Atlanta TRNP
Special to United Methodist Insight | Oct. 14, 2025
The Religious Nationalisms Project will hold a series of sessions in various Atlanta-area locations Oct. 16-19 exploring the presence of religious nationalist groups in Georgia.
An initiative of the New York State Council of Churches, TRNP convenes, educates, and equips communities of faith to confront the growing threat of religious nationalisms in the United States. Click here to register.
By fostering cross-faith dialogue, training, organizing and collective action, the project help faith leaders safeguard religious freedom, advance human dignity and justice and confront the misuse of religion to justify violence.
Through education, partnerships, and shared advocacy, the organization seeks to strengthen diverse communities to uphold justice, peace, and pluralism locally, nationally, and globally.
“Too often, religious nationalism is viewed in isolation, focusing on one faith tradition without recognizing how forms of religious nationalism reinforce one another,’ says a TRNP press release. “Our approach breaks this siloed thinking and helps diverse communities recognize common threats and shared solutions."
Some Core Characteristics of Religious Nationalisms
- State-Sanctioned Religion: Religious nationalists promote a version of one religion that supports government power and marginalizes those who believe differently.
- God and Government as One: Adherents claim divine support for state policies, framing political agendas as sacred mandates.
- Distorted Faith: Religious nationalism is a secular, ideological use of religion, often in direct conflict with the core values of faith traditions.
- Patriarchy, Misogyny and Control: Central to Christian nationalism is a rigid gender hierarchy, with women, LGBTQ+ people, and non-traditional families seen as threats to "God’s order."
- Fear of Replacement: Immigrants and religious minorities are falsely portrayed as enemies who must be excluded, eliminated, or denied citizenship.
- Erasure of History: Religious nationalists attack liberal education, seek to censor diverse perspectives, and defund institutions that challenge the government’s romanticized historical narrative which excludes marginalized and minority voices.
- Religion used as a Weapon: Violence is used to divinely ordain violence, militarism, home and sacred site destruction, and land acquisition
- Abuse of Sacred Stories and Texts: Literalist readings of ancient texts are used to justify present-day injustice, for example, weaponizing scripture to defend exclusive territorial claims or suppress other religious groups.
To counteract theses toxic influences, The Religious Nationalism Project promotes alternative visions. Authentic faith practices are rooted in love of God and neighbor. TNRP upholds the equal worth of all people and resist attempts to manipulate religion for political gain. The Religious Nationalisms Project calls people of faith to reclaim this vision—defending democracy, human rights, and a pluralistic society where all can flourish.
For more information contact the Rev. Neal Christie, senior TRNP consultant, or email the organization.