Christian Nationalism is not new and has found many forms throughout the history of the Church, from Armenia to Russia to Germany and to the U.S. However, American Christian Nationalism is built upon a cultural and theological view of Americans as “exceptional” and America as a “New Zion.” This five-week online series will examine the current overlapping forms of American Christian Nationalism, Christian Zionism, Antisemitism, and AntiMuslim bigotry. We will examine the cultural framework for these public ideologies and their biblical and theological roots not only within the “Christian Right” but also “Mainline” traditions. The series is intended for religious leaders who are interested in providing guidance for their congregations and local communities. CEU certificate available.
Wednesday, 14 January: Defining the overlapping Ism’s and their cultural underpinnings.
Wednesday, 21 January: America as “the New Zion.”
Wednesday, 28 January: The Armageddon Factor: 1967 and the growth of Christian Zionism.
Wednesday, 4 February: “The locusts from the abyss” or “the Children of Ishmael”: American views of Islam and anti-Muslim bigotry.
Wednesday, 11 February: The Promised Land or the Land of Promise: Israel/Palestine and Middle Eastern Christian Perspectives (including a live conversation with Bishop Dr. Imad Haddad of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land).
Instructor: The Rev. Dr. David D. Grafton Ph.D. Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace