Congressman Jared Huffman has published a book titled “No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism” in which he contends that Christian nationalism has become increasingly militant and poses significant threats to American democracy, science, and education. Huffman argues that the nation suffers from a “Bible-sized blind spot” regarding this movement, which he believes grew more powerful following recent political developments.
Huffman’s perspective on this issue is informed by his own religious background and subsequent change in beliefs. He was raised in Independence, Missouri, and ordained into the priesthood of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. During his college years, the death of his father prompted religious questioning, and he eventually concluded that the supernatural elements of his faith no longer aligned with his worldview. He adopted the label “humanist” to describe his secular perspective, emphasizing that humanism represents an affirmative expression of values based on science, facts, and reason rather than religious doctrine.
Huffman maintained his secular worldview privately for many years, including during his initial swearing-in to Congress in 2013. However, following his mother’s death and the political developments of 2017, he decided to publicly acknowledge his non-belief despite warnings from family, staff, and advisers that doing so could damage his political career. He has since received support from various colleagues, including House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and others with whom he founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus.
Huffman argues that Christian privilege—a cultural taboo protecting domestic religious movements from scrutiny typically applied to minority or foreign faiths—has allowed Christian nationalism to flourish without adequate public examination. He points to the January 6 Capitol attack as an example, noting that many colleagues appeared to overlook the religious elements of the event. Additionally, Huffman contends that the House January 6 select committee’s final report deliberately minimized discussion of Christian nationalism’s role in that incident.
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