Since Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the 2016 election, a rash of articles, surveys, and books have claimed that many maybe even most Americans in flyover country are “Christian nationalists.” That’s supposed to sound scary. But the term is mostly used as a smear against conservative Christians who defend the role of religion in American public life.
As a Christian I observe for religious purpose, but I respect the rights of another not to practice as I do. That one day at work made me really think of how I view religion in terms of America. It put in perspective the religious freedom of this nation. Not only is it not a Christian nation, but it doesn’t function like one and isn’t designed to do so. If we are more honest about this fact, we can look at how Christianity is used to dictate policy in spaces that it should not hence infringing upon the rights of others not to be governed by Christianity. We don’t have to like this fact, but it’s far time we respect it. Holidays are just one area that reminds us Christianity is one’s choice…not the national religion.