Congressman Jared Huffman of California has published a book addressing what he characterizes as Christian nationalism’s growing influence in American politics and society. Huffman traces his perspective to his experience during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, when he observed religious symbolism and practices among the participants, an observation he believes many of his congressional colleagues overlooked.
Huffman’s background includes growing up in Independence, Missouri, where he was raised as a devout member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was ordained into its priesthood. His religious beliefs changed during his college years following his father’s death, leading him to adopt a humanist worldview that he describes as grounded in science, reason, and ethics rather than supernatural beliefs. He remained private about his secular perspective for years, including during his initial swearing-in to Congress in 2013, a moment he later described as uncomfortable.
The congressman made his non-belief public in 2017, despite warnings from family, staff, and advisers that doing so would damage his political career. Polling data continues to show that identifying as atheist or non-religious remains the most damaging label for political candidates in the United States. However, Huffman received support from several colleagues, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jamie Raskin, with whom he founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus. He has encountered both criticism and support since going public, including from fellow Democratic Christians who expressed concern about his public identity.
In his new book, Huffman argues that the United States has a significant cultural blind spot regarding Christian nationalism, which he contends has become the nation’s most dangerous political movement. He attributes this oversight to what he calls “Christian privilege”—a cultural protection that shields domestic religious movements from scrutiny while subjecting minority and foreign faiths to greater scrutiny. Huffman specifically points to the House January 6 select committee’s final report, arguing that it deliberately minimized discussion of Christian nationalism’s role in the Capitol attack.
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