The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released promotional recruitment videos featuring dramatic military imagery and biblical themes, aimed at attracting Americans to agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Notably, these videos include recitations of religious texts, with implications of answering a divine call to serve. This approach aligns with a growing trend within the Trump administration, which ties Christian values to political loyalty, framing allegiance to MAGA (Make America Great Again) as a spiritual duty.
Religion scholar Brad Onishi critiques this rhetoric, suggesting it represents a version of Christian nationalism that distorts the teachings of Jesus, who advocated for love and liberation. Many perceive that MAGA Christians exploit Christianity to support a political agenda contrary to Christ’s message. Using philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein’s concept of “hinge propositions,” the article argues that Christian nationalism operates as a fundamental belief system, where questioning one part leads to a reevaluation of the entire worldview.
Onishi also emphasizes that this ideology promotes a cohesive, often militant community united by notions of supremacy and American exceptionalism. Such beliefs can lead to viewing dissent as warfare, turning neighbors into adversaries. The article posits that genuine knowledge arises from doubt, not certainty, suggesting that Christian nationalism’s rigidity obscures the welcoming, liberating nature of God’s teachings. Ultimately, it calls for recognizing the distinction between political allegiance and true Christian faith, advocating for a faith rooted in compassion rather than jingoism, dominionism, or authoritarianism.
