The Christian Past That Wasn’t: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History

The claim that “America has a godly Christian heritage and should return to it in public spaces” is rooted in blatant historical falsehoods, contends psychologist Throckmorton (Getting Jefferson Right) in this robust treatise. He argues that evangelicals have often framed the United States as a Christian nation because it privileges them, and he seeks to dismantle this narrative by debunking historical myths. Those include the notion that the founders believed America was bestowed to them by God, which Throckmorton suggests was bolstered mostly by early Christian historians who sought to justify settlers’ right to the land while erasing Indigenous histories. He also discredits claims that America’s founders were orthodox Christians whose faith shaped their construction of the government, contending that they ascribed more closely to a rationalistic faith that eschewed Christian beliefs that contradicted “the laws of nature.” He also debunks arguments that Christianity has been a core part of public school education since the country’s founding by clarifying that schools used the Bible and prayer in ways that varied dramatically by region and were a constant source of debate. Throckmorton effectively marshals historical evidence to support his claims, though he sometimes veers into personal diatribes against figures like David Barton, founder of Wallbuilders, an organization that frames American history through an evangelical lens. Still, this persuades. (May)