A new survey from the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution found that fewer than a third of Americans qualify as Christian nationalists, and of those, most identify as white evangelicals.
The survey of more than 6,200 people found that 10 percent of Americans identify as Christian nationalists, and some 19 percent are “sympathetic” to Christian nationalist ideals.
Christian nationalists are largely defined as having religious and political beliefs in the idea that the U.S. was founded by God to be a Christian nation.
According to Religion News Service, in the survey, respondents were asked to examine five statements, including “The U.S. should be declared a Christian nation” and “God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society.” Respondents were then asked to place a scale on their responses.
The survey found that Christian nationalists are significantly more likely than other Americans to go to church and say religion is important in their lives.
“There’s a strong positive correlation between frequency of church attendance and likelihood of being a Christian nationalism adherent or sympathizer,” said PRRI founder and president Robert P. Jones. “Christian nationalism adherents are more than six times as likely as Christian nationalism rejectors to attend church weekly.”
Meanwhile, 70 percent said they do not think the U.S. should declare itself as a Christian nation, and nearly 60 percent of respondents said they do not think laws should be based on Christian values.
“If we were in Europe and had four or five political parties, we’d have a Christian nationalist party, and it would represent a quarter of the country or 30% at most,” Jones said. “But because we have this binary system, that group loads into one political party. That’s why the country feels divided.”
The survey also reported:
- About six in 10 Christian nationalists and sympathizers are over the age of 50.
- Just 18 percent of Christian nationalism supporters have a four-year college degree.
- More than half of Republicans identify as Christian nationalists or sympathizers.
- Christian nationalists have a more favorable view of former president Donald Trump.
- About 1/3 of respondents said they had not heard of the term “Christian nationalism.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Anastasiia Stiahailo
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
