A Discussion of Christian Nationalism

Christian Nationalism - what is it, beyond a frightening movement that seems bent on stripping women, minorities, and the GLBTQ+ population of their rights and basic freedoms? What sense do we make of their goals and values? And how do we stand firm with a loving response that speaks our truth without objectifying our opponents?

St. Paul’s embarked on a four-week series of discussions to explore these questions. From what we learned, we are beginning to discern a path forward in which we can participate as individuals and as a community. Join with us through first watching these video recordings of our discussions and then adding your ideas and prayers to ours.

Part 1

What is Christian Nationalism? How do we feel about it? What will free us up to make responsible choices in response to it?

Part 2

As we think about communicating with those whose opinions and beliefs are very different from ours, what tools might we use? Dr. Jo Vanderkloot talks about her many years of working with chaotic systems in Brooklyn, NY

Part 3

Florian Hild offers us a parallel with the Nationalism that came about in Germany with the rise of Hitler. He paints the picture of Germany in the 1930s and describes how people were lured into complacency. Why did so many churches go along with the Nazis? And finally we take a look at one individual who did not: Dietrich Bonhoeffer. How do we inoculate ourselves against movements like these?

Part 4

Using the work of Valerie Kaur, Amy Agape leads us in a discussion of how to listen to people whose opinions are alien to and threatening to us. Sometimes this is our responsibility; sometimes not. How do we decide? How do we discover and own what IS our responsibility as Christian people when we find the human rights and the well being of our neighbors threatened? How might we act together as a community?