Christian Nationalism and the Rise of American Dominion | Keri Ladner

How did once-fringe religious movements gain influence within the Republican Party and access to the highest levels of American political power?

Will Wright speaks with author and scholar Keri Ladner about her book, American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom. They examine the history and political influence of dominionism, a movement built around the belief that Christians are called to exercise authority over government, education, media, business, religion, family, and the arts.

Keri explains the connections among Christian nationalism, the New Apostolic Reformation, the Seven Mountain Mandate, Christian Reconstructionism, neo-Confederate Christianity, faith healing, spiritual warfare, and the modern religious right. She also traces how these movements helped build evangelical support for Donald Trump and contributed to election conspiracy theories surrounding January 6.

The conversation explores:

• What dominionism means within American Christianity

• The origins and goals of the Seven Mountain Mandate

• The New Apostolic Reformation and its prophets and apostles

• Bethel Church, faith healing, and the political power of worship music

• Lance Wallnau and the claim that Donald Trump is a modern-day Cyrus

• Doug Wilson, Christian Reconstructionism, and neo-Confederate theology

• Pete Hegseth and the influence of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches

• How religious movements with conflicting theologies formed a common political coalition

• The relationship between Christian nationalism, white supremacy, and political radicalization

• What American democracy could face if dominionist movements continue gaining power

This episode offers an extensive examination of the history, theology, and political strategy behind one of the most influential movements shaping religion and politics in America.

About Keri Ladner

Keri Ladner, PhD, is a scholar of fundamentalist religion, American politics, and the radicalization of the conservative movement. She earned her doctorate from the University of Edinburgh and specializes in how religious beliefs and movements become embedded within American political power structures.

She is the author of American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom and End Time Politics: From Moral Majority to QAnon. Her research examines dominionism, the New Apostolic Reformation, evangelical politics, Christian nationalism, faith healing, QAnon, and the development of the modern religious right.

Get the Book

Purchase American DominionThe Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom