (e.g. Christianbook.com or Walmart).
On Goodreads and plan to read The Christian Past That Wasn’t? Click the “want to read” tab on the Goodreads website.