Christian Nationalism, Race, and the Sins of Our Fathers with Matthew Pridgen

Filmmaker Matthew Pridgen, director of The Sins of Our Fathers: Race, Religion and the Rise of Trump, joins Faithful Politics to examine the roots and rise of Christian nationalism in America.

Drawing from his documentary, Pridgen traces connections between slavery, segregation, and modern religious politics, arguing that Christian language has repeatedly been used to justify systems of power. We discuss how Christian nationalism differs from traditional conservatism, how racial fear has shaped political strategy, and why white evangelical voting patterns remain central to today’s political landscape.

This episode explores the historical foundations of Christian nationalism, its theological distortions, and what it means for Christians navigating faith, race, and democracy in the United States.

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Guest Bio

Matthew Pridgen is a filmmaker and social commentator best known for his documentary The Sins of Our Fathers: Race, Religion and the Rise of Trump. His work examines the intersection of race, Christianity, and political power in American history.

Raised in South Carolina, Pridgen’s ministry work in historically Black communities reshaped his understanding of American history, theology, and public life. His documentary traces how religious rhetoric has been used to justify slavery, segregation, and modern political movements, while calling Christians back to what he describes as the “real Jesus” — one rooted in sacrificial love rather than cultural dominance.