Your words resonate with me powerfully, because I grew up with many of the same experiences.

How many times did I hear from the pulpit that Americans had replaced the Israelites as God’s chosen people?

I don’t know how evangelical Christians justify that sort of theology, but it’s far from uncommon. White Christian nationalism is powerful and prevalent among Americans.

I wonder sometimes what would have happened to me if I had been born straight, if I had not been born to be the chosen scapegoat of evangelical Christians.

It’s easy to oppose a worldview that demonizes you. My rejection of Christian nationalism was highly personal and probably inevitable.

All I know is, when I see all the Christian flags and crosses and other Christian symbolism in photos from the crowd at the Capitol on January 6th, I’m not surprised.

I would have been far more surprised not to see those symbols.

The question is, how do we as a nation decouple religion and spirituality from toxic nationalism?