Despite the collective media freakout over “Christian Nationalism,” the term still remains difficult for critics to define in a way that is different from traditionally understood Christian conservatism. The latest installment in this attempt at doom-mongering about the end of democracy comes from filmmaker Rob Reiner, who joined MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle on Friday's The 11th Hour to discuss his new documentary on the subject and suggest critics of Roe v. Wade are antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and just care about political power.
Ruhle wondered, “What made you decide to go all in on a project focused on Christian Nationalism?”
Reiner responded by giving some autobiographical information, “You know, I was raised as a secular Jew. There was no religion in my household. But I started reading about Christianity, about Buddhism, about Islamic religion and I came away with understanding the real teachings of Jesus were about loving thy neighbor, doing unto others as you would have them done to you and those are the things that I latched onto.”
Pro-lifers, apparently, do not believe this, “They meant something to me and when I saw this movement — it started, you know, in the 50s, but it really took hold in the 80s after Roe v. Wade became the law of the land and Norman Lear had People for the American Way and I started to see that there was a movement afoot that had nothing to do with what I understood to be the teachings of Jesus and it was a pure political movement for just, for power.”
Not killing babies would be the absolute minimum standard for “doing unto others as you would have them done to you.”
As for the documentary, Reiner recalled, “I got a book—a book was sent to me called The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart and I said, ‘wow, this could be a real great documentary to show that there is a difference between the precepts of Christianity and Christian Nationalism, which is a pure political movement.’”
Reiner, however, claimed the documentary has nothing negative to say against Christianity and isn’t a liberal hit job, “We have to tell you very upfront that this does not bash Christianity in any way. It does the opposite. We try to laud Christianity for what it has done and we have some of the most conservative, the most devout Christian leaders in the country talking about Christian National—not only is it a danger to democracy, but a danger to Christianity itself.”
Later, Reiner would declare that the January 6 riots were “fueled by Christian Nationalism” and while it is one thing to condemn that, it is quite another lump the rioters in with decades of pro-lifers who have principled beliefs on when life begins, which only raises the question: just how conservative are these conservatives Reiner speaks of?
Here is a transcript for the February 17 show:
MSNBC The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle
2/16/2024
11:48 PM ET
STEPHANIE RUHLE: What made you decide to go all in on a project focused on Christian Nationalism?
ROB REINER: Because it doesn't really reflect Christianity from what I understand. I mean, I went through a very tough time in my life, many years ago and I read about Christianity. You know, I was raised as a secular Jew. There was no religion in my household. But I started reading about Christianity, about Buddhism, about Islamic religion and I came away with understanding the real teachings of Jesus were about loving thy neighbor, doing unto others as you would have them done to you and those are the things that I latched onto.
They meant something to me and when I saw this movement — it started, you know, in the 50s, but it really took hold in the 80s after Roe v. Wade became the law of the land and Norman Lear had People for the American Way and I started to see that there was a movement afoot that had nothing to do with what I understood to be the teachings of Jesus and it was a pure political movement for just, for power.
And I got a book — a book was sent to me called The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart and I said, “wow, this could be a real great documentary to show that there is a difference between the precepts of Christianity and Christian Nationalism, which is a pure political movement.”
And so I approached Dan who I think is a great filmmaker and a great documentarian and I asked if he would help me with this documentary and luckily, he said yes and we have to tell you very upfront that this does not bash Christianity in any way.
It does the opposite. We try to laud Christianity for what it has done and we have some of the most conservative, the most devout Christian leaders in the country talking about Christian National—not only is it a danger to democracy, but a danger to Christianity itself.
