Katherine Stewart’s Money, Lies, and God explores the alliance between socially conservative evangelical Christians and ultra-wealthy individuals, whom she labels as part of “the new American fascism.” She argues that this coalition seeks to impose an undemocratic economic and moral vision on the U.S. Historically, evangelical activism focused on cultural issues like school prayer and abortion, but as they engaged more with economic policies, they gained wealthy allies willing to finance conservative political causes.
Stewart notes that the rise of Christian nationalism has roots in cultural anxieties among evangelicals, who feel their influence is declining amid societal changes such as same-sex marriage and feminism. The movement is supported by multi-millionaires like the Koch brothers and the DeVos family, who leverage their wealth for political gain, often masking their influence behind grassroots organizations.
Stewart illustrates the movement’s dynamics through her attendance at various right-wing gatherings, revealing the affluent nature of some organizations that claim to be grassroots. She characterizes modern Christian nationalism not as a purely religious movement but as a political ideology characterized by catastrophism, persecution, and authoritarianism.
Despite this unsettling narrative, Stewart ends on a hopeful note, highlighting disagreements within the coalition and emphasizing that the majority of Americans do not support its authoritarian vision. She encourages political organization and voting as counters to this growing influence.
