One week ago, tens of thousands of evangelical Christians assembled on the National Mall for a rally that was marketed as “a LAST STAND moment” for those “hungry to see the Lords’ hand cover this nation” and “the Lord’s authority over the election process.” The crowd fell short of the “Million Women” summoned to the Capitol, but there are additional Christian nationalist events planned leading up to the November election.
For example, failed congressional candidate, COVID disinformation Superspreader, and “worship warrior” Sean Feucht will bring his “Kingdom to the Capitol” tour to D.C. next weekend. Earlier this month, Feucht asserted Christians are more persecuted in the U.S. than anywhere in the world because they have “abdicated authority” and blamed the tight presidential race on “some serious demonic sorcery witchcraft.”
This sort of apocalyptic rhetoric was on full display last Saturday. Many of the “Million Women” organizers are self-proclaimed prophets and apostles of the charismatic New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement, which seeks Christian dominion over the “Seven Mountains” of society: government, education, media, arts and entertainment, business, family, and religion. NAR leaders claim God speaks to them in dreams and visions, and they preach that the U.S. is in the midst of a spiritual war between good, like-minded Christians and evil, demonic everybody else.
Acting as emcee was Lou Engle, who the Southern Poverty Law Center has characterized as an anti-LGBTQ extremist for his calls to criminalize homosexuality and his infamous support of a Ugandan bill that would have authorized the death penalty for gays and lesbians. Engle has previously implored fellow homophobes to emulate Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson in “restraining Washington.”
Another rally leader, Jenny Donnely, made millions in an illegal pyramid scheme before rebranding herself as a prophet and replicating a violently anti-LGBTQ movement that began in Peru. Attendees carried banners and wore t-shirts emblazoned with the campaign slogan “Don’t Mess With Our Kids,” a reference to the myth that children are being indoctrinated by the “LGBTQ agenda.” Donnely frequently conflates homosexuality with pedophilia, Nazis, and Satan, all of whom, she says, “go after the kids” with the intention of destroying the nuclear family.
Other speakers included televangelist and “father of American Dominionism” Lance Wallnau, Dutch Sheets, who helped promote the Appeal to Heaven flag as a Christian nationalist symbol, and former congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who read the following text message from House Speaker Mike Johnson: “I genuinely wish I could be there with you today because I believe it has never been more important for us to stand together and pray together for the peace and security of Israel, and to speak with moral clarity about the fateful battle we are in between good and evil, light versus darkness.”
Why am I giving the time of day to this event and its organizers? Because I don’t want us to become desensitized to this kind of rhetoric. It is alarming to know the person who is just two steps from the presidency wishes he could share a stage with hallucinating homophobes. It is not normal for a presidential candidate to demand major broadcasters have their licenses revoked or OK for him to suggest the military be deployed against political opponents. It’s nuts that so many people believe that person was chosen by God for a divine mission.
This election — now just 15 days away — is shaping up to be as close as it will be consequential. I know you’re sick and tired of hearing it. Frankly, I am, too. But it bears repeating because the threat Project 2025 poses is immense. It not only threatens to undo decades of progress but also to dismantle our democratic institutions.
Christian Nationalists’ threats against democracy have already proven dangerous. Their faith-based dehumanization is not only directed at the LGBTQ community but at our secular community. When they mention enemies from within or talk of evil and demons and Satan, that means atheists, agnostics, humanists, and non-Christians. In Florida, one legislative candidate is being smeared as an “avowed atheist activist” whose beliefs in the separation of church and state “should disqualify her from holding office.”
That’s the natural conclusion of this Christian supremacist ideology: anybody who doesn’t adhere to it is an “enemy” to be subjugated. And it’s why we can’t afford to become dispassionate about their rantings and ravings. I hope you’ll keep paying attention and continue supporting our work at American Atheists. It’s never been so crucial.
In solidarity,
Nick Fish
President
PS: There’s still some time left to reserve your spot at our upcoming conference in Spokane, Washington! Jointly sponsored with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, this powerful event will feature speakers like Bradley Onishi, Andrew Seidel, and local activists who are leading the fight against hate and extremism in the Pacific Northwest.
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