The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
John Barringer
I am a card-carrying octogenarian, over halfway to graduating to the status of nonagenarian. Reflecting back on my long career as a human being, I realize that life has been best for me when I have chosen to be guided by facts and factual definitions, and have eschewed “alternative facts” and convenient situational definitions.
This said, I struggle to understand the meaning of “White Christian Nationalist.”
Christianity is a religion. A Christian is a person who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The core concept in the teachings of Jesus Christ is love. This includes not only love of God but specifically love of all of mankind – one to another.
The concept of nationalism is an identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interest of other nations.
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A White Nationalist is a person who supports the perceived political interests within a white population, especially to the exclusion or detriment of other racial and ethnic groups.
Historically, ever since the mortal death of Jesus Christ, many have claimed the mantle of Christianity while ignoring its core concept of love for one’s fellow man.
Perhaps this is true because the concepts of religion and morality are commonly conflated. They have many similarities, but they are decidedly different and distinct concepts.
Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a god or gods.
Morality involves principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
Morality can be considered from two differing points of view.
Vertical Morality holds that authority, power and a moral code of right and wrong, or acceptable and unacceptable, come from “above” – from an external superior who designates the rules, systems, and tenets that must be obeyed by those beneath.
Horizontal Morality prioritizes the well-being of neighbors, communities and personal relationships. It rejects unquestioning obedience and superficial optics, focusing instead on empathy, compassion, and love towards others.
It is unfortunate for all of us that the lines defining religion, vertical morality and horizontal morality have become blurred. Belief that morality comes from God is a wonderful concept until it is weaponized into vertical morality for power.
Christianity is a religion that excludes no one. “White Christian Nationalist” is a word salad of contradictory terms appearing in conjunction. This is the very definition of an oxymoron.
John Barringer is a native Tucsonan who graduated from Tucson High, then the University of Arizona, with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a masters in business administration.
