Published on March 3, 2024, 12:50 am

In the throbbing heart of today’s heated discussions around mainstream media and journalistic ethics, it is interesting to note one particular term that causes an unexpected reaction among journalists – “Christian Nationalism.” The stir caused by this term was recently thrown into sharp relief when Heidi Przybyla, a well-known journalist for Politico, asserted on MSNBC that Christian Nationalists believe that all human rights emanate from God rather than earthly authorities and institutions such as Congress or the Supreme Court.

Drawing a dubious connection, Przybyla suggested that this belief has fostered an extremist conservative Christian element within American politics. She argued that these groups promote their views primarily on contentious issues like abortion and gay marriage, suggesting an implicit agenda beyond just traditional democratic discussion. This move to label individuals with certain beliefs under the ominous umbrella of “Christian Nationalism” exhibits a classical tactic employed in propaganda; create a villainous epithet and tether those you wish to discredit to it.

The anchor of this perceived threat of ‘Christian Nationalism’ as suggested by Przybyla’s report lies in Project 2025. This initiative involves multiple entities including the Heritage Foundation and the Center for Renewing America. Its focus? To devise proposed policies and recommended personnel so any incoming presidential administration can efficiently begin its tenure.

To many conservatives, this effort holds paramount importance in recovering America from what they perceive as pernicious effects of radical left policy-making. However, Przybyla painted a picture where these efforts were largely insidious attempts orchestrated by Trump allies aiming to redefine public agencies in a second term.

It appears necessary not only at this point but crucially so, to acquaint people believing such narratives with Thomas Jefferson—founding father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and unquestionably a flag-bearer of Enlightenment philosophy. Amid sweeping statements labeling believers in God-given rights as ‘Christian Nationalists,’ we see Jefferson saying virtually the same thing in the Declaration. Jefferson asserts that all men are created equal and adorned by their Creator with certain inalienable rights — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Typically interpreted as embracing a Christian Worldview does not obscure the fact that Jeffersion also spent a significant amount of time excising parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ he disagreed with.

Moreover, this so-called ‘Mandate for Leadership’ reminisces about a similar document crafted by Heritage Foundation strategists aiming to shape policy during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. This document was updated multiple times correlating with future electoral victories of conservative candidates – simply put, it isn’t novel by any stretch of imagination.

It is noteworthy that Przybyla later apologized for her words defining ‘Christian Nationalism’, dubbing them as clumsy and admitting to her flawed understanding. Since her report based on obtained documents did not deliver concrete evidence supporting her initial claim around Christian nationalist policies, it prompts us to question the credibility of everything else stated.

We must always strive to disseminate trusted news rooted in facts rather than conjecture. When facing real news about complex issues like political beliefs and affiliations, we should opt to portray the whole picture – especially when matters touch upon deeply ingrained values like religious freedom or personal belief systems. Maintaining integrity while reporting ought to be our aim rather than succumbing to carry out thinly-veiled partisan narrative-building exercises wrapped in professional journalism.