Congressman Jared Huffman, 62, has released a new book titled “No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism” in which he contends that a theocratic movement within the United States poses significant dangers to democratic institutions, scientific advancement, and educational freedom. Huffman argues the nation maintains a substantial “blind spot” regarding the influence of Christian nationalism and maintains that this movement has expanded considerably following recent political developments.
Huffman’s personal background shaped his perspective on these issues. He grew up in Independence, Missouri, in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (now known as the Community of Christ), an offshoot of Mormonism, and was ordained into its priesthood. His faith began to shift during his college years following his father’s death, leading him to eventually identify as a humanist rather than a believer in religious supernaturalism. He describes humanism as an affirmative expression of commitment to moral and ethical living grounded in science, facts, and reason rather than religious belief.
Huffman remained private about his secular worldview for many years, including during his initial swearing-in to Congress in 2013, when he held a Bible for a ceremonial photograph despite his personal convictions. The congressman decided to publicly acknowledge his non-belief in 2017 following his mother’s death and amid what he describes as an increase in religious extremism in government during the Trump administration. Multiple advisers, including his wife and senior staff, cautioned him that such a disclosure could damage his political career, given polling that consistently shows “atheist” as the most damaging label for candidates seeking public office.
Despite these warnings, Huffman proceeded with his disclosure and received support from figures including House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Jamie Raskin, with whom he co-founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus, and House Chaplain Father Pat Conroy. Huffman has since encountered both support and criticism, including from Democratic colleagues who are devout Christians. He introduces the concept of “Christian privilege” to describe cultural protections afforded to Christian-based movements that are not extended to minority or foreign religious traditions. Huffman points to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack as a demonstration of this dynamic, noting that many members of Congress appeared to overlook the religious dimensions of the event and that Christian nationalism was reportedly excluded from the final House select committee report on the incident.
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