What do you think?
Rate this book
Religion and Politics
Blood and Faith: Christianity in American White Nationalism
Since the 1980 US presidential races, the term "religious right" has come to signify a politically and socially conservative form of Christianity. This term implies a joining of socially conservative evangelical Christianity with conservative politics that continues to shape the Republican Party to this day.
But this relationship is hardly new in American history; certain forms of Christianity have long shared space with the political and nationalist right in the United States. Less well known, however, are the various other religions that have influenced white racist activities in America. The recent popularity of these ideologies has caused a shift away from, and resulting hostility toward, Christianity among white nationalists.
In Blood and Faith, Berry explores the causes of this shift, as well as the challenges it has created for contemporary white nationalists who seek access to the conservative American political mainstream. Building on Michael Barkun's landmark study of racist Christianity, Religion and the Racist Right, Berry takes a fresh look at the complex and evolving relationship between American white nationalists and religion.
But this relationship is hardly new in American history; certain forms of Christianity have long shared space with the political and nationalist right in the United States. Less well known, however, are the various other religions that have influenced white racist activities in America. The recent popularity of these ideologies has caused a shift away from, and resulting hostility toward, Christianity among white nationalists.
In Blood and Faith, Berry explores the causes of this shift, as well as the challenges it has created for contemporary white nationalists who seek access to the conservative American political mainstream. Building on Michael Barkun's landmark study of racist Christianity, Religion and the Racist Right, Berry takes a fresh look at the complex and evolving relationship between American white nationalists and religion.
284 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2017
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 2, 2019
A very interesting book, but with a slightly misleading title. A better subtitle would have been "The Problem of Christianity in American White Nationalism" because the entire book focuses on how the white nationalist philosophy (i.e., the desire for a geographical white homeland) doesn't mesh well with Christianity.
White nationalism falls on the far-right end of the political spectrum which is also where one usually finds evangelical Christianity, so there's a tendency to conflate them or at least assume that they easily go together. In fact (Berry argues) this is not the case. White ethno-nationalists view Christianity as an "alien" (i.e. Jewish) imposition, an emasculating set of beliefs not suitable for a "warrior race", or both. Christianity's egalitarianism (everyone is equal in the eyes of god), tolerance (all men are brothers), and emphasis on forgiveness (turn the other cheek) all set it in direct opposition to white nationalism -- which believes that different races are inherently unequal, that "brotherhood" should be reserved for members of the same race, and that those who oppose or threaten "the white race" should not and cannot be forgiven or tolerated. Berry does a good job laying out this inherent contradiction, although he does somewhat belabor the point and (perhaps in wariness of lending the slightest credibility to the racist beliefs he is describing?) overuses qualifiers like "perceived" and "alleged" and "supposed."
The first three chapters focus on three men (of course) who were influential in the modern white nationalist movement: Revilo Oliver (yes, that's his real name), William Pierce, and Ben Klassen. Berry uses these three men not only to show the evolution of white nationalism in the U.S. but also to explain how and why it diverged from more mainstream conservatives. Berry traces this split to the 1950s, when conservatives in the U.S. chose Communism as their threat du jour instead of racial mixing, leaving white nationalists feeling left out and betrayed by the conservative movement generally. The next two chapters look at alternative forms of religion that have gained white nationalist followers: racialist Odinism and Esoteric Racialism. Thankfully, when discussing racialist Odinism Berry takes care to emphasize that its beliefs should not be viewed as representative of paganism more broadly; in fact, he points out, it has been vehemently denounced by a large swath of pagan movements in the U.S. and Europe.
The final chapter, which I found the most interesting and informative (and also the most worrisome), looks at the North American New Right and traces the influence of European right-wing/white nationalist theories and movements, including how white nationalists in America are attempting to mask/reframe their beliefs with more acceptable verbage and developing a tolerance for Christianity so as to enable them to form alliances with more mainstream conservative political movements.
A fascinating, timely, and informative book.
White nationalism falls on the far-right end of the political spectrum which is also where one usually finds evangelical Christianity, so there's a tendency to conflate them or at least assume that they easily go together. In fact (Berry argues) this is not the case. White ethno-nationalists view Christianity as an "alien" (i.e. Jewish) imposition, an emasculating set of beliefs not suitable for a "warrior race", or both. Christianity's egalitarianism (everyone is equal in the eyes of god), tolerance (all men are brothers), and emphasis on forgiveness (turn the other cheek) all set it in direct opposition to white nationalism -- which believes that different races are inherently unequal, that "brotherhood" should be reserved for members of the same race, and that those who oppose or threaten "the white race" should not and cannot be forgiven or tolerated. Berry does a good job laying out this inherent contradiction, although he does somewhat belabor the point and (perhaps in wariness of lending the slightest credibility to the racist beliefs he is describing?) overuses qualifiers like "perceived" and "alleged" and "supposed."
The first three chapters focus on three men (of course) who were influential in the modern white nationalist movement: Revilo Oliver (yes, that's his real name), William Pierce, and Ben Klassen. Berry uses these three men not only to show the evolution of white nationalism in the U.S. but also to explain how and why it diverged from more mainstream conservatives. Berry traces this split to the 1950s, when conservatives in the U.S. chose Communism as their threat du jour instead of racial mixing, leaving white nationalists feeling left out and betrayed by the conservative movement generally. The next two chapters look at alternative forms of religion that have gained white nationalist followers: racialist Odinism and Esoteric Racialism. Thankfully, when discussing racialist Odinism Berry takes care to emphasize that its beliefs should not be viewed as representative of paganism more broadly; in fact, he points out, it has been vehemently denounced by a large swath of pagan movements in the U.S. and Europe.
The final chapter, which I found the most interesting and informative (and also the most worrisome), looks at the North American New Right and traces the influence of European right-wing/white nationalist theories and movements, including how white nationalists in America are attempting to mask/reframe their beliefs with more acceptable verbage and developing a tolerance for Christianity so as to enable them to form alliances with more mainstream conservative political movements.
A fascinating, timely, and informative book.
February 15, 2021
A fabulous study, in part because it is clearly written and well researched. It gets into areas often neglected by other studies of esoteric white nationalism, and gives a huge range. The only thing I would note that it is not a book about Christianity in American white nationalism as much as it is a survey of anti-Christian trends in American white nationalism. Still an important focus, and it was probably difficult to market that specificity, but that is the distinction. You will learn almost nothing about white supremacy in Christianity. But I still can't recommend this book enough.
February 22, 2021
I defer to Michele's fine Goodreads review, which thoughtfully describes the contents. What follows are notes primarily for myself. White nationalism is an international movement of people of European descent who fear the white race is threatened and in danger of subjugation, enslavement and even extinction. The author refers to this key concern as "racialist protectionism." American white nationalists desire a separate homeland for white people, presumably a region carved out of the existing United States or perhaps Canada.
White nationalism and white supremacy are not necessarily the same, though I have not grasped the nuances. White supremacy appears to include more racially obsessed people who may not believe in the establishment of a white state purged of minorities and "aliens" -- akin to Nazi Germany. White nationalists in turn are one segment of the Alt-Right, which may be considered an offshoot of conservatism "mixing racism, white nationalism and populism" (definition offered by John Daniszewski of the Associated Press).
Damon Berry completed the book as the Trump Administration was taking office. His final paragraph is prophetic: "A society based on those values [progressivism, openness, equality and tolerance] is not guaranteed for us. It never was. We are going to have to construct it." The events of January 6, 2021, and the attempt by white nationalists, among other Trump supporters, to keep him in the White House is another chapter in the long struggle against bigotry, inequality, intolerance and hate.
White nationalism and white supremacy are not necessarily the same, though I have not grasped the nuances. White supremacy appears to include more racially obsessed people who may not believe in the establishment of a white state purged of minorities and "aliens" -- akin to Nazi Germany. White nationalists in turn are one segment of the Alt-Right, which may be considered an offshoot of conservatism "mixing racism, white nationalism and populism" (definition offered by John Daniszewski of the Associated Press).
Damon Berry completed the book as the Trump Administration was taking office. His final paragraph is prophetic: "A society based on those values [progressivism, openness, equality and tolerance] is not guaranteed for us. It never was. We are going to have to construct it." The events of January 6, 2021, and the attempt by white nationalists, among other Trump supporters, to keep him in the White House is another chapter in the long struggle against bigotry, inequality, intolerance and hate.
August 11, 2021
This book wasn't what I expected. I'm not sure the title is the best for it.
Damon T. Berry explains what white nationalism is and how it is pretty much incompatible with Christianity. White nationalism is the belief that the white race is better than any others. Christianity believes in love, sharing, including others, forgiveness, meekness, salvation for all races etc so it is incompatible with white nationalism which is exclusive by nature. At the end of the book he touches on the question of why so many Christians are supportive of a president who is also supported by white nationalists. This book was written just after Trump's election so the author raises the question, but obviously can't talk about what hadn't happened yet.
This book is very intellectual and not an easy read, but I definitely learned some new things! It's helpful to have a dictionary handy!
Damon T. Berry explains what white nationalism is and how it is pretty much incompatible with Christianity. White nationalism is the belief that the white race is better than any others. Christianity believes in love, sharing, including others, forgiveness, meekness, salvation for all races etc so it is incompatible with white nationalism which is exclusive by nature. At the end of the book he touches on the question of why so many Christians are supportive of a president who is also supported by white nationalists. This book was written just after Trump's election so the author raises the question, but obviously can't talk about what hadn't happened yet.
This book is very intellectual and not an easy read, but I definitely learned some new things! It's helpful to have a dictionary handy!
December 4, 2017
He spent years researching this material and writes a volume that is informative and thought-provoking. Dr. Berry has published at the right moment in our history. I feel much better prepared to process the news I read these days after having taken in the pages of this book.
Thank you, Dr. Berry!
Thank you, Dr. Berry!
June 17, 2019
So...we're doomed. While there was good info in this book, especially in the afterword in the wake of Donald Trump's election, I personally felt the title was misleading and that the guy disproved his whole point, which was to point out the PROBLEM of Christianity for white nationalists, who see it as a Jewish tradition bound to bring down the white race (which if you're following Jesus, it should). Most of the book detailed the rifts between Christian and non-Christian white nationalists, and also those who were adamantly anti-Christian and those who took a more tolerant tone in hopes of drawing the racist Christians to the white nationalist cause. By the end he has to point out that some of that is working, as 81% of white evangelicals voted for Trump, and it's no secret that white nationalists love Trump. Christians are being drawn toward racism and away from Christ, and that's a book I'd definitely read. Hell, I may be the one who writes it.
Read
September 21, 2018277.3082 B5342 2017
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews