The term “Christo-fascism” is a highly charged and controversial term that can be seen as counterproductive and a weapon of illegitimate discourse for several reasons:
Resolute Square, Andra Watkins
Project 2025’s hidden Christo-fascist language is even more insidious. Journalists who didn’t grow up in these churches speed bump over Evangelicalese. I’m fluent in this language, because I was indoctrinated in my youth.
Oversimplification and Misrepresentation: It unfairly conflates Christianity with fascism, misrepresenting the beliefs and values of many Christians who do not support extremist ideologies. This broad-brush approach alienates moderate individuals and fuels resentment. The term often oversimplifies complex political and religious ideologies, reducing them to a single, pejorative label. It can misrepresent individuals and groups who hold diverse beliefs and may not adhere to the extreme views associated with fascism.
Inflammatory Rhetoric:The term is inherently inflammatory and can escalate tensions rather than foster constructive dialogue. It can be used to demonize and discredit opponents, hindering the possibility of finding common ground or compromise.
Historical and Theological Inaccuracy:The term can be seen as historically and theologically inaccurate, as it conflates Christianity with a political ideology that is fundamentally opposed to its core teachings of love, compassion, and justice.
Alienation and Polarization: Using such a charged term deepens societal divisions by framing one side as inherently evil. Using such a divisive term can alienate and polarize individuals and communities, hindering the possibility of building bridges and fostering understanding. It can create an “us vs. them” mentality that is detrimental to a healthy and functioning society.
Focus on Extremism:While it is important to address and condemn extremist views, using a broad-brush term like “Christo-fascism” can obscure the nuances and complexities of political and religious beliefs. It can also distract from the more pressing issues at hand, such as addressing social and economic inequalities, promoting human rights, and protecting the environment.
Escalates Conflict: Demonizing language can escalate conflicts and lead to further radicalization. When people feel attacked or unfairly labeled, they are more likely to entrench themselves in their views rather than reconsider them.
It is crucial to engage in respectful and informed dialogue about political and religious ideologies, avoiding the use of inflammatory and divisive language that can hinder understanding and progress.
Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Call them unreasonable. Extreme. Unlawful. Immoral. Hating kids. And of course, Nazi. Anything to create an evil image in the eyes of anyone listening.
“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical; from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins—or which is which). The first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom—Lucifer.”
~ Saul Alinsky
How Liberals create their own “Connect The Dots” puzzle games
Dot #1: [Kari] Lake’s strain of extremism is already well-represented in the statehouse by people like State Sen. Wendy Rodgers. She’s a member of the Oath Keepers, an extremist paramilitary organization that was at the center of the Jan. 6th insurrection.
Dot #2:The connection runs both ways; the Oath Keepers were founded by Stewart Rhodes, who once clerked for a justice on the Arizona state Supreme Court. Rhodes helped lead the Jan. 6th insurrection, an act of sedition that could put him in prison for up to 60 years.
Dot #3:This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Waco siege, a 51-day standoff between the federal government and a far-right, militantly white Christian nationalist cult that festered in central Texas in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
Dot #4: It took less than 30 years for the white nationalist movement to go from a cult under siege on a remote mountain to a national coordinated militia storming the US Capitol.
The rest of the dots in the above screed are just as misleading as these four. The resulting picture is as unrecognizable as a toddler’s preschool scribbles. But the headline sure makes its point! “Swallowing us whole.”
The label “Christian nationalist” is appearing more frequently and is being used to silence people of faith, according to experts.
Dr. Mark David Hall, an author and professor at George Fox University, recently discussed the history behind the term. He argues that the political Left started using it well over a decade ago “to label Christians who bring their faith into the public square for ends they don’t like.”
National security and intelligence expert Dr. Stephen Coughlin similarly argues the label is part of a politically driven effort to suppress religious opinions that defy the modern orthodoxy and Leftist ideology:
“What they did was they created a faux term ‘Christian nationalism,’ and they gave it all these negative attributes and then used that to attack Christians. It’s part of what you call an ‘intersectional line of attack’ in a political warfare model, which is the Maoist insurgency model, which we believe is the premier principal form of Marxism.”
Former congresswoman and current dean of the Regent University School of Government, Michele Bachmann, contends the surge in use is no coincidence, especially so close to a midterm election. She explains:
“It’s all about holding on to power. That’s what it’s about. There’s only one party in power now in the United States, in Washington, D.C. They don’t want to let it go…And what they have seen is the power of the Church, the epicenter of power in the United States. Opposing their agenda is the Church and the principles of the Bible. They don’t like pastors preaching on issues. They don’t like congregants being inspired from the Bible. And so that’s why we’re the target. They want to silence us.”
What exactly does “Christian nationalism” mean? There is no settled definition, but broadly speaking, radicals use “Christian nationalism” to conflate racism, white supremacy and identity, religion and patriotism. They often add in fascism, theocracy and authoritarianism.
…the term “Christian Nationalism” has recently been increasingly wielded by “elites” with deceptive motives as a weapon to demonize and marginalize those with traditional Christian values. The concept of Christian Nationalism is being twisted and distorted to fit a narrative that equates with extremism, bigotry, and authoritarianism. The propaganda machine of the media wants the masses to believe that if you are labeled a Christian Nationalist that it is somehow synonymous with Nazism or fascism. They have deliberately hijacked those words to enjoin them into something sinister.
This label seeks to delegitimize Christian influence from government by associating it with extremism or an attempt to impose religious beliefs on others.
Yet, history attests to the foundational role of Christian principles in shaping concepts of liberty, justice, and governance. As Noah Webster, one of America’s Founding Fathers, aptly noted, “The Christian religion… is the basis, or rather the source, of all genuine freedom in government… I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of Christianity have not a controlling influence.”
The Classic Liberal line of attack:“You identify as a Christian and voted for Trump, a figure associated with white supremacy, baseless election fraud claims, and inciting an insurrection that jeopardized our democracy. Therefore, your support aligns with Christian Nationalism, white supremacy, sedition, and election denialism. Such beliefs pose a threat to democracy and should be closely monitored and curtailed. Your actions make you an adversary to both the state and its people.”
No, Christian nationalism is a political ideology and a form of nationalism, not a religion or a form of Christianity. It directly contradicts the Gospel in multiple ways, and is therefore considered by many Christian leaders to be a heresy. While Jesus taught love, peace, and truth, Christian nationalism leads to hatred, political violence, and QAnon misinformation. While Jesus resisted the devil’s temptations of authority in the wilderness, Christian nationalism seeks to seize power for its followers at all costs. And while Christianity is a 2,000-year-old global tradition that transcends all borders, Christian nationalism seeks to merge faith with a single, 247-year-old, pluralistic nation.
If Christian nationalism is a political ideology, not a religion, why call it “Christian?”
We still say “Christian nationalism” because, just as white nationalism seeks to define national citizenship by a particular race, Christian nationalism seeks to define national citizenship by a particular religion. We need to note which faith is being hijacked — our faith — in order to highlight the danger to the church as well as to explain why we are the ones speaking out.
Equally importantly, while the ideology of Christian nationalism isn’t Christian, individual Christian nationalists are. We should not question anyone else’s stated faith or relationship with God the way that some of our own critics have questioned us. Instead, it is precisely because we are their fellow Christians that we can say to the pastors and politicians who abuse their power, “This is not what our shared faith is supposed to look like. This hunger for power and this mistreatment of others is not the love that Jesus wants from us.”
“This movement — the most dangerous mass movement in American history — will not be blunted until the growing social and economic inequities that blight this nation are addressed, until tens of millions of Americans, now locked in hermetic systems of indoctrination through Christian television and radio, as well as Christian schools, are reincorporated into American society and given a future, one with hope, adequate wages, job security, and generous federal and state assistance. The unchecked rape of America, which continues with the blessing of both political parties, heralds not only the empowerment of this American oligarchy but the eventual death of the democratic state and birth of American fascism.”
The Supreme Court is relentlessly funding and empowering Christian fascism.
I do not use the word fascist lightly. My father was a Presbyterian minister. My mother, a professor, was a seminary graduate. I received my Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. I am an ordained Presbyterian minister.
[The middle section of this “Blah-blah-blah” has been omitted in accordance with better mental health reading standards.]
In the end, even the liberal class will choose fascism over empowering the left-wing and organized labor. The only thing the ruling oligarchy truly cares about is unfettered exploitation and profit. They, like the industrialists in Nazi Germany, will happily make an alliance with the Christian fascists, no matter how bizarre and buffoonish, and embrace the blood sacrifices of the condemned.
Christian Nationalists are a coalition of far-right Catholics and Protestants. They include Dominionists. I grew up independent Baptist (I’d put virtually 100% of them in the CN camp), but definitely Southern Baptists, many Church of God congregations, and more conservative Methodists and Presbyterians. I don’t *think* Unitarians and Congregationalists get mixed up in this nonsense, but conservative Episcopalians and Lutherans may.
There has also been an explosion of nondenominational churches since I stopped attending church. Many of those churches also espouse Christian Nationalist views and have personality-cult-type pastors.
“New and improved” is a term that’s often used in advertisements. Companies refer to products as “new and improved” when they’ve created a different version of something or made improvements to it. It’s now widely regarded with contempt as the utter intelligence-insulting nonsense that it is.
Enter the wild and wacky transmogrification of those dog-faced pony soldiers of the scandal-ridden Lincoln Project as they try to reboot their careers with a new “pro-democracy” news site … Resolute Square.
Further evidence of how firmly The Lincoln Project has cemented its relationship with full-blown Liberalism is version 2.0 of their grift … ResoluteSquare. Realizing their current grift machine is running on fumes, they decided to reinvent themselves as a media powerhouse.
There is a flood rushing around us, breaching the dikes we throw up to try and maintain sanity, wearing us down and ripping us downriver. It is a flood of atrocities, of harms, of legislation, and of violence both rhetorical and physical. It is a flood of Christofascist assaults on human rights in the United States, and June 2022, as a microcosm, is the biggest wave so far. It has crashed through and pulled away the veneer of civility we overlaid on the myth of America: a country where human rights were respected, where progress was being made, where the incremental nudges we’d made to the moral arc of the universe might be sufficient.
Well, that was certainly a family-sized serving.
The following article has no discussion, just a POLITICO quote, and an accusation…
The Christian right has lured tens of millions of Americans, who rightly feel abandoned and betrayed by the political system, from the reality-based world to one of magic — to fantastic visions of angels and miracles, to a childlike belief that God has a plan for them and Jesus will guide and protect them.
This mythological worldview, one that has no use for science or dispassionate, honest intellectual inquiry, one that promises that the loss of jobs and health insurance does not matter, as long as you are right with Jesus, offers a lying world of consistency that addresses the emotional yearnings of desperate followers at the expense of reality. It creates a world where facts become interchangeable with opinions, where lies become true — the very essence of the totalitarian state. It includes a dark license to kill,to obliterate all those who do not conform to this vision, from Muslims in the Middle East to those at home who refuse to submit to the movement. And it conveniently empowers a rapacious oligarchy whose god is maximum profit at the expense of citizens.
The unchecked rape of America, which continues with the blessing of both political parties, heralds not only the empowerment of this American oligarchy but the eventual death of the democratic state and birth of American fascism.
The key to understanding the pernicious flood of accusations
Demonizing the enemy, demonization of the enemy or dehumanization of the enemy is a propaganda technique which promotes an idea about the enemy being a threatening, evil aggressor with only destructive objectives.[2] Demonization aims to inspire hatred toward an enemy, rendering the enemy more easily hurt while preserving and mobilizing allies and demoralizing the enemy.
“Today’s politics of demonization shamelessly peddles a dangerous idea that some people are less human than others, stripping away the humanity of entire groups of people. This threatens to unleash the darkest aspects of human nature.”
~ Amnesty International
Amnesty International’s statement highlights a critical and alarming trend in contemporary politics: the demonization of certain groups of people. This tactic, which dehumanizes and marginalizes individuals based on race, religion, nationality, or other characteristics, is not only morally reprehensible but also incredibly dangerous. By promoting the idea that some people are less human than others, these politics foster an environment ripe for discrimination, violence, and systemic injustice.
The dehumanization of groups is a slippery slope that can lead to some of the most horrific chapters in human history. When people are stripped of their humanity, it becomes easier for societies to justify mistreatment and violence against them. This has been seen time and again, from the atrocities of the Holocaust to the genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia. Dehumanizing rhetoric paves the way for such atrocities by desensitizing the public and creating a culture of hate and intolerance.
Moreover, the politics of demonization undermines the very foundation of democracy and human rights. Democracies thrive on the principles of equality, justice, and respect for all individuals. When political leaders and influencers resort to dehumanizing language and policies, they erode these principles, weakening the social fabric and the rule of law. It creates an ‘us versus them’ mentality that polarizes societies, leading to increased conflict and instability.
The impact of such rhetoric extends beyond immediate political gains. It has long-term consequences on societal cohesion and the well-being of future generations. Children growing up in environments where certain groups are demonized learn to adopt these prejudices, perpetuating cycles of hate and discrimination. This not only affects the targeted groups but also harms society as a whole by stifling diversity, creativity, and progress.
As Amnesty International rightly observes, this rhetoric “shamelessly peddles a dangerous idea that some people are less human than others.” This dehumanization is not merely a matter of offensive language; it is a threat to the very fabric of our society.
A Democrat who is running to be the next governor of Florida is facing criticism after she openly compared the state’s current Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., to Adolf Hitler.
Appearing on NPR’s Friday Roundup Podcast, Nikki Fried was asked by the show’s co-host Melissa Ross to explain a tweet Fried had made in which she called DeSantis a “dictator”.
When we strip away the humanity of entire groups of people, we open the door to the darkest aspects of human nature. History is replete with examples of the horrors that can unfold when we view others as less than human. From the Holocaust to the Rwandan genocide, the consequences of dehumanization are devastating.
The politics of demonization thrives on fear and division. It seeks to create an “us vs. them” mentality, where those who are different are seen as a threat. This not only fuels discrimination and prejudice but also erodes our capacity for empathy and compassion. When we see others as less than human, we are more likely to tolerate or even condone violence and injustice against them.
The antidote to the politics of demonization is a reaffirmation of our shared humanity. We must recognize that despite our differences, we all share the same basic needs and desires. We all have the capacity for love, joy, and sorrow. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
While negative campaigning has long been a tried and true method for winning elections in the free world, actual demonization was fairly rare in the United States. But since 2016, the Democrats have aped the Soviets and adopted demonization as their main political tool for winning elections.
THE STAGE is impressive. A show of strength and power of the president who, almost in unison, has been described as the weakest in history. Some analysts, demonstrating their lack of malice and showing their fragile innocence, said that it is a political “mistake;” asking themselves who was the advisor who came up with such a staging. They are wrong, dear analysts, it is not a mistake, it is the manual of demonizing the opposition, played by the book by the Democrats in the last year.
Have you not been paying attention to the last week? Have you not heard Biden calling Trump supporters semi-fascists? Charlie Crist in Florida literally admitting that he doesn’t want the vote of Ron DeSantis supporters because they have “hate in their hearts”?
How about the White House using official channels to politically attack its adversaries? Didn’t you see it?
And the press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, the woman who should avoid polemicizing in front of the press, calling the pro-life movement “semi-fascist” and “extremist?”
Or perhaps one should go further back and recall the infamous memo by Attorney General Merrick Garland where he basically endorsed the NSBA’s assertion that criticism by American parents concerned about their children’s education against school districts “could be the equivalent of domestic terrorism.”
Well, that was certainly a family-sized serving.
The dehumanization of groups is a slippery slope that can lead to some of the most horrific chapters in human history. When people are stripped of their humanity, it becomes easier for societies to justify mistreatment and violence against them. This has been seen time and again, from the atrocities of the Holocaust to the genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia. Dehumanizing rhetoric paves the way for such atrocities by desensitizing the public and creating a culture of hate and intolerance.
When we strip away the humanity of entire groups of people, we open the door to the darkest aspects of human nature. History is replete with examples of the horrors that can unfold when we view others as less than human. From the Holocaust to the Rwandan genocide, the consequences of dehumanization are devastating.THE STAGE is impressive. A show of strength and power of the president who, almost in unison, has been described as the weakest in history. Some analysts, demonstrating their lack of malice and showing their fragile innocence, said that it is a political “mistake;” asking themselves who was the advisor who came up with such a staging. They are wrong, dear analysts, it is not a mistake, it is the manual of demonizing the opposition, played by the book by the Democrats in the last year.
