Faith vs. Power: Christianity, Christian Nationalism and Christo-Fascism

I’m writing this because the lines between Christianity, Christian Nationalism and Christo-fascism are being blurred in liberal democracies from the US to Australia and across Europe. If I were a Christian, I’d be deeply concerned at the rise of these ideologies. As a non-Christian, I am too. That’s because they are twisting faith into a weapon, confusing identity with belief, and threatening the foundations of democracy itself. They’re not the same thing as Christianity - and it matters to be clear, for democracy, for faith, and for freedom.

Christianity

At its core, Christianity is a faith. It teaches humility, forgiveness, compassion, and justice. The Gospels portray Jesus as a teacher who sided with the poor and the marginalised, challenged the powerful, and called for love even of enemies. Christianity, at its best, is a way of life rooted in grace and service.

Most Christians, in fact, support the separation of church and state, recognising that faith is strongest when it is lived freely, not imposed through law or politics.

Christian Nationalism

Christian Nationalism is not a faith. It is a political ideology that fuses Christian identity with national identity. It claims that a country should be explicitly Christian in its laws, politics, and culture. It elevates one religion above all others, and it treats those who do not fit the mould as outsiders.

We can see this in the United States today. Donald Trump is “defending Christianity” in government institutions, not as a personal faith but as a national identity. His Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, openly frames America’s culture wars as a holy battle, language that blurs religion and politics beyond recognition. And the Supreme Court, with its conservative Christian majority, has rolled back reproductive rights under the banner of religious morality, shaping law to match faith doctrine.

Most Christians are not climate denialists, nor are they broadly homophobic or xenophobic. But Christo-nationalists almost always are, because these positions serve their politics of exclusion and power, not the Gospel.

Christo-Fascism

Christo-fascism takes it all a step further - it’s a betrayal of both democracy and the Gospel. Theologian Dorothee Sölle coined the term in the 1970s to describe the authoritarian hijacking of Christianity. Under Christo-fascism, faith is stripped of humility and used to sanctify nationalism, patriarchy, racism, and the suppression of dissent. It is authoritarianism wrapped in a cross.

The Nazi regime showed how it works in practice. The so-called German Christian Movement fused Christianity with Nazi ideology, rewriting scripture to serve Aryan supremacy and blessing Hitler as God’s instrument. It was one of history’s clearest cases of Christo-fascism.

History offers warnings. In Australia, Tony Abbott, as Health Minister, refused to approve the morning-after pill on religious grounds - an example of one man’s faith being imposed on an entire nation’s policy. Scott Morrison told a Christian conference that he was “doing God’s work” as Prime Minister, invoking divine authority in the exercise of political power. And Andrew Hastie is leaning strongly into Christian identity in his current play for LNP leadership power. His recent statements on “Western civilisation” and the defence of Christian values echo the same pattern: using faith as a marker of national identity and belonging. These may not yet be Christo-fascism, but they are steps down the same path.

Where Would Jesus Stand?

Jesus stood with the oppressed, not the oppressors. He challenged those who used religion for status or control. He healed the sick, welcomed outcasts, and told his followers that the greatest among them must be a servant.

That’s why it is impossible to imagine him standing with Christian Nationalists or Christo-fascists. Their obsession with dominance, exclusion, and power runs directly against the heart of his teachings.

Most Christian Nationalists and Christo-fascists, in truth, are un-Christian. They may claim the name of Christ, but their actions and politics betray his teachings. Just think about Donald Trump boasting about “grabbing women by the pussy”.

Why It Matters

Confusion between Christianity, Christian Nationalism, and Christo-fascism is not just academic. It matters for democracy, for freedom, and for faith itself.

The United States is showing us right now what happens when Christian Nationalism gains power: dissent becomes heresy, pluralism is weakened, and democracy is dissolved. Australia must not follow that path. We can value faith, respect diverse beliefs, and protect religious freedom without turning Christianity into a political weapon.

Christianity is a faith. Christian Nationalism is an ideology. Christo-fascism is a betrayal. And Jesus would have had no part in the latter two.