Christian America and the Kingdom of God

The idea that the United States is a Christian nation—the presupposition of Christian nationalism—has always been a powerful theme in American culture. Christian America and the Kingdom of God: White Christian Nationalism from the Puritans through January 6, 2021 is a comprehensive history of Christian nationalism in the United States. It explores legal and cultural arguments for a Christian America, including literature on civil religion and forms of nationalism. Second, it explores what the Bible says about the ideas of “chosen nation” and “kingdom of God,” the only terms in the biblical text even remotely analogous to “Christian nation.” Finally, the book traces the development of the myth of Christian America from the Puritans through the insurrection on January 6, 2021 and the 2022 midterm elections. It illumines how pursuit of a Christian America has led Christians to act in decidedly unchristian ways, leading to a more aggressive white Christian nationalism that distorts the Christian faith and threatens the nation. In this updated and expanded edition, Christina Littlefield develops the work of Richard T. Hughes to showcase how Christians have often embraced an “empire state of mind,” pursuing their own cultural dominance over the Cross.