The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism

Evangelism has been an unspoken tool of white nationalism throughout American history, with an exploitation of religious rhetoric to further agendas rooted in racial supremacy. Often couched as “Christian nationalism,” white supremacy is nonetheless essential to the concept. Alberta examines the modern expression of white nationalism through notorious figures like Jerry Falwell, Ralph Reed, Charlie Kirk, and Donald Trump and provides insight into how this phenomenon manifests in contemporary American society.

Jerry Falwell played a significant role in mobilizing conservative Christians around political issues, particularly during the rise of the Religious Right in the 1980s. Falwell’s fusion of Christian theology with right-wing politics laid the groundwork for the entanglement of evangelicalism with nationalist ideologies. By framing political conservatism as fundamentally aligned with Christian values, Falwell galvanized a large segment of white evangelical voters, leveraging their religious identity to promote a predominantly white, conservative agenda.

Ralph Reed furthered Falwell’s efforts by organizing grassroots campaigns to mobilize evangelical voters around conservative candidates and causes. Reed’s strategic use of Christian messages appealed to white evangelical fears and anxieties, particularly around issues such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration. By framing these issues as moral imperatives, Reed effectively weaponized evangelical rhetoric to advance a nationalist agenda that often privileges the interests of white Christians over those of marginalized communities.