Congressman Jared Huffman published a new book titled “No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism,” in which he contends that a theocratic movement has become increasingly dangerous to American institutions. Huffman characterizes what he calls a “Bible-sized blind spot” in national discourse surrounding the phenomenon, arguing it represents a greater threat to science, education, and democratic freedoms than widely acknowledged.
Huffman grew up in Independence, Missouri, as a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was ordained into its priesthood. His faith shifted during his college years following his father’s death, leading him to eventually identify as a humanist rather than a believer in supernatural religious claims. He explains that humanism, in his view, represents an affirmative commitment to ethical living grounded in reason and science rather than religious doctrine.
For most of his political career, Huffman kept his secular worldview private. After his mother’s death in 2017 and Trump’s election to the presidency, he decided to publicly acknowledge his non-belief despite warnings from advisers that doing so could damage his political standing. Polling data continues to show that “atheist” remains one of the least favorable labels for political candidates in the United States. Upon going public, Huffman received support from figures including House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and House chaplain Father Pat Conroy.
Huffman points to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot as a demonstration of Christian nationalist activism, noting the religious symbolism and practices visible among participants. He argues that many members of Congress failed to recognize or acknowledge the religious dimensions of the attack. He further contends that the House January 6 select committee’s final report deliberately omitted references to Christian nationalism, representing what he characterizes as a significant political cover-up.
Huffman defines “Christian privilege” as a cultural norm that shields domestic religious movements from the scrutiny applied to minority or foreign faith traditions. He states that this phenomenon extends across party lines, noting that some of his Democratic colleagues who are devout Christians have responded negatively to his public identity as a non-believer.
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