Christian nationalism has emerged as an important issue in the 2024 election, not just at the top of the ticket but also in statewide races and beyond. However, some people in North Carolina oppose its rise.
People have used different definitions to describe Christian nationalism. One way is two-part: America was founded as a Christian nation, and should be governed as one.
That’s the definition used by Scott Huffmon. He’s a political scientist at Winthrop University and its poll director.
He says the ideology has been around for a long time but seems to have coalesced with the rise of Donald Trump. It’s more common in the South, he says, where high-profile candidates such as gubernatorial hopeful Mark Robinson have espoused its views.
"There's a lot of people who believe parts of it, but the number of people who believe every aspect of it is small," he says. "But mighty, and mighty loud at times."
Rev. CJ Brinson is among those concerned about what Christian nationalism means for marginalized communities, including working class and queer people. He’s an organizer behind a revival-style gathering in Greensboro on Saturday with speakers opposed to the movement.
“This gathering is multi-racial, multi-faith folks coming together so that North Carolina is not painted as a Christian nationalist state,” he says.
Brinson says he wants to make sure that progressive Christian values get the same platform given to conservative views.