Most Southern Baptists Reject Tenets of Christian Nationalism: Lifeway Survey
- Michael Foust CrosswalkHeadlines Contributor
- Updated Apr 19, 2024
Southern Baptist church leaders and laypeople reject key tenets of Christian nationalism, according to a new survey that found a majority of both groups agree that the government should not favor Christianity over other religions.
The Lifeway Research survey, sponsored by the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, found that 62 percent of SBC pastors and leaders and 58 percent of SBC church members agree that the “government should not favor any specific religion or religious belief.”
About one-third of each -- 33 percent of pastors/leaders and 36 percent of church members -- believe the “government should favor Christianity,” according to the survey.
“These findings reinforce that Baptists in our pews generally hold historic Baptist beliefs about the role of the church and the state,” said Dan Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement. “Baptists desire robust engagement in the public square and strongly believe in a free church in a free state. This research should inform the discussions surrounding Southern Baptists, especially in a political season.”
Meanwhile, 95 percent of SBC pastors/leaders and 92 percent of church members agree that “religious liberty is a principle that should apply to all persons and religions,” the survey found.
Additionally, 85 percent of pastors/leaders and 81 percent of church members say the “government should not give one religion preference over another religion.”
“Asked in several different ways, large numbers of Southern Baptists consistently want religious liberty to encompass all religions and desire space for differing opinions on religion among Americans,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “This likely is less altruistic and more pragmatic, reflecting numerous historic governments that tried to establish Christianity with less than desirable results.”
Meanwhile, most SBC pastors/leaders and church members identify with the Republican Party, according to the survey. Among pastors/leaders, 75 percent say they consider themselves to be Republicans, 11 percent independents and 7 percent Democrats. Churchgoers, though, are more likely to identify as Democrats, with 58 percent calling themselves Republicans, 15 percent independents and 26 percent Democrats.
The survey was conducted in January.
Image credit: ©Getty Images/Photovs
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
