Christian Nationalism isn't Christian or Canadian

 

                                      "Freedom Convoy" occupation of Parliament Hill in February 2022

Last week Canadian religious writer and Anglican priest, Michael Coren, wrote an article for the Toronto Star which resulted in a fair amount of anger directed his way. It had the excellent title Canadian Christian nationalism not Christian, it’s not Canadian, or patriotic either. This should be a bumper sticker, although vehicles sporting it would probably be vandalized. 

Coren was once an articulate spokesperson for the religious right, a Roman Catholic who was embraced by the evangelical world. For the most part he wasn't rabid about his views but he underwent a change of heart, a conversion of sort, which changed his outlook regardling LGBTQ2S+ persons, as one example. He almost immediately became Public Enemy No. 1 amongst those who had previously been big fans. We had him come as an anniversary speaker at Bridge St. Church and he was good. 

Here is a portion of that Star article. I agree with every word. 

There’s much about the rise of the new right in Canada that is deeply troubling and should be so to traditional conservatives as well as to liberals and progressives. This fairly recent phenomenon is a coalition of populists, racists, conspiracy theorists, anti-science zealots and Christian nationalists. 

It’s the last group in particular that so concerns me, because it’s a mingling of the irrational and religious with the hateful and extreme and that’s a recipe for disaster.

I don’t think that Tory leadership front-runner Pierre Poilievre is one of them, or even that he’s especially religious, but I do believe he gives these people oxygen, has their support, and does absolutely nothing to dissuade them. 

We see their signs at protests and rallies and saw them in abundance during the Ottawa occupation. Misplaced, sometimes misspelled, Bible quotes, calls for the “restoration of the kingdom of God,” pictures of rosaries wrapped around offensive right-wing statements and prayer meetings held by people who proceed to wish death on Justin Trudeau and use obscene language about their opponents. 

Apart from the obvious horror of it all, it’s such an imploding idea. Christian nationalism is an inherent contradiction, an oxymoron, in that Jesus stood in direct opposition to nationalism — both that of his own people, and as a wider concept. The essence of his teaching is that he came for all, irrespective of race or nation, and that one person could not have two masters. A Christian nationalist is merely a nationalist trying to disguise nastiness behind faith and religiosity. 

In that the Gospels preach love, tolerance, gentleness, forgiveness and equality, there is no connection between Christ and this latest aberration; or, if you like, this latest heresy. Jesus said you change the world by changing your heart, Christian nationalists say you change the world by shouting at and insulting people. 

But there’s more. Not only is Canadian Christian nationalism not Christian, it’s not Canadian, or patriotic either. The roots of this perverted idea are found in a specifically American notion of exceptionalism, the idea that the United States was and is chosen by God to be a light on a hill, distinct, special, and better. America, runs the ideology, has a God-given right and duty to shape and lead the world and anybody who opposes that isn’t truly American. Inevitably, that leads to a whole stew of repugnant beliefs. It may even lead to something resembling fascism.