WNUG Ep. 3- White Christian Nationalism and the January 6, 2021 Insurrection
How religion played into the violent attempt to overthrow democracy.
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Did you see them? The symbols of Christianity put on public display that terrifying day in 2021?
The crosses. The Bibles. The prayers uttered in Jesus’ name.
All with the backdrop of a mob breaching the walls of the Capitol building and roaming its marble hallways in search of politicians upon whom they could vent their violent wrath.
Why would any religion have a place at such a dreadful display? Why did those who participated in those calamitous events think that God was on their side?
Can we actually be prepared for the ongoing threats to our democracy without attending to the religious elements that animate them?
In episode 3 of “White Nation Under God”, Andrew Seidel, a lawyer, author, and 1st Amendment expert helps us understand how white Christian nationalism was on display January 6th and in the broader anti-democratic efforts afoot in the U.S.
White Christian Nationalism and the January 6, 2021 Insurrection with Andrew Seidel
An attempted insurrection on January 6, 2021 forced the nation to pay attention to the rising wave of anti-democratic movements in the United States. With the Christian iconography of the event--from crosses to pictures of a European-looking Jesus--we also had to learn more about a topic unfamiliar to some--white Christian nationalism. To help us understand white Christian nationalism's influence on politics and the events of January 6, we are joined by Andrew Seidel, author of American Crusade and the Director of Strategic Response at the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Previous Episodes
What Is White Christian Nationalism with Dr. Jemar Tisby
How White Christian Nationalism Threatens Democracy with Drs. Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry