{"id":103337,"date":"2023-12-23T02:00:37","date_gmt":"2023-12-23T06:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/anxiousbench\/?p=103337"},"modified":"2025-06-02T10:00:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T14:00:38","slug":"dunwell-satanic-temple-and-christian-nationalisms-failing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/anxiousbench\/2023\/12\/dunwell-satanic-temple-and-christian-nationalisms-failing\/","title":{"rendered":"Dunwell, Satanic Temple, and Christian Nationalism’s Failing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Iowa state House Representative Jon Dunwell (R) has been on a hero\u2019s journey for the past two weeks. The Representative, who is also an ordained minister in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, has been confronting Christian nationalism after a display was set up earlier this month in the Capitol building.<\/p>\n

Dunwell\u2019s stand on X (formerly Twitter), which has generated thousands of comments and over 7 million views, has directly challenged Christian nationalism\u2014the ideology blending white evangelical religious and ethnic norms with U.S. nationalism. In doing so he has shown that Christian nationalism is wrong on two essential fronts. First, it gets democracy wrong. Second, it gets Jesus wrong.<\/p>\n

\"Dunwell<\/a>
Dunwell X Post image of Satanic Temple display in Iowa Capitol<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The frenzy began when Dunwell stated on December 8 that displays at the Capitol are available to any group\u2014even a satanic temple\u2014as long as they complete the appropriate application process. While the display was described as personally objectionable to him, Dunwell underscored his priority for the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religious expression. The original post<\/a>, which received 4.5 million views within days, highlights the political and theological failures of Christian nationalism.<\/p>\n

\n

As many of you have become aware, last week a display was erected at the Iowa Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa. As I have responded to concerns from Iowans about the display, I wanted to share with you how the display came to be and my response.<\/p>\n

How did it happen?
\n\u2022 The\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/8ODJXCxu9Y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rep. Jon Dunwell (@jdunwell) December 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n