What is Christian nationalism? Here's what Rob Reiner's new movie gets wrong.

Ever since the tragic events of Jan. 6, 2021, in which a handful of the violent rioters donned explicitly Christian symbols, much ink has been spilled about the rising threat of Christian nationalism, which critics charge is a malignant anti-democratic force hellbent on overthrowing American democracy.

Fears of Christian nationalism have spawned a burgeoning subgenre of books, conferences and journal articles. One widely cited survey, which included sloppily expansive definitions, found that a whopping 51% of Americans were Christian nationalists.

And the new documentary "God & Country," scheduled for release Friday and produced by Hollywood mogul Rob Reiner, warns in ominous tones about the nationalists lurking around every corner.

To be sure, there is an academic conversation among Christian scholars about the scope of government, and there is a small but growing cohort who are dissatisfied with classic liberalism and American democracy.

Patrick Deneen, author of books such as "Why Liberalism Failed" and "Regime Change," is part of a group of Catholic thinkers who espouse what is commonly referred to as Catholic integralism. Protestant scholar Stephen Wolfe has ignited a similar discussion in evangelical academic circles with his book, "The Case for Christian Nationalism," in which he calls for a return to “Christendom.”

As a Baptist, I strongly disagree with the theses of both Deneen and Wolfe. While Baptists advocate for a robust Christian engagement in the public square and believe that America’s founding ideals are rooted, in part, in Christianity, we believe that the best social arrangement is a free church in a free state.

I am in full agreement with the critiques of Christian nationalism offered by such thinkers as Kevin DeYoung, Jonathan Leeman and Kevin Vallier.

Definition of Christian nationalism isn't clear

Still, the term itself has been employed to incorporate seemingly any Christian engagement in the public square. Even Michael Wear, former faith outreach coordinator for President Barack Obama, has shared his concerns about the way "Christian nationalism" is used in an overly expansive way.

Andrew Walker, a Baptist scholar, rightly pleads: “Convince me that your skepticism about Christian nationalism isn’t just a cover for wanting Christians out of politics and out of power. Convince me that Christian nationalism is not just another progressive epithet hurled against conservative Christians.”

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To address the lack of definition of what constitutes Christian nationalism, one group has released a survey that both dispels some of the hyperbole and gives a more nuanced picture. The group, Neighborly Faith, began with a 14-point definition of Christian nationalism. What the researchers found is that the number of actual Christian nationalists is much smaller than we’ve been led to believe: Only 5% of Americans self-identify as Christian nationalists, and only 11% of Americans fit the category of “adherents.”

Even among adherents, none hold to all 14 points of measurement, and only 31% agreed to more than seven.

What is interesting is that even among Americans who fit the label, most display pro-Democratic ideals. From the authors: "(Our) study found that many of those we classify as Christian Nationalists exhibit civic and pro-social attitudes and behaviors. They are among the most likely Americans to claim interest in working together with others on interfaith dialogues (52%); providing food, medical supplies, or clothing to those in need (77%); raising money or organize to help victims of a natural disaster (81%); and discussing local issues and solutions (65%). Over half (51%) agree that the U.S. should 'take in refugees − even if I do not share all of the same beliefs as them,' nearly identical to the mood of the general public (54%)."

The survey also found that the conflation of conservative Christian Republicans with Christian nationalists is in error. While 60% of Christian nationalists are Republicans, 40% are either Democrats or independents. And only 17% of Republicans are adherents to Christian nationalism.

Patriotism isn't the same as Christian nationalism

Advocating for public policy based on one’s faith is not Christian nationalism.

A robust love of country isn’t Christian nationalism.

Acknowledging America’s profoundly Christian roots isn’t Christian nationalism.

And those who analyze politics and religion should be honest enough to admit this.

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That isn’t to say there isn’t a worrisome level of extremism in the country on both sides. Both the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol and the riots in protest of George Floyd's murder prove that even a handful of extremists can cause major damage.

In an election year that promises to be as divisive as ever, we should do everything we can to ratchet down the political rhetoric.

One of the best ways to bring about unity is to diagnose problems as they are, not as we imagine them to be and to avoid a broad brush in describing our fellow citizens.

Daniel Darling, director of The Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is the author of several books, including "The Dignity Revolution" and "Agents of Grace."