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From From Wondery, I'm Lindsay Graham, and this is American Scandal. In August of 1992, federal agents surrounded a remote cabin in northern Idaho.

Inside was Randy Weaver, a former soldier and Christian fundamentalist, along with his wife, children, and a family friend. The Weavers

have been living off the grid for years, preparing for Armageddon. But what began as a minor

weapons charge quickly spiraled into a violent standoff? By the time it ended, three people were dead.

To many Americans, Ruby Ridge, was a disturbing example of reckless force used by the federal

government. But for some, it confirmed a deeper truth that the state was corrupt, godless,

and on the verge of tyranny. In their eyes, the Weavers weren't criminals, they were prophets.

Today, the ideas that shaped the Weaver's worldview, like apocalyptic Christianity and a deep distrust of democratic

institutions, are no longer confined to isolated cabins in the woods. Now they're at the heart

of an influential political force, Christian nationalism, an ideology that has inspired violence in

places like Charlottesville and Washington, D.C., and is increasingly shaping political platforms,

court decisions, and campaigns across the country. My guest today is Andrew Whitehead.

He's a professor of sociology at Indiana University and the author of American idolatry,

how Christian nationalism betrays the gospel and threatens the church.

Our conversation is next.

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