Mennonite Public Faith and Christian Nationalism BIB639 / B
Mennonites have often been thought of as 鈥渢he quiet in the land.鈥� Not so anymore, as鈥� Mennonites on both the political left and right are participating in democracy to leverage their vision鈥� of the common good. This course explores what is distinctive about Mennonite public faith and鈥� excavates the boundaries of Christian political participation as a medium to challenge鈥� Christian nationalism and minimize harm toward our neighbors and the earth. Special attention鈥� will be given to defining White Christian nationalism in historical and theological perspective 鈥斺�� along with its participation in populist authoritarianism, fascist politics, neoliberalism, Christian dominionism, and Christian Zionism. In addition to defining key terms, the course animates how鈥� similar authoritarian power dynamics operated in the world of the early Jesus movement. A鈥� major course goal is to gain competency in using the biblical narrative to challenge Christian extremism and biblical authoritarianism in the U.S. and internationally鈥� through public education, preaching, testimony, counternarratives, dialogue, social鈥� media, and Bible studies.