There is no Clear Definition for “Christian Nationalism”

In the first article of this series I presented a definition of “Christian Nationalism” [CN this point forward] and went through it phrase by phrase.

I do not agree with one single clause of the definition I was given,

and I do not personally know anyone who holds the
views/opinions of that definition.

It seems clear that CN is the newest slander term to pin on MAGA supporters (reminds me of “the basket of deplorables…racists, homophobe, islamaphobe”, etc. per H. Clinton). Interesting how Trump haters claim that he started the vitriol. I have commented on this before: the Democrats started the toxic environment at the Robert Bork hearing (1987), followed by the Clarence Thomas hearing (1991) and then all kinds vitriol against GW Bush. They attacked Bush’s daughters – first time that line was crossed.

Results from Three Research Studies

I found three studies (Pew Research, PRRI and Barna) on this topic. A recent Pew Research survey shows 60% of adults say the founders of the USA intended for America to be a Christian nation. More amazing to me is that 44% of non-Christian adults agreed that the founders intended for the USA to be a Christian nation (p.44). How that can be part of the definition when 44% of non-Christians agree with that statement.

According to the Pew study, Christians are less likely than non-Christians to call the USA a Christian nation right now (p.45).  BUT this is the real zinger:

When asked “What does the phrase
Christian nation mean to you,”
Americans gave “widely varying ideas”
of what that means.   p.45

Common logic would assume that IF “CN” was a real and tangible concept…
1. There would be a definition agreed upon by MOST Christians.
2. “Widely varying ideas” would not be the norm.
3. Politically active Christians would know about this movement AND would either be For CN or Against CN.

Wisconsin Representative Glenn Grothman sounds like
me on this issue – listen to his comments below:

In a 2022 Barna interview on “Christian Nationalism & Public Theology” Russell Moore (a supposed expert) was asked for a definition of CN. This was his answer:

Taking Christianity and making it
a means to an end,
an ethnic, or national or populist identity.

Moore fails to disclose WHERE he gets this definition OR if he defined it himself. The focus of this article is to expose the fact that there is NO set definition that ALL “experts” agree on. Every study I have read confirms that MOST Americans do not have a clear idea of what CN is. Most definitions throw “racism” into the mix. That is a red flag for MOST people. When Moore has “ethnic” in his definition, that appears to be what he means: racism.

In this interview Moore seems to base his opinion on a European scholar who reported that when most people say “We need to get back to Christianity,” what they really mean is “We need to NOT be Muslim,” or “We need to NOT be Jewish.”
However, Moore goes on to admit that this European scholar said that MOST of the people who say this in Europe are really not “Christian” but are more likely to be atheists! That certainly makes perfect sense. A Pew Research study reports that in 2015 Europe was overrun by around 3.7 million Muslim immigrants.

Some may remember this as I certainly do. This was the Google search response when I asked about this mass migration into Europe:
Reliable news outlets including Deutsche Welle (DW), the BBC, and The Guardian reported that officials identified approximately 1,200 European women as victims of sexual assault [rape] across Germany on New Year’s Eve 2015–2016, with perpetrators largely described as being of North African and Arab origin. This was 1,200 women assaulted – on one single night!

Moore continues in this Barna interview, “You can see it in this really virulent form that we see around the world right now.” WHAT form is he talking about? Around the world? WHERE?

There are movements in the UK now to “take back” their nation from the influx of Muslim immigrants. There is a similar movement in New Zealand.
Moore’s definition and explanation of CN is at best a skewed one. At worst it is simply his opinion…which he is entitled to. I think the interview was mostly a waste of time. Both Moore and the host, Glenn Packiam were quite vague about a topic they see as “extremely dangerous.”

Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI)
In the latest PRRI report (Feb 2026) we get the following data:
One-third of Americans qualify as Christian Nationalism Adherents (11%) or Sympathizers (21%). I was informed that PRRI is highly respected. This first statement is playing loose with statistics. ONLY 11% of their respondents claimed to agree with CN. But 21% are “sympathizers.” What does that mean? You have to dig deep into their definitions and methodology, but calling 1/3 of Americans “Christian Nationalists” in their opening paragraph sets the tone they want. Most will read this as 33% ARE CN.

Below are five questions asked of respondents in a PPRI survey that “qualifies a person to be a Christian Nationalist:”  [Awesome! You get to “qualify” as a CN. Using their overly simplistic rules – I feel sure they also asked “Do you support Trump?” – PPRI loses credibility by using this term and additionally by not making it clear how many of these five questions must a person agree with to “qualify” as a CN?]

1. The U.S. government should declare America a Christian nation.
2. U.S. laws should be based on Christian values.
3. If the U.S. moves away from our Christian foundations, we will not have a country anymore.
4. Being Christian is an important part of being truly American.
5. God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society.

Respondents who “completely agree” or “mostly agree” with these statements are categorized by PRRI as “Adherents” or “Sympathizers.” Those who disagree are classified as “Skeptics” or “Rejecters.”

Answer these five questions and see where you stand with the PRRI rubric.
Here are my responses:
1. The U.S. government should declare America a Christian nation.  disagree
Would I like the USA to be more like a Christian nation? Yes.
But the Constitution and Bill of Rights supports “freedom to practice your religious views” no matter what your position is.
2. U.S. laws should be based on Christian values.  mostly agree
US law is based on English common law which was based on the 10 Commandments.
Our legal system has always be based on Judeo-Christian philosophical-legal principles.  
3. If the U.S. moves away from our Christian foundations, we will not have a country anymore.  disagree
We have seen a movement away from Christian foundations and the nation did not fall apart. However, I do think abortion is murder. I think the crazy movement from Gay and Lesbian into Transgender and then removing body parts and giving young men and women hormones has proven that departing from Christian values can lead to serious cultural problems.
4. Being Christian is an important part of being truly American.  fully disagree
5. God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society.  disagree, I do think Christians should push to be involved in EVERY area of American life to be salt and light. The Leftists push their agenda and I think Christians should do the same. The difference is that we do not push our ideals with force and violence. The Progressives use force: doxing, violence in the streets and lawfare (yet they claim the Right to be fascists).

So this is my score:
mostly agree: 1  |  disagree: 3  |  fully disagree: 1
Dang! I’m not a CN!  Yet I am called this label by others who condemn me.
Notice that I felt compelled to explain my thoughts above. PRRI surveys do not allow for this kind of nuance. People are pigeonholed into a neat, tidy (and simplistic) position…which is exactly what PRRI seeks to achieve with their “research.”

Where did they come up with the 5 questions (on this PRRI page) to identify a CN person? How they scored was overly simplistic for such a complex concept. Did I “qualify” by agreement with one of the five statements? I never read in the study how that worked.
But I can tell you that “Trump” appears 26 times on this PRRI page.
Here is a pull quote in their report:

Christian nationalist views predominate in the South and Midwest; support for Christian nationalism is strongly correlated in all 50 states with favorable views of President Donald Trump…   PRRI (Feb 2026)

So Let’s Summarize this Article:
1. There is no clear definition of “Christian Nationalism.”
2. Even a significant percentage of non-Christians share some of the ideas that supposedly define CN.
3. The survey rubric to identify a CN proponent is vague and simplistic.
4. President Trump seems to be the focal point.
(I think CN is being driven by TDS, yes…Trump Derangement Syndrome).

The focus of this article is the lack of a clear definition. That remains a problem.
In my next article I am going to make it very clear what drives PRRI and possibly one other organization that is pushing this Christian Nationalism moniker.

Think about it…IF Christian Nationalism was a significant movement – wouldn’t they be promoting themselves more than these anti-CN groups?