Pew Research Center’s latest study, “Comparing Levels of Religious Nationalism Around the World”, seems downright baffling in light of the current political landscape.
President Trump has stacked his administration with unapologetic Christian nationalists — heading the Department of Defense, the Justice Department and the Office of Management and Budget. He has even tapped a televangelist to spearhead a White House Faith Office and has tasked his attorney general with exposing “anti-Christian bias.” Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers in statehouses nationwide are pushing bills to hammer the Ten Commandments into classrooms and force every citizen to acknowledge the “Kingship of Jesus.”
Christian nationalism appears to have achieved total political dominance. And yet — according to Pew — only 6 percent of U.S. adults qualify as “religious nationalists.” That’s a tiny fraction, even smaller than the 10 percent of Americans who identified as atheists or agnostics in 2024. Pew’s numbers just don’t seem to add up. If religious nationalists are such a rarity, how did they manage to take over the country?
A narrow definition
A closer look at Pew’s methodology reveals a more disturbing reality. For one thing, its definition of a “religious nationalist” is astonishingly rigid. To qualify, a person must agree with all four of the following statements:
1. Being part of the country’s majority religion is essential to being a “true” citizen.
2. A national leader should share your religious beliefs.
3. Your religion’s sacred text should heavily influence government policy.
4. If the will of the people clashes with your religion, your religion should win.
This definition sets a ridiculously high bar. Many would argue that agreeing with even one of these propositions is a theocratic red flag. Accepting two or three? That’s textbook religious nationalism. Yet, under Pew’s narrow standard, rejecting just one means you’re not a religious nationalist at all.
No wonder the 6 percent figure seems reassuring. It shouldn’t be.
The real picture: Christian nationalism triumphant
Pew’s numbers betray a much darker truth.
• As many as 52 percent of U.S. Christians believe that to be a “true American,” you must be Christian. That means over half of American Christians consider the 36 percent of people who are religiously unaffiliated or follow other faiths as outsiders unworthy of full citizenship.
• Half of American Christians think it’s important for the president to share their religious beliefs.
• An astonishing 76 percent of Christians say the president should stand up for people with their faith; 40 percent say it’s very important.
• A staggering 40 percent of Christians not only believe the bible should influence legislation — they say it should override the will of the people when there’s a conflict.
Let that last number sink in: A full 40 percent of American Christians believe theocracy should override democracy.
For purposes of comparison, it’s instructive to look at related studies by PRRI, the Public Religion Research Institute, which is led by Robert P. Jones and does important research. Earlier this month, PRRI updated its major survey of Christian nationalism across all 50 states, finding that three in 10 Americans continue to qualify as either Christian nationalist adherents (10 percent) or sympathizers (29 percent). PRRI measured Christian nationalism by asking respondents how much they agreed or disagreed with five statements, including “The U.S. government should declare America a Christian nation.” PRRI found that 37 percent of the population is skeptical of Christian nationalism and 29 percent reject it. (Incidentally, Christian nationalism is linked to being Republican, depending on far-right TV news sources or attending religious services weekly or more.)
Underestimating the Christian nationalist takeover
Pew’s 6 percent figure is a mirage, obscuring the real crisis: a vast and motivated Christian nationalist movement shaping American policy at every level. Christian nationalism isn’t a fringe ideology — it’s distressingly prevalent. It’s why Trump was reelected and why he feeds his religious base a steady diet of red meat. A close look at Pew’s numbers reveals why Christian nationalism isn’t just alive in America. It’s running the show.
Disclaimer: The views in this column are of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
