New Survey Says (Why) Christian Nationalism Is Declining
Baylor University and Ryan Burge provide good news
According to new survey data from Baylor University, Christian Nationalism seems to be declining. All the attention and criticism seems to have made an impact. Good news for a change. Amen!
Fewer Americans subscribe to Christian Nationalist ideas and values in 2021 than in 2007. The decline almost certainly results from greater awareness of Christian Nationalism’s toxicity and “proto-fascism.”
Let’s explore the data, courtesy of political scientist
and his Substack newsletter, Graphs about Religion.The Baylor Religion Survey and Christian Nationalism
Baylor University is a private, Christian university in Waco, Texas. It has a reputation for rigorous academics and moderate politics. You may have heard of their history professor,
, author of “The Making of Biblical Womanhood.” If not, listen to my interview with her.Saving Faith with Eric Sentell of the Backyard Church Blog: The Making of Biblical Womanhood - An…
In 2007, Baylor University conducted the “Baylor Religion Survey.” They asked a representative sample of U.S. citizens the following questions:
The federal government should advocate Christian values
The federal government should allow prayer in public schools
The federal government should allow the display of religious symbols in public spaces
The federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation
The federal government should enforce strict separation of church and state
The success of the United States is part of God’s plan.
Then in 2021, Baylor posed the same questions to another representative sample of Americans. In both surveys, people could respond with “strongly disagree,” “disagree,” “not sure,” “agree,” or “strongly agree.”
These questions, of course, reflect the common beliefs and arguments of Christian Nationalists. With Baylor’s methodology, we can compare the change in Christian Nationalist belief during the period of 2007–2021.
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