# Has Christian Nationalism Failed? Doug Wilson and Others  ## Christian Nationalism and the Christian New Right - The goal is for children to live in a [[Christian state | Christian Nation]], and the discussion revolves around the concept of [[Christian nationalism]] and its perceived failure due to division [(00:00:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=25s). - Critics argue that Christian nationalism is divisive, citing the example of theonomists and reconstructionists who fought amongst themselves and ultimately imploded, and that it's happening again within the Christian nationalist movement [(00:01:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=62s). - However, it's argued that this critique is false, and that Christian nationalism is not failing, but rather, it's a label that encompasses a broader movement known as the Christian [[New Right | new right]] [(00:02:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=132s). - The Christian new right is a broader movement that includes people who may not identify as Christian nationalists but share similar ideas and goals [(00:02:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=152s). - There are individuals, such as Fred Singj Angle, who agree with the ideas of Christian nationalism but do not affirm the label, and this is seen as a positive development [(00:02:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=164s). - The focus is on convincing people of the ideas behind Christian nationalism, rather than the label itself, and it's argued that if a massive Christian movement emerges in the future that is convinced by these ideas, but doesn't use the label, that would be a success [(00:03:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=209s). - The label "[[Christian nationalism]]" is seen as just a term used to capture a set of ideas, and it's the ideas that are truly important, not the label [(00:03:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=237s). - Some individuals, including the author, prefer to identify as classical [[Protestantism | Protestants]], depending on the context [(00:04:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=255s). - The work of Christian nationalism is largely based on classical Protestantism, with the majority of ideas taken from or assumed within classical Protestantism, making it possible to identify as a classical Protestant instead of a Christian nationalist [(00:04:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=263s). ## Unity within the Christian New Right - Despite the label, there is remarkable unity among the Christian [[New Right | new right]], with cooperation and encouragement behind the scenes, even when strategies differ [(00:05:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=322s). - The network of [[Christian nationalism]] is massive, with a large number of people connected through group chats, friendships, and associations, leading to a sense of unity [(00:05:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=357s). - The perception of division within Christian nationalism is often due to disputes between individuals who identify with the label, but these disputes do not necessarily represent the ideas associated with Christian nationalism [(00:06:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=372s). - The Christian right is not prone to purity spiraling, creating division, or attacking others within their camp to boost their audience [(00:07:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=428s). ## The Book "The Case for Christian Nationalism" and Unforeseen Developments - The current situation is different from past theological disputes, such as theonomic battles, where people would split over interpretations of specific verses [(00:07:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=446s). - [[The Case for Christian Nationalism | The book "The Case for Christian Nationalism]]" was written in 2021 and early 2022, and at the time, there was no expectation that other groups, such as the [[Canon Inc. | Canon]] guys or [[Douglas Wilson (theologian) | Doug Wilson]], would adopt [[Christian nationalism]] [(00:07:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=472s). - The author did not anticipate the need to coordinate or deal with other groups adopting Christian nationalism, and was unsure of what the future held [(00:08:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=501s). - The author of a book on Christian nationalism did not expect the level of controversy and ongoing disputes that it generated, with waves of disputes emerging in 2023 and new opponents arising in 2024, continuing into 2025 [(00:09:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=546s). - The author thought that the book would be noticed for a few months, with some disputes and discussions, but then people would move on to the next news cycle [(00:08:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=533s). - The author did not expect Doug Wilson to call himself a Christian nationalist, and initially thought that Wilson would write a post agreeing with some points and disagreeing with others, rather than fully embracing the label [(00:09:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=583s). - The author notes that a publisher is not morally or legally obligated to adopt the label or content of a book they publish, and that their role is simply to decide whether the book is worthy of publication [(00:10:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=617s). - The author is unsure why [[Douglas Wilson (theologian) | Doug Wilson]] decided to call himself a Christian nationalist, but suggests that it may have been in response to negative attention from his friends, or as an opportunity to take the energy of the movement and advance his own ideas [(00:11:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=668s). - The author notes that they do not think they convinced Doug Wilson of their views, as Wilson has not said that he changed his beliefs after reading the book [(00:10:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=651s). - The author suggests that Doug Wilson may have seen an opportunity to lead the Christian nationalist movement with his own personality and writing, and to be seen as edgy and advancing his ideas via the label [(00:11:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=691s). ## Criticisms and Disputes Following the Book's Publication - A book was published that received criticism from people in the [[Canon Inc. | Canon]] [[Moscow]] orbit, including [[Peter Leithart]], Brian Matson, James White, and Joe Boot, who are all associated with Doug Wilson [(00:12:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=728s). - [[Andrew Sandlin]] also attacked the author on [[Facebook]] and elsewhere, accusing them of being a "toist" and making other criticisms [(00:12:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=761s). - The Theopolis crowd, tied to [[Douglas Wilson (theologian) | Doug Wilson]], attempted to dig up dirt on the author and eventually doxed a friend in an effort to discredit them [(00:12:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=774s). - The reason for the criticism was to create distance between the author and Doug Wilson, as the author's ideas were seen as a threat to their views [(00:13:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=794s). - Despite the criticism, the author notes that Doug Wilson's views, as expressed in his book "Mere Christendom", are actually closer to those of his critics, such as James White, Joe Boot, and Andrew Sandlin [(00:14:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=850s). - The author was largely alone in their views at the time, but as the [[New Right | new right]] movement developed, a robust Christian new right emerged, which is unified, friendly, and constructive [(00:14:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=899s). - The Christian new right is influenced by paleoconservative political theorists and the old right, and is distinct from the 20th-century [[Baby boomers | Boomer]] political theology of Doug Wilson, James White, and others [(00:15:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=924s). - The Christian new right is associated with a new intellectual movement that does not fit with the late 20th-century Boomer political theology of the older crowd [(00:15:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=958s). - The older crowd's views are characterized as a simplistic combination of [[Reaganomics | Reaganism]] and [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]] [(00:16:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=975s). - The Christian new right's politics is a mix of Reaganomics, Calvinism, and theonomy, which does not align well with the substance of [[Christian nationalism]], despite some individuals sharing the same label [(00:16:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=986s). - The disputes between individuals in the Christian new right crowd and those who affirm the label of Christian nationalist are accidental and not substantive, creating the appearance of division within Christian nationalism [(00:17:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1036s). - The label "Christian nationalist" is shared by individuals with differing substance, and many people in the Christian right agree with the ideas but do not affirm the label [(00:18:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1080s). - The disputes are between a small number of individuals, including one person in one camp and a handful of people in another, and are not representative of a larger division within Christian nationalism [(00:18:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1101s). - Despite appearances, there is remarkable unity among the Christian right, and the disputes are not about ideas but rather between individuals [(00:18:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1132s). ## Doug Wilson's Role in the Disputes and Divisions - [[Douglas Wilson (theologian) | Doug Wilson]] has inserted himself into a group of people via labels and is the divisive one, causing division and canceling others from [[Moscow]] [(00:19:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1170s). - Within the Christian [[New Right | new right]], there are two types of people: the majority who do not care about Doug Wilson's opinions, and a smaller group who historically have had respect for him and do not want to be in a dispute [(00:20:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1214s). - The disputes are not a zero-sum game, and individuals can support multiple people and platforms without it being a competition [(00:20:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1259s). - There is tension between the speaker and the [[Canon Inc. | Canon]] guys, including Doug Wilson, which has been present since before the book came out, but they have maintained a mainly positive relationship despite their differences [(00:21:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1304s). - Doug Wilson has escalated the situation by giving ultimatums to the figureheads of the movement, demanding they join his strategy to attack perceived anti-semites and racists or be excluded [(00:22:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1352s). - The speaker disagrees with Doug Wilson's strategy, thinking it is counterproductive and has achieved the opposite of what he sought, but they do not want to be in a dispute [(00:22:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1364s). - [[Douglas Wilson (theologian) | Doug Wilson]] is not a natural part of the Christian new right movement, but is trying to influence its strategy through his actions [(00:23:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1403s). - The speaker is not deeply invested in the dispute with Doug Wilson and does not spend their days discussing how to deal with him, but rather responds to him as needed and then moves on [(00:23:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1435s). ## The Nature of the Christian New Right and Its Commitment to Constructive Criticism - The Christian [[New Right | new right]] movement is committed to constructive criticism and not "purity spiraling," and members work together behind the scenes to improve and achieve their goals [(00:24:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1483s). - Joining the Christian new right movement means being part of a group that values constructive criticism and working together to achieve common goals [(00:24:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1492s). - The speaker does not see the situation as a zero-sum game and encourages people to engage with different groups and media, such as [[Canon Inc. | Canon]] Plus, if they find value in them [(00:24:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1498s). - It's possible to appreciate content from certain individuals, such as Ogden, Joel Web, Andrew Isker, and CJ Engel, without having to take an oppositional stance against others [(00:25:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1532s). - There's no requirement to join a war or conflict with others in order to be on the same side as the speaker, and it's possible to resolve disputes and move forward [(00:25:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1520s). - The speaker would gladly resolve disputes with others and move on if possible, and it's not necessary to maintain an oppositional stance [(00:25:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1552s). ## Upcoming Logic Series Announcement - A new series on logic, including classical propositional logic and other logics, as well as [[Aristotle]], will be released starting on January 1st, and it will be available over the course of two or three months [(00:26:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1593s). - The series will be available through the speaker's [[Patreon]] account, and seminary students can sign up for a discounted rate of $4, as opposed to the regular rate of $12 [(00:26:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYbOHQrEjY&t=1606s).