We ca affirm our Christian tradition without nationalism
The False god of Christian Nationalism
Tommy Robinson has announced that he is to hold a carol service in London on December 13th, which he said would mark the beginning of ‘a new Christian revival in the UK-a movement to reclaim and celebrate our heritage culture and Christian identity’. It has also been noted that two prominent Christians can now be seen in the front row of meetings of Reform. One is Danny Kruger, who before he defected from the Conservatives led a debate in Westminster drawing attention to our Christian heritage. The other is James Orr, a Cambridge academic theologian, who is a personal friend of J. D. Vance. This goes along with the fact that at right wing rallies there are now Chrisian symbols and slogans along with the St George flags. How are we to evaluate this new alignment of Christianity, right wing politics and nationalism?
It has long been clear that there is an empty space at the centre of our national life and it is not surprising that Christian Nationalism has moved in to claim it. But this space has to do with the neglect of the fundamental Christian values which have shaped our society, and not with nationalism as such.
For the last 75 years we have ignored or disdained our Christian heritage. For whatever reasons people did not want to acknowledge or talk about it. This has begun to change. Intellectuals like Larry Siedentop and Tom Holland in their books have shown the huge influence the Chrisian faith has had on our values, laws, institutions and culture generally. Our belief that people should be free to make up their own minds about religion is rooted in the works of Christian believers like Locke and Milton. Our belief that everyone is of equal value and worth is fundamental to us. Everyone has one vote, not more or less. We are all equal before the law and our public services have to treat everyone equally. The 2010 equality act which affirms this is relation to race, gender and so on is a direct expression of the Christian belief that we are all of equal value to a loving creator who came amongst us to save us from ourselves and safeguard us for eternity.
Christianity is not of course the only influence. 19th century utilitarianism has been significant in shaping social policy. But it is the dominant one, not least through the non-conformist churches and the influence of Methodists and Roman Catholics in the Trade Union movement and Parliament.
This Christian heritage needs to be affirmed, not in an arrogant way, but simply as a matter of fact, with gratitude. But there is no essential connection between this and flags of St George. We all have multiple identities and nationality will be one, but for anyone who is seriously religious, whether they are a Christian or a Muslim, nationality will not be their most important identity. I regard myself, in order of importance, as Christian by religion and a citizen of the Uk, European by culture and Welsh by nationality. What should unite us as a society, when we are divided by religion, culture and many other ways is our citizenship and the values on which this is based. In my Private Members Bill in Parliament these fundamental British values are set out as democracy, the rule of law, freedom, equal respect for every person, and respect for the environment. It is these that should bind us together.
Waving a St George flag may be a genuine expression of love of country but in the present context it comes across to many as a hostile act signifying ‘We don’t want you. You don’t really belong’. What is fundamental to our Christian inheritance is that we are all of value, and we are to treat others as though we were in the same position ourselves. It is important that we have an immigration policy that has the support of the country as a whole, and patrician liberalism should have no place. But nor does Christian Nationalism.
Richard Harries is the author of Faith in Politics? Rediscovering the Christian roots of our political values. DLT.