Congressman Jared Huffman is releasing a new book titled No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism, in which he argues that the theocratic movement represents the country’s most dangerous political threat. Huffman contends that the United States has a significant “Bible-sized blind spot” regarding Christian nationalism, which he characterizes as having grown more powerful and militant in recent years, particularly following Trump’s return to political prominence.
Huffman’s concern about Christian nationalism intensified following the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, during which he observed religious imagery and prayer among the rioters. He notes that many of his congressional colleagues appeared to overlook the religious dimensions of the attack despite the prominent display of crosses, shofars, and “Appeal to Heaven” flags among those involved. Huffman expresses disappointment that the incident did not prompt sustained national attention to Christian nationalism or its political implications.
As the only sitting member of Congress to openly acknowledge non-belief in God, Huffman brings a distinctive perspective to this debate. He grew up in Missouri in a devout Christian community and was ordained into the priesthood of a Latter-Day Saints offshoot church before experiencing a crisis of faith during college. Over time, he adopted humanism as his worldview, defining it as a commitment to living ethically based on science, facts, and reason rather than religious doctrine.
Huffman initially kept his secular beliefs private throughout his career, viewing the swearing-in Bible ceremony in 2013 as a moment of hypocrisy. He decided to publicly reveal his non-belief in 2017, despite warnings from advisers, family members, and staff that such disclosure would damage his political career. He received support from several colleagues, including former House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and other members, and went on to help establish the Congressional Freethought Caucus.
In his book, Huffman addresses what he terms “Christian privilege”—a cultural taboo that shields domestic religious extremism from scrutiny while subjecting minority and foreign faiths to intense examination. He points to the January 6 select committee’s final report as an example, arguing that Christian nationalist elements were deliberately omitted from the official record.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI