The debate over so-called Christian nationalism is becoming the definitive political

boundary of our time in the United States.

Unfortunately, competing definitions, most of which are not rooted in previous uses of the term,

create a cloud of confusion over what Christian nationalism is.

In general, proponents see it as a self-aware attempt to conform the nation to Christian standards for the common good, while opponents use it as a pejorative

representing state-supported bigotry toward non-Christians.

MSMBC columnist Anthea Butler recently blamed Christian nationalism

for Florida Governor Ron Santis's policies against trans kids and the Don't Say Gayville.

She stated bluntly that people who believe in Christian nationalism believe that God has

given them Dominion.

And that Dominion means they have Dominion over everybody who doesn't believe in God.

Who doesn't think like they do.

And that God created this nation for them.

Thus Butler's major problem with Desantis concerns his willingness to conform civil society to Christian instead of cosmopolitan standards.

This penchant for privileging Christian concerns contradicts the notion of a national identity based on a higher plane of universal secular principles incapable of favoring one religious concern over another.

Regardless of how Christian nationalism is defined, the battle over whether national character

includes a religious element lies at the root of the current conflict.

This is mainly due to the fact that for decades, elites on both sides of the political aisle

unofficially pledged themselves to an America fundamentally reducible to an idea or set of ideas.

The Irish rock star Bono articulated this well in an interview for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he stated

America is is not just a country it's an idea

Ireland is a great country it's really proud to be Irish. It's not an idea. Great Britain is great.

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