The Flag and the Cross explores how white Christian nationalism functions as a political ideology rather than authentic Christianity. Drawing on sociology, history, and theology, the authors show how this ideology distorts Christian faith, legitimizes exclusion and inequality, and threatens democratic life. As discussed, by Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry, white Christian nationalism has had many iterations throughout the history of the United States.  However, at the core of this Christian ideology is the intentional and continual erasure of the imago Dei in all human beings – God’s good and blessed creation. White Christian nationalism is not a theology rooted in the divine, Christ-centered ethic of love and equity for all people. Instead, this ideology seeks to twist the words of Jesus, and God’s commandment of love of neighbor in Scripture by narrowly defining: 1) who our neighbors are, and 2) the nature of the God of all people and creation.

Join us each Wednesday in October as we study this book and its call to Christians to reclaim a Jesus-centered faith rooted in humility, curiosity, understanding, and love of neighbor.