When Patriotism Becomes Religion: One Nation over God with Wes Crawford

Why does American patriotism sometimes feel almost religious?

Church historian Wes Crawford joins Faithful Politics to discuss his forthcoming book, One Nation over God, and the complicated relationship between Christian faith, patriotism, and American civil religion.

Crawford explains how the United States developed a kind of civil religion built around sacred texts, symbols, rituals, holidays, and national stories. We talk about why the Constitution can be treated almost like scripture, why the national anthem can carry such emotional weight, and what happens when love of country begins competing with allegiance to God.

The conversation also gets practical. We discuss patriotic church services, Veterans Day, the flag, Christian nationalism, political polarization, cognitive dissonance, and the difficulty Christians face when their political identity becomes intertwined with their faith. Crawford argues that patriotism itself can have a legitimate place, but Christians need to recognize when national devotion takes on the characteristics of worship or begins overriding their religious convictions.

One Nation over God

Guest Bio

Wes Crawford is vice provost and associate professor of church history at Abilene Christian University. His research focuses on American religion, race, and the history of Churches of Christ. He previously served for twenty years as a senior pastor and continues to preach and teach in churches. He is the author of Shattering the Illusion and Courage in the Sheer Silence. His newest book, One Nation over God, examines the relationship between Christian faith, American patriotism, and civil religion.