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Christian supremacy refers to both the belief thatChristianity issuperior to otherreligions and a form ofidentity politics that asserts thatChristians are superior to others and are, therefore, better suited to rule. Christian supremacy overlaps with—and can be considered a core tenet of—Christian nationalism.[1] TheNew Apostolic Reformation, adominionist political movement, is described byThe Washington Post and scholar Bradley Onishi as promoting Christian supremacy through a mix ofhard-right politics and supposed prophecy.[2][3] Joseph Wiinikka-Lydon of theSouthern Poverty Law Center and religion scholar Matthew D. Taylor point to theSeven Mountain Mandate as the plan for Christian dominance and supremacy.[4]
Although a relatively recent phenomenon in Christian history, the notion of Christian supremacy can be traced back to late Medieval ideas ofChristendom, which conceives of a hegemonic form of religious, cultural and even political conformity across various forms ofChristian theology. Christian supremacy and its adherents primarily followDominion theology which traces much of its roots from theReformed Protestant influencedChristian reconstructionism with theNew Apostolic Reformation being considered a direct descendent of the Reconstruction movement in the United States in the 19th century. Additionally, Southern Poverty Law Centre identifiedCatholicIntegralism as a related form of Christian supremacist ideology and theology.[5]
Christian fundamentalism is a major undercurrent and central ideology of Christian supremacy. Additionally,postmillennialism[failed verification] is at the core of Christian supremacy through its emphasis and expectation that the majority of the world will be saved byevangelisation prior to the second coming of Christ. To an extentpremillennialism[failed verification], has been considered an influence upon Christian supremacy given the emphases on theend times, especially within theNew Apostolic Reformation; its broader relative, theApostolic-Prophetic Movement; andEvangelicalism, in general.[6] Christian supremacy may coexist withChristian antisemitism andIslamophobia to varying degrees, whilehomophobia,transphobia, andmisogyny maintain a significant presence within Christian supremacist discourses, often through the belief in and promotion of conspiracy theories such as theLGBTQ grooming conspiracy theory andCultural Marxism.[7][8] Additionally,sectarianism can arise between denominations of Christianity as they vie for supremacy.[9]
Christian supremacy often intersects with other forms of supremacy, such asWhite supremacy, and as a result, various White Christian supremacist groups exist, such as theKu Klux Klan andChristian Identity. Scholars such as Jenny L. Small and others have highlighted the fact that Christian supremacy is related toChristian privilege and Christian hegemony, which is characterized as a system of interlocking discourses that privileges Christians and marginalizes non-Christians, thus assuming the universalization ofChristian values. Christian hegemony and privileges are deeply embedded in Western societies, which sustain Christian supremacy. Even whenreligious plurality is formally acknowledged, the entrenchment of Christian values serves to obscure and sustain Christian privilege.[10]
Additionally, particularly in Western contexts, Islamophobia is becoming more often seen as a structural element of Christian supremacist ideology. According to Junaid Rana, Islamophobia is a racial project with roots in colonial Christian frameworks that cast Muslims as the "Other" in a hierarchy of civilizations worldwide, rather than only a reaction to security concerns or religious disagreements.[16] In this context, Christian supremacy can function as both a religious and cultural identity marker, shaping notions of national belonging and societal norms.[17]
Christian supremacy was used as one justification for stealing lands from Native Americans and enslaving Africans around the founding of the United States.[18] The philosophy that gave Americans entitlement to the land inhabited by natives is known asManifest Destiny.
In the 1930s,Father Coughlin believed in and hoped to promote Christian supremacy by recruiting a militia he called the Christian Front.[19]
Erik Prince of the mercenary companyBlackwater was accused of being a Christian supremacist and deploying Christian supremacists to Iraq that he hoped would murder Iraqis.[20] The company used large amounts of imagery from theCrusades.[20]
The growing role of Christian supremacy in the GOP since Donald Trump's election in 2016 has drawn concern from leaders of other faiths.[21][22]Al Sharpton andDoug Pagitt both called for Christians to reject Christian supremacy ideas promoted by Trump in 2020.[23]
Thestorming of the US Capitol following the fallout offalse accusations of electoral fraud was partially motivated by Christian nationalism which was undergirded by notions of Christian supremacy with many rioters flying theAppeal to heaven flag and extensive use of Christian imagery albeit with heavy use of militarized themes.[24]
In 2021,NBC published an article outlining how someAsian American Christians felt discrimination within their churches, citing professors Lucas Kwong and K. Christine Pae on the connections between white supremacy and Christian supremacy.[25]
Kristin Kobes Du Mez describedMike Johnson as believing in Christian supremacy.[26]
Dutch Sheets has promoted the belief of Christian supremacy.[27]
Ziklag was described by Matthew D. Taylor as a Christian supremacist organization working to ensure the election ofDonald Trump in 2024.[28]
