A recent NPR interview with controversial pastor Doug Wilson is highlighting the growing influence of Christian nationalism in American political and cultural life ― as well as alarming the experts and survivors who know this movement well.
Wilson, who co-founded the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC, spoke to journalist Leila Fadel about his vision for a Christian theocracy and doubled down on his view that women should not have the right to vote. Calling the repeal of the 19th Amendment “a good idea,” he argued in favor of a “household voting” system in which this right is effectively limited to male heads of household.
The controversies don’t begin and end with women’s suffrage and role in society. Wilson has faced sustained criticism for his writings on slavery, his statements on homosexuality, his use of derogatory slurs and provocative metaphors, and his church’s handling of allegations of sexual abuse.
Wilson is not a fringe figure. He has a documented relationship with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who even invited Wilson to give a sermon at the Pentagon. As his brand of Christian nationalism gains an unprecedented foothold in the halls of power, experts are warning about the harm of his ideology and its distance from the teachings of Christ.
