From director Dan Partland and producer Rob Reiner, GOD & COUNTRY looks at the implications of Christian Nationalism and how it distorts Christianity and American ideals.
The film featured a long list of contributors: David French, Kristin Du Mez, Doug Pagitt, Russell Moore, Jemar Tisby, Phil Vischer, Rev. William Barber, Sister Simone Campbell, Rob Schenck, Katherine Stewart, and others.
Christian Nationalism is a political ideology. It’s a type of religious nationalism that is affiliated with Christianity. It primarily focuses on the internal politics of society, such as legislating civil and criminal laws that reflect their view of Christianity. People who buy into this also think that America was founded and should be defined by Christianity. The documentary takes a deep dive into the topic, featuring firsthand accounts of events and lots of statistical data.
The documentary felt like it was more of a homework assignment for the producers. But most importantly, it featured several prominent thinkers and notable Christian leaders denouncing the ideology and the term as a whole. This biased, made-up type of Christianity is not Christianity at all.
Because it was the wake-up call that America needed, the film builds up to and focuses on Jan. 6th. In short, January 6, 2021, was the day that a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. This act of terrorism by an overwhelmingly white mob of Trump Supporters took place just three years ago, with some people still waiting to face justice. It’s been widely discussed that had that been any other ethnic minority with the intent of storming a federal building, the situation would’ve been entirely different.
The film is based on the book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Christian Nationalism by Katherine Stewart. She’s featured in the film along with some other voices you might recognize. Phil Vischer, creator of Veggie Tales, minister and social activist Rev. William Barber, and religious scholar Reza Aslan.
GOD & COUNTRY gets an 8 out of 10. Its mission is to alert the masses that Christian Nationalism is a growing problem and it does that pretty well. A few of the guests featured, I believe, misspoke about Jesus and the faith on just a few occasions. It didn’t ruin the experience but, it also was a big eyebrow-raiser. But to that degree, the goal of the film was to send a warning about a dangerous ideology, not to promote Christianity. And while the film definitely sets the record straight that Christian Nationalism is not a type of Christianity, it doesn’t necessarily advocate for the faith either.
GOD & COUNTRY hits theaters on Friday, February 16.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories