Religion expert speaks at Hofstra on the rise of Christian nationalism

By Camryn Bowden

The rise in Christian nationalism in the United States is not a new phenomenon. Since the creation of the country, there have been people who believe that the United States is destined to be a nation guided by Christian principles. In the present, that manifests in decisions by politicians to push for Bible teaching in schools and for the 10 Commandments to be posted in classrooms.   

Dr. Robert P. Jones is a foremost expert on Christian nationalism and its relationship to politics. As a sociologist, Jones uses data-driven applications to assess the quantity of Americans who believe in Christian nationalism, and its connections to social issues that play a major role in U.S. society. As well, he is a specialist with the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization Public Religion Public Religion Research Institute. Recently, Jones visited Hofstra University to hold a lecture and discussion on the relationship between Christian nationalism and the 2024 election. 

In this interview, Jones discusses the role of Christian nationalism in the 2024 election, its prevalence in society, the qualitative methods he uses to assess its efficacy in the U.S. and the connection to some of the biggest issues on the ballot this November, some of which appear within New York’s Proposition One. Prop one emphasizes protection of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, and is only one measure that will be voted on by the people of New York state this fall. Christian nationalism plays a role in pushing back against these issues, which Jones heavily explains in this interview.

WRHU-FM’s Camryn Bowden interviews Dr. Robert P. Jones, president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute, on the impacts of Christian nationalism in the 2024 election. Listen here: