Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism

by Brian Kaylor, Beau Underwood

In the face of a rising threat to both church and democracy, Baptizing America provides an urgent examination and an enlightening critique exposing the dangerous undercurrents of Christian Nationalism. How can Mainline Protestants spot such practices in their own activities? A crucial call to reckon with influences before it's too late.

Christian Nationalism presents an existential threat to both Christ’s church and American democracy. Now is the time—before it is too late—to reckon with all the places its pernicious influence arises. On full display in recent elections, Christian Nationalism also exists in sanctuaries where an American flag has been displayed for decades, when we pledge allegiance to one nation “Under God,” or when the U.S. is called a Christian nation. Baptizing America critiques the concept of civil religion, arguing that such expressions are far more dangerous than we realize. Mainline Protestant congregations will likely recognize themselves in the overlooked expressions of Christian Nationalism that pop up in the activities of both church and state.

Genres: Politics, Religion, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, History

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this book from an interview with one of the authors on Jemar Tisby's podcast Footnotes:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

"Christian Nationalism" has been a topic of serious scholarship and discussion for a number of years now, and the events of January 6, 2021, and the prominent displays of CN on that day alerted many to the actual threat of the movement. When considering CN, most people think of "evangelicals" who have wedded their political conservatism (or just Republicanism, or Trumpism) to their evangelical beliefs--but Kaylor and Underwood demonstrate conclusively in this book what the subtitle claims: "Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism."

This was an excellent survey of the way key symbols of CN ("In God We Trust," "One Nation, Under God," uses of the American Flag, iconic churches in Washington D. C.) were advocated by Mainline Protestants, in addition to their support among evangelicals.

I highly recommend this book, and in fact think there is important work to be done in connecting the dots even further back into the 19th century, before the "Mainline vs. Evangelical/Fundamentalist" split, some of which has been done by scholars like Derek Chang, and others.

[Sarah Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shining a light on Christian Nationalism is so important to figuring out how we ended up in our current political climate. This book provides great insight. It will certainly appeal to mainline Protestants but also speaks to a more general audience. This book is thoughtful and an excellent read!

[Rachael Dockery · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 - While I would have appreciated a more in depth, comprehensive treatment (while this was more of a survey), given its slender length, Baptizing America is a worthwhile read - particularly for mainline-identified Christians who lament the rise of White Christian Nationalism.

[David Swartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian nationalism doesn’t only infect American evangelical culture warriors on the right. It’s a problem in mainline denominations too. It’s just easier to look past because it’s cuddlier. But progressive forms of Christian nationalism can also violate the establishment clause and center North American varieties of Christianity.

The key decade, says Kaylor, was the 1950s when the following symbols and events and practices began: the National Prayer Breakfast, National Day of Prayer, flags on church property, inclusion of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the “In God We Trust” stamp. All this was aided and abetted by ministers who followed the Flag Code, which stated that the “U.S. flag should hold the position of superior prominence.”

Money quote: “If January 6, 2021, showed us the depth of Christian Nationalism among conservative evangelicals and Pentecostals, then January 6, 2022, proved revelatory in its own way. . . . After a day of reflecting on the insurrection a year earlier and emphasizing the importance of upholding democracy, congressional Democrats gathered on the steps of the east entrance to the Capitol. . . . Democrats returned to that same place to reassure the nation that God still favored the American government. . . . Dozens of candles lit up the stairs, giving the moment a solemn, worshipful ambiance. . . . The service embodied Christian Nationalism rather than challenging the ideology that inspired many who stood on those steps a year earlier.”

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Bishop Mariann Budde preached to Donald Trump pleading for mercy and compassion, the words were deafened by the surrounding liturgy, place, and context of the moment.

Christians may have applauded her sermon, but her words were unintelligible due to Christian Nationalism. The same is true for the gospel.

This is a great book walking readers through the history of American Civil Religion and it's mutation into the more apparent Christian Nationalism of today, largely (as the authors argue) due to mainline Protestants who walked so that evangelicals/right-wing religious conservatives could run.

It's the book I wish I had read and heard influence sermons leading up to the 2024 election. Methodists are repeatedly critiqued throughout the book for pedaling Christian Nationalism just politely. Our appeals during the election cycle to "purple kindness" over red/blue votes may just be our most recent contribution.

Good read, but be warned - lots of history! 👍

[Michael Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Kaylor of “Word and Way” and Beau Underwood, pastor of Allisonville Road Christian Church in Indianapolis, have done the church a good service by helping Mainline Protestants look in the mirror to reflect on our own contribution to the conflation of Christianity and nationalism into a form of religious Christian Nationalism. Their premise and conclusion is that this is the first, best step to having the greatest impact on calling out and isolating this dangerous ideology. They do a particularly nice job at not only defining Christian Nationalism, but also illustrating it. It’s now a necessary resource in my growing library on the subject.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Churches feature American flags. Pastors pray in public, even political gatherings. Worship services near national holidays feature prayers for the nation, patriotic hymns, and more. It's not just conservative evangelical churches. It's mainline Protestant ones as well, even fairly progressive ones. How do I know this? This is how it has been in the churches I've served (oh, and I do pray at public events like Memorial Day and Veteran's Day observances. Hopefully, my prayers don't exhibit expressions of Christian nationalism, but I am implicated in such things.

Most critiques of Christian nationalism focus on conservative evangelical churches. It is true that the most explicit and loud expressions recently are found among conservative evangelical churches, which often align themselves with the Republican Party. Nevertheless, history shows that Mainline Churches -- PCUSA, ELCA, UMC, Disciples, UCC, ABC --- have been at the forefront of efforts to connect church and state. Evidence is found in the presence of American flags in sanctuaries and patriotic hymns in the hymnals. So, while Mainliners might protest the growing problem of Christian nationalism, are we willing to acknowledge our own complicity?

In Baptizing America, authors Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood, one a Baptist and the other a Disciples of Christ minister, address the so-called elephant in the room. The authors note that as more attention is given to Christian nationalism, the definition of what makes for Christian nationalism becomes more ambiguous. While the term "Christian nationalism" might be relatively new, the reality that it describes has a long history. In many ways what is now known as Christian nationalism has roots that go back to when the Mainline Churches were the dominant religious force in the country.

The authors are part of the Mainline Christian community. They are affiliated with Word & Way, a Christian media outlet where Kaylor serves as President and Underwood serves as a contributing editor. I should note that I am a regular contributor to Word & Way, offering weekly book reviews. I am also, like Underwood, a Disciples of Christ minister (retired).

The authors begin their book by taking us to the anniversary of January 6th and the commemorations of that day by Mainline church leaders, such as Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Different of course from what happened in 2021, but the commemorations a year later still highlighted American exceptionalism in the form of prayer.

Chapter 1, "How Firm a Foundation," lays the foundation for what is shared in the rest of the book. The thesis of the authors is that Mainline Christians laid the foundations for what is known now as Christian nationalism, though it was once called civil religion (with a Protestant face). That opening Chapter forms part of Section I of the book titled "Christian Nationalism in Context." The second chapter in this section is titled "A Heretical Faith." Here the authors focus their attention on what they call the American idol, which is nationalism. It is an idol where loyalty to the nation is foremost in the hearts and minds of the people. However, there have been, throughout American history other voices that have challenged the American idol. Finally, Chapter 3 --- "(Un)Civil Religion" --- explores the forms of civil religion present from the beginning of the American nation, such that the founders didn't attempt to create a Christian nation but rather drew upon religious elements that reflected the American ethos. It expressed shared national values without replacing denominational or sectarian belief systems. It used elements of Christianity but in a way that most Americans didn't see a conflict with their more specific belief systems. They write that "Civil religion depends on downplay differences in ways that empty religious affirmations of their meaning. In a profound way, to participate in civil religion requires the denial of one's true faith." (p. 46). So phrases like "under God" or posting the Ten Commandments are seen not as being religious but as part of our "history" and culture. Thus, to be unifying it must be purposely vague.

Part II: "How Mainline Protestants Brought Church to State" moves the discussion from the overarching narrative to the specific dimensions. Here is where Mainliners like me might start to feel as if our toes are being stepped on, especially when it comes to Chapter 4: "Prayer Time." The authors address prayers, most often Christian prayers, in public spaces. Consider the prayers offered by the chaplains of the Senate and House of Representatives. These are part of the national discourse. What happens at the national level happens locally as clergy pray at public events such as city council meetings or other events. I am implicated here. I am a local police chaplain who prays regularly at such events as Memorial Day observances, and even the Mayor's State of the City Address. I pride myself in seeking to make my prayers inclusive, but could I be making them so vague that they deny my own faith? Hopefully not, but I will admit to finding this chapter rather uncomfortable. Perhaps you will as well. Chapter 5, titled "One Nation . . . Indivisible" takes a look at the inclusion of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. The original pledge, written by a Baptist minister didn't include those words, which were added in the 1950s, as the US sought to contrast itself as a religious people against the godless communists of the Soviet Union. The question is whether this is a matter of taking the Lord's name in vain! Finally, Chapter 6 discusses the phrase "In God We Trust," which became the national motto and was placed on US currency in the 1950s. The phrase has its origins in the American Civil War as a Union response to the Confederate claim to be a Christian nation. While I'm complicit in the prayer chapter, I would be fine with the removal of "under God" from the pledge of allegiance and would love to see "In God We Trust" replaced as the national motto (I like e pluribus unum!).

Section III turns the tables from Section II, with this section titled "How Mainline Protestants Brought State to Church." The first chapter in this section is titled "Seeking a Blessing" (Ch. 7). They begin by noting the churches, including St. John's Episcopal Church, which have welcomed Presidents and hosted national events, including inaugural prayers and state funerals. The issue here is the attraction of proximity to power. I know the feeling. They write: Mainline and progressive e Christians correctly castigate evangelical or conservative leaders who render to Caesar what belongs to Jesus. Yet, they miss both the subtle and obvious ways, historically and in the present, they also participate in being priests of American culture rather than proclaimers of the Gospel." (p. 115). Chapter 8 is titled "Worshiping America." Here they take note of the way nationalistic elements are incorporated into worship, especially around national holidays. Consider the nationalistic hymns in our hymns and prayers in our prayer books. Yes, they are there! Finally, in Chapter 9 we come to the presence of the American flag in our churches. Yes, they are there in most Mainline churches, including all that I've served. They provide a history of how that came to be, which is worth considering as part of our consciousness-raising on the Mainline contribution to Christian nationalism.

The Fourth and Final Section is titled "Living in the Nation Mainline Protestants Bult." The first of three chapters is titled "Failed State" (Chapter 10). As we near the conclusion of the book, they address the threat of Christian nationalism to American democracy. Then in Chapter 11, "Failed Church," they address the threat of Christian nationalism to the church. There is the Church of MAGA, which has embraced Trumpism. They write that "reducing religion to political tribalism makes Christian faith appear unprincipled and hypocritical. The attractiveness of its ideas and values becomes overshadowed by its misuse and abuse for political ends" (p. 180). So, "while mainline Protestants helped lay the foundation for the larger edifice, the worst offenses now emanate from other corners, but they still sully everyone's reputation" (p. 180). There is much truth in that statement. Chapter 12 is titled "Moving Forward." Here Kaylor and Underwood offer some thoughts about how Mainliners might own their complicity and move forward beyond Christian nationalism. They respond to Mainliners who speak as if we have no complicity, but that is not true. Thus, they ask us to get our own house in order. They offer six ways that Mainline Churches can move forward. Each is worth considering.

This is a really helpful book. It will step on people's toes, including mine. They encourage us to resist the pull of Christian nationalism by starting with our own house. That is good advice. So, check it out!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do not read this book if you’re looking for a sensational exposé on all that is terribly wrong with White Christian Nationalism. That topic gets one chapter. This book is mainly about how and why members and leaders of mainline Protestant faith traditions - not Evangelical Fundamentalists - are complicit in a more than century-long movement, culminating in the most odious elements of White Christian Nationalism that we have today. It's a fascinating history of how the church became inextricably entangled with state and how this symbiosis is fueled less by a desire to spread the Gospel and more by a desire to consolidate wealth, power, and control. There are no real villains in this history (OK, maybe a few). Rather, what is unsettling is that the bad actors in this movement are, to my estimation, just your garden-variety White alpha males, enamored of their own (and others') power and ignorant and unquestioning of their most base desires. I was largely ignorant, too, and the authors give no passes for well-intentioned, Christian readers wanting to distance themselves from the problem. WE ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. There is little time for pearl clutching, and the authors' direct, accessible, and occasionally snarky writing style says as much. I am very grateful for the final section of the book that gives meaningful and actionable steps for both self- interrogation and for starting conversations and raising awareness within one's own worship community.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for THC Reviews
Baptizing America details how Mainline Protestants have had a hand in the recent rise in Christian Nationalism that we’ve seen in the United States. It begins with an overview of what Christian Nationalism is and how it is a false religious doctrine that has no biblical basis or has anything to do with Jesus. The authors discuss how this ideology has roots in the idea of a civil religion that has been around for a very long time and has been promoted by politicians of all stripes. They then detail how Mainline Protestants were instrumental in bringing church to the state by advocating for prayers in public spaces such as congress and schools. They also detail the history of our Pledge of Allegiance and how the original version did not include the words, “under God,” which were added much later, under the leadership of some Mainline Protestants. The same is true of the motto, “In God We Trust,” which was added to our money and turned into the official motto of our country long after its founding largely at the behest of Mainline Protestants. They continue by demonstrating how the state was brought into churches through the inclusion of the American flag in many church spaces, hymns that worship America being added to hymnals and services, and politicians and state leaders seeking blessings from churches. The authors also show examples of how both the state and the church have failed to reign in the ideology of Christian Nationalism and instead seem to continue building upon the foundation that was rooted in seemingly innocuous beginnings to create a monster that is now out of control. They wrap up with some suggestions on how Mainline Protestant congregations can reckon with their role in this phenomenon and move forward with more emphasis on Christ and less on America.

I can’t recall where I first heard about Baptizing America, but given that I’ve been attending a Mainline Protestant church for several years now, when I did see it, I thought it sounded interesting. I decided to read it now because my church book club chose it as our latest read and will be hosting a conversation with author Beau Underwood. I’m well aware of how many evangelical churches have been complicit in the rise of Christian Nationalism, but I had no idea just how involved Mainline churches have been in this phenomenon as well. I was surprised to discover that much of the bedrock foundations of Christian Nationalism were built by Mainline politicians who were trying to establish civil religion, which at the time, probably seemed rather benign, but over time has grow into the rampant and sometimes violent ideologies that are now espoused by many so-called Christians, primarily on the right. I was aware that “under God” did not appear in the original Pledge of Allegiance, nor did “In God We Trust” originally appear on our money, but I learned a great deal from this book about how those words being added came about. I also learned a lot about how the American flag and other American symbology entered our holy church spaces.

The only reason I dropped a star on my rating is that there are a lot of names and facts thrown out that were a bit hard for me to keep track of, and the book wasn’t quite as engaging as I’d hoped. Otherwise, though, I thought it was a good book. I appreciated all that I learned from it. I also agree wholeheartedly with the authors about how the church, as a whole, really needs a reckoning and repentance over their role in the rise of Christian Nationalist ideology and how we desperately need to separate the church from it’s enmeshment with politics. As is, the state is destroying the church’s witness and conversely the church in general is destroying democracy. However, a part of me is cynical enough to wonder if this is even possible given how deep the roots go and how far the cancer has already spread. I look forward to our discussion with Rev. Underwood and hope to gain even more insights from that.

[Richard Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baptizing America is a thoughtful and gentle book that unflinchingly tells the truth. Christian Nationalism is a non-Christian religion and mainline Christians essentially created the American version. We emblazoned our money with God talk. We put it in our government buildings. We gave the nation a pledge with “under God.” We brought the nation into our church buildings with American flags, and national holidays. Mainline Christians may abhor the actions of their more right wing brothers and sisters, but we have much to repent of in our syncreatic worship of nation and flag. God have mercy.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Christian Nationalism has been part of the church’s history since the beginning of our nation, in all denominations. Good to be aware of this and put following Christ more important than being an American.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. How we got to the way Christian nationalism has infected every aspect of America Definitely a great book to read and discuss with a Church group

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, but I wanted more of a call to action. What should mainline Protestants be doing now to counteract this?