Category: Pluralism & Public Life

Why doesn’t Congress work? A recent article sheds light on how factors like diversity, education, and geography are pulling the political parties further apart. These dynamics also shed light on the growing divisions within evangelicalism. Historically, evangelicalism was shaped by academic institutions in the North, but it’s now increasingly driven by entertainment hubs in the South—a trend Phil refers to as the rise of “Christian Nashville-ism.” Skye then speaks with Bishop Claude Alexander about his book “Necessary Christianity” and the pressing issues he sees facing the church today. Plus, there’s more listener feedback on teen mental health research, a look at how puppies, infants, and Baby Yoda tap into our brains, and a surprising animal encounter in Ohio.

Who is an evangelical? It is a question that looms large over scholars like John Inazu. The concept of “evangelical” is increasingly complex and multifaceted, especially when viewed through the lens of America’s diverse and politically charged landscape. While globally, evangelicalism emphasizes Scripture, discipleship, and public faith, in the U.S., the term has become closely associated with white conservative Christians, often defined by their political alignment, particularly with former President Trump. This shift has blurred the theological underpinnings of evangelicalism, making it difficult for both religious and non-religious people to grasp its true meaning. The insularity of many white evangelicals, who often reside in predominantly white neighborhoods and attend largely white churches, exacerbates this issue, causing them to lose touch with the broader, increasingly nonwhite segments of the country and the global church. 

This isolation not only alienates white evangelicals from the rest of society but also deepens their political entrenchment. The 81 percent of white evangelicals who supported Trump can be categorized into critics, pragmatists, and Trump lovers, each with distinct motivations. The critics represent a significant minority within evangelical circles, including those who abstained from voting in 2016. Meanwhile, the pragmatists and Trump lovers maintain their support due to a belief in Trump as a defender of Christian values or as a strategic choice against a Democratic Party perceived as hostile to their beliefs. However, this political alliance, driven more by fear and nostalgia than theological conviction, risks further insulating white evangelicals, making it increasingly difficult for them to engage meaningfully with a diverse and rapidly changing world. 

In a piece published in Christianity Today, John Inazu explores ways white evangelicals can break out of these echo chambers and engage with the diversity and expansiveness of American society.  

Christian fundamentalists have become associated with the political movement led by former President Donald Trump. The fundamentalist “mindset” has also been closely associated with the evangelical movement as they play a major role in his supporter base. 

Yet, David French has a broader understanding of the fundamentalist mindset in the United States. For instance, many people have trouble understanding how certain religious voters have stood by the former president despite all his personal scandals. David French’s broader understanding provides insight into this apparent contradiction in his remarks to Baptist News. 

In response to Professor Carl Trueman’s engagement with “Confident Pluralism,” John Inazu shares some of his concerns about hot debates such as the Obama administration’s overreach in the transgender debate about locker room use. However, Inazu cautions that Trueman’s dismissive language towards opposing views does not foster constructive dialogue. Instead, he suggests acknowledging the complexity of transgender policy issues and our conflicting moral commitments. 

Inazu also believes that some of Trueman’s critiques of the Left apply to the Right. He notes that some conservatives focus on unsubstantiated fears rather than the realities faced by their neighbors and acknowledges that accusations of bigotry, while sometimes off the mark, are not always unfounded. On the broader aspirations of “Confident Pluralism,” Inazu agrees with Trueman that pluralism relies on a healthy culture of diversity and that local-level interactions are crucial. Despite Trueman’s skepticism about the public square, Inazu remains hopeful that many people are willing to engage in serious discussions about coexistence and common ground. He wishes Trueman had highlighted more of the “confidence” in confident pluralism, emphasizing optimism and hope as virtues. 

John Inazu’s full response can be freely accessed here.

Conservative evangelical writer David French shared his concerns about the dangers of Christian nationalism in an interview with the Washington Post. While he condemns recent nationalist trends within the evangelical movement, he also remains firm in his religious beliefs as an evangelical and provides much-needed context to understand our current moment in the aftermath of the Jan 6 insurrection. 

Speaking more broadly, French emphasizes that “we are superheating our political rhetoric at home out of proportion to the stakes of our political controversies. And that’s dangerous.” However, not all rhetoric is created equal. French also sees room for nuance, pointing out that “one of the misnomers about White evangelicals is that their churches are deeply political. That is by and large not true.” 

You can access the entire interview through the Washington Post.