The Myth of a Christian Nation | Part 2: Trickle Down American Exceptionalism

This week, Ashley and Bailee continue their deep-dive into the myth of a “Christian nation,” shifting into the modern era and the forces that shaped evangelical political identity as we know it today.

We explore the cultural and political shifts surrounding the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and how the rise of the Moral Majority helped cement the alliance between evangelical Christianity and conservative power. From there, we trace how events like 9/11, the War on Terror, and the Obama era fueled fear, urgency, and a deepened sense of “us vs. them” within evangelical spaces.

As the timeline moves closer to the present, we look at how these narratives evolved through the Tea Party and into the Trump era—examining how the idea of America as a “Christian nation” became not just a belief, but a driving force in politics, culture, and identity.

References: 

• National Public Radio. (2018, February 24). Billy Graham walked a line—and regretted crossing into politics. https://www.npr.org/2018/02/24/587809173/billy-graham-walked-a-line-and-regretted-crossing-over-it-when-it-came-to-politi
• Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). Reaganomics. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/ess_reaganomics.html
• Virginia Commonwealth University, Social Welfare History Project. (n.d.). The conservative transition in American social policy. https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/1980s-beyond/the-conservative-transition-in-american-social-policy/

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Fact Check: 

Billy Graham Quote:
"I told him [Falwell] to preach the Gospel. That's our calling. I want to preserve the purity of the Gospel and the freedom of religion in America. I don't want to see religious bigotry in any form. Liberals organized in the '60s, and conservatives certainly have a right to organize in the '80s, but it would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it." — Billy Graham 

• Source: February 1, 1981, cover story of Parade magazine, titled "Billy Graham: America Is Not God's Only Kingdom". 

Hijackers in the September 11 attacks hailed from four countries: 15 of them were citizens of Saudi Arabia, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one was from Egypt, and one from Lebanon.

• Source:
  • "A Review of the FBI's Handling of Intelligence Information Prior to the September 11 Attacks". Office of the Inspector General. Chapter Five: Two September 11 Hijackers: Khalid Al-Mihdhar and Nawaf Al-Hazmi. U.S. Department of Justice. June 2005.

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