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Who’s Afraid of Christian Nationalism: Why Christian Nationalism Is Not an Existential Threat to America or the Church
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2024
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22 people want to read
About the author
Mark David Hall
20 books26 followersMark David Hall, is Herbert Hoover Distinguished Professor of Politics and Faculty Fellow in the William Penn Honors Program at George Fox University.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 27, 2024
As someone who wants to understand an issue before making up his mind I was really excited for this book. I have heard the pejorative “Christian nationalist!” Used for people when they simply talk about voting using the Bible, so I was not sure if I was one or not. Then I heard about a Christian Prince….huh? Well, this book is one of many I am reading about this CN issue. I think the author does a good job of explaining what it is and why Christians need not fear it, and if the media and liberal politicians (but I repeat myself) were being honest they would not fear CN either. This was the good part. I think he could have made a stronger case for CN but since it was not the focus of the book that’s fine, but it is the reason I dropped a star.
September 26, 2025
God Entranced, Dan Waugh
Book Review: “Who’s Afraid of Christian Nationalism," by Mark David Hall
By Daniel Waugh on September 26, 2025
A friend asked me to read this recent book (2024) by Mark D. Hall, a professor in the School of Government at Regent University. The book is helpful in some areas, a bit too shallow in others, and outright deficient in one.
Let me begin by summarizing Hall's central thesis: Christian Nationalism is an unchristian, undemocratic position that serious followers of Jesus should reject; yet, it is a small, obscure minority with little influence. Consequently, it does not pose a threat to America or the church.
Hall is very helpful in sorting through some of the current literature and data on Christian Nationalism. Some studies suggest that nearly 52% of Americans "embrace fully or partially the toxic ideology they [the researchers] call Christian Nationalism." Hall exposes the flawed methodology behind that number and other similar surveys. Essentially, if someone believed America was founded as a Christian nation and believed prayer should be allowed in schools, they were counted as sympathetic to Christian nationalism. But, that could include a Muslim who thought that, as a matter of historical record, America had Christian roots and that prayer, including Islamic prayer, should be allowed in schools, in the 52% - even if the person responding wasn't a Christian or had no Christian agenda.
Hall's research puts the number closer to 20%. More on that below.
Hall also does a good job of exposing some of the literature on Christian nationalism as more polemical than serious scholarship. There is certainly a bias against Christians and Christians who would let their faith inform their view of government/politics in any way. This bias, and the fear of Christian Nationalism, colors a good bit of the literature.
Hall also looks at some of the key proponents of Christian Nationalism, namely Doug Wilson and Stephen Wolfe. He finds both of these authors' works troubling, but considers them fringe. Therein lies a huge deficiency in Hall's book. He limits his discussion of the movement and its key proponents to published works. He ignores ENTIRELY how Christian nationalism, in its more virulent forms, has spread through social media and across the internet. Wilson's books may not have a considerable reach, but how about his YouTube channel and X account? How is it that some of the most disgusting Christian Nationalists have hundreds of thousands of followers on the X accounts? Or that higher-ups in government are reposting clips (approvingly) of Wilson and his associate pastors stating women shouldn't vote and the 19th Amendment should be repealed.
Additionally, I think Hall's book is far too shallow to be helpful in his articulation of why Christians should reject Christian Nationalism and his chapter on how Christians should enter the public square. He may respond that this isn't the main thrust of the book, which I get. However, if you are going to delve into that topic, a few pages of surface-level engagement are not enough.
Coming back to his 20% number. Hall's research puts the number closer to 20%, and is the basis for Hall's conclusion that it is not a significant issue. However, as a pastor, I am deeply concerned by this. If 20% of Americans embrace this toxic sludge that is Christian Nationalism, that's 68 million Americans. I want to ask, "Where are those 68 million Americans related to the church?" Hall points out that a good number of them aren't pious churchgoers at all. But even if we cut that in half to 34 million, where are they? Certainly not in the liberal, mainline churches. Some are in the Catholic church. But that would leave a healthy number in the evangelical church. If roughly 30 million of the 68 million Christian Nationalists are part of the evangelical church, that represents almost half of the evangelicals. That is a problem for the church!
Book Review: “Who’s Afraid of Christian Nationalism," by Mark David Hall
By Daniel Waugh on September 26, 2025
A friend asked me to read this recent book (2024) by Mark D. Hall, a professor in the School of Government at Regent University. The book is helpful in some areas, a bit too shallow in others, and outright deficient in one.
Let me begin by summarizing Hall's central thesis: Christian Nationalism is an unchristian, undemocratic position that serious followers of Jesus should reject; yet, it is a small, obscure minority with little influence. Consequently, it does not pose a threat to America or the church.
Hall is very helpful in sorting through some of the current literature and data on Christian Nationalism. Some studies suggest that nearly 52% of Americans "embrace fully or partially the toxic ideology they [the researchers] call Christian Nationalism." Hall exposes the flawed methodology behind that number and other similar surveys. Essentially, if someone believed America was founded as a Christian nation and believed prayer should be allowed in schools, they were counted as sympathetic to Christian nationalism. But, that could include a Muslim who thought that, as a matter of historical record, America had Christian roots and that prayer, including Islamic prayer, should be allowed in schools, in the 52% - even if the person responding wasn't a Christian or had no Christian agenda.
Hall's research puts the number closer to 20%. More on that below.
Hall also does a good job of exposing some of the literature on Christian nationalism as more polemical than serious scholarship. There is certainly a bias against Christians and Christians who would let their faith inform their view of government/politics in any way. This bias, and the fear of Christian Nationalism, colors a good bit of the literature.
Hall also looks at some of the key proponents of Christian Nationalism, namely Doug Wilson and Stephen Wolfe. He finds both of these authors' works troubling, but considers them fringe. Therein lies a huge deficiency in Hall's book. He limits his discussion of the movement and its key proponents to published works. He ignores ENTIRELY how Christian nationalism, in its more virulent forms, has spread through social media and across the internet. Wilson's books may not have a considerable reach, but how about his YouTube channel and X account? How is it that some of the most disgusting Christian Nationalists have hundreds of thousands of followers on the X accounts? Or that higher-ups in government are reposting clips (approvingly) of Wilson and his associate pastors stating women shouldn't vote and the 19th Amendment should be repealed.
Additionally, I think Hall's book is far too shallow to be helpful in his articulation of why Christians should reject Christian Nationalism and his chapter on how Christians should enter the public square. He may respond that this isn't the main thrust of the book, which I get. However, if you are going to delve into that topic, a few pages of surface-level engagement are not enough.
Coming back to his 20% number. Hall's research puts the number closer to 20%, and is the basis for Hall's conclusion that it is not a significant issue. However, as a pastor, I am deeply concerned by this. If 20% of Americans embrace this toxic sludge that is Christian Nationalism, that's 68 million Americans. I want to ask, "Where are those 68 million Americans related to the church?" Hall points out that a good number of them aren't pious churchgoers at all. But even if we cut that in half to 34 million, where are they? Certainly not in the liberal, mainline churches. Some are in the Catholic church. But that would leave a healthy number in the evangelical church. If roughly 30 million of the 68 million Christian Nationalists are part of the evangelical church, that represents almost half of the evangelicals. That is a problem for the church!
February 13, 2025
Been trying to write this review 3 times now.
He tells at least 2 falsehoods about january 6th, ignores what I would call mainstream christian nationalism, donald trump is pretty much absent from this piece, he gives contradictory and nonsensical arguments about the influence of doug wilson, how harmful prayer in schools is historically, the moral motives of the religious right (“they weren’t racist! Just virulently homophobic and bigoted toward atheists).
In all, I don’t want to say Mr. Hall is a hack, but he’s definitely a fixer for the religious right and the religious nationalists he tells us not to worry about. Per him, Christian nationalists may only be 20% of the country. Contra him, they are a threat to the country because they have folks like him who enable them, putting their head in the sand and voting Republican (not even splitting ticket) when populist leaders run on violating the rule of the law.
I wish I could say more, but I tried to write this twice already. I give it 2 stars instead of one because he does present legitimate criticism of the catastrophizing of CN’s critics, but it’s overshadowed by a guy either running interference of having no idea how bad Christian Nationalism is, or how prominent it is in culture in 2025
He tells at least 2 falsehoods about january 6th, ignores what I would call mainstream christian nationalism, donald trump is pretty much absent from this piece, he gives contradictory and nonsensical arguments about the influence of doug wilson, how harmful prayer in schools is historically, the moral motives of the religious right (“they weren’t racist! Just virulently homophobic and bigoted toward atheists).
In all, I don’t want to say Mr. Hall is a hack, but he’s definitely a fixer for the religious right and the religious nationalists he tells us not to worry about. Per him, Christian nationalists may only be 20% of the country. Contra him, they are a threat to the country because they have folks like him who enable them, putting their head in the sand and voting Republican (not even splitting ticket) when populist leaders run on violating the rule of the law.
I wish I could say more, but I tried to write this twice already. I give it 2 stars instead of one because he does present legitimate criticism of the catastrophizing of CN’s critics, but it’s overshadowed by a guy either running interference of having no idea how bad Christian Nationalism is, or how prominent it is in culture in 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2025
Mark David Hall brings clarity, balance, and much-needed perspective to one of the most polarizing debates in American public life. In Who’s Afraid of Christian Nationalism, Hall challenges the alarmist narratives that have dominated headlines and scholarly discussions, offering instead a careful, historically grounded, and reasoned analysis. His work neither dismisses nor sensationalizes the reality of Christian nationalism, but situates it in a way that highlights nuance and avoids rhetorical overreach. By separating fact from fearmongering, Hall provides readers with a thoughtful and fair-minded critique that encourages deeper understanding rather than division. This is an important and refreshing contribution for anyone seeking truth over hyperbole in discussions about faith and politics in America.
June 13, 2024
Helpful in giving a definition of Christian nationalism. Does a great job showing it’s not a threat to America. Would have liked more biblical arguments on why the author believes Christians should reject his definition of Christian nationalism. Golden rule was a strong argument.
October 17, 2024
A fair and well-reasoned account of the varied positions (for and against) Christian nationalism. Hall preaches that “one SHOULD BOTHER to understand the reasons people embrace the policies/ideologies/religions they do…” (201) and practices what he preaches.
September 19, 2024
Stuff about St. Constantine was inaccurate but otherwise I found this interesting.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews