Christian Nationalism fears Islam not because it is extreme, but because it still works. An essay on unity, mysticism, and the discipline empire can’t control.
Have you heard of Safi Kaskas, VMB? He is a Muslim Scholar and provides a rich interfaith dialog for Jewish, Islamic & Christian practitioners. Very encouraging.
Yes, Safi Kaskas is a solid example of what actual interfaith work looks like when it’s rooted in scholarship, discipline, and lived practice rather than fear narratives.
This is beautiful. And it rings especially true since just last night, I caught up with an old friend over dinner. He comes from a historically-Orthodox Ukrainian family but was raised in a nondenominational evangelical church in the Chicago area. We had dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant, and in the course of the conversation, it became apparent that my friend didn’t really know what or where Ethiopia was, had no idea about its Christian history, had no idea there had ever been Christianity in Africa or the Middle East (?!?) before modern, white Christian’s began to evangelize there, knew almost nothing about Eastern Orthodoxy despite knowing that his grandparents practiced it, and had no idea any Christian scriptures had originally been written in any language other than Greek. I, his rabbinical seminarian friend, knew a hundred times more about NT and early Christianity than he did, and he is a very faithful Christian who prays every day. But the scaffolding of his Christianity is impoverished historically and ritually. Eastern Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are so much richer. Though I will observe that none of them has been totally shielded from toxic nationalism by the richer ritual life or scholasticism.
Brilliant read. It's also almost amusing how christianity (true, red-letter christianity) originally walked hand-in-hand with mysticism until it was demonized. John was a mystic. Some might even classify Yeshua himself a mystic. But somewhere along the way, we lost that connection between faith and spirituality. And now most are so afraid to even consider one could be a Christian and a mystic at the same time. But Christian mysticism IS still a thing.
You’re right that mysticism was there early, but it wasn’t preserved. Christianity lost most of its mystical path through institutional suppression. What survived did so at the margins and often under suspicion.
Much of what modern Christianity now calls contemplative practice re-entered modern Christian discourse through borrowing from Sufism, though its Islamic roots are usually not acknowledged.
When someone actually begins to awaken inside Christianity, they’re rarely celebrated. They’re monitored, corrected, or pushed out.
Do you follow Father Richard Rohr? I think you would enjoy him. Mysticism still exists in my tradition, and always has, but we’re a minority in the U.S., even though we’re the single largest branch of Christendom in the world. Great essay, btw!
Mary, thank you. And yes, Rohr’s work has been part of my path. He helped reintroduce a lot of people to the contemplative stream, even if he’s translating things that used to be handed down through elders instead of paperbacks.
And you’re right that mysticism still exists within your tradition. I never meant to say it disappeared. What I’m pointing to is that across Christian history, the mystical path often survived by clinging to the edges—protected by monastics, visionaries, and the occasional stubborn saint. It was present, but it wasn’t exactly encouraged. More often it was monitored, corrected, or treated like a problem waiting to happen.
Islam, by contrast, never exiled its own interior path. Prayer, presence, breath, fasting, remembrance, those stayed central. That contrast is part of why Christian Nationalists react the way they do.
But I’m grateful you brought this up. The contemplative minority inside Christianity has always carried an outsized amount of light. And I’m glad you’re part of it.
Truth is so compelling & for me, at least today, calming. The first 3 hours today were wonderful (i was still in bed). Then made the mistake of getting up & had several chances to practice Presence after discovering things like a clogged dehumidifier that were NOT on my agenda. Raged & then paused & took a breath. Checked my phone & cried….15 people killed at Bondi Beach, one of my favorite places on earth I’ve only been to once, because a Hanukkah celebration was happening. I’m not Jewish, my former husband was, & actually my reaction would have been just as deep no matter the reason or religion - it just hits closer to home.
I said forget it in a very profane way to a few other things i had planned to do & read your beautiful post on why Christian Nationalists are afraid of Islam. Itz Truth. And it calmed me down because for some reason, what i know of Islam, i can’t imagine why it would cause fear.
You answered everything with details and explained it with such clarity - both Christian Nationalism AND Islam. Unbiased, factual, understandable.
It was illuminating & shines a bright light. Wish it was on the cover of every mainstream magazine that still exists (are there any?)
Jesus walked on water. He performed miracles. He said you can throw a mountain into the sea if you have enuf faith. If that’s not mystical, I don’t know what is.
I’ll read this a few more times tonite & let it soak in. It’s brilliant.
Glad you’re still sharing the prayer cards. I think because I always wear a mask, people are too scared to talk to me so i never get a chance for a conversation that would lead to it. Carry em with me & I still hang them up slyly in every store bathroom i visit. It’s such a beautiful prayer 🙏
Have you heard of Safi Kaskas, VMB? He is a Muslim Scholar and provides a rich interfaith dialog for Jewish, Islamic & Christian practitioners. Very encouraging.
Yes, Safi Kaskas is a solid example of what actual interfaith work looks like when it’s rooted in scholarship, discipline, and lived practice rather than fear narratives.
Thank you for naming him!
This is beautiful. And it rings especially true since just last night, I caught up with an old friend over dinner. He comes from a historically-Orthodox Ukrainian family but was raised in a nondenominational evangelical church in the Chicago area. We had dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant, and in the course of the conversation, it became apparent that my friend didn’t really know what or where Ethiopia was, had no idea about its Christian history, had no idea there had ever been Christianity in Africa or the Middle East (?!?) before modern, white Christian’s began to evangelize there, knew almost nothing about Eastern Orthodoxy despite knowing that his grandparents practiced it, and had no idea any Christian scriptures had originally been written in any language other than Greek. I, his rabbinical seminarian friend, knew a hundred times more about NT and early Christianity than he did, and he is a very faithful Christian who prays every day. But the scaffolding of his Christianity is impoverished historically and ritually. Eastern Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are so much richer. Though I will observe that none of them has been totally shielded from toxic nationalism by the richer ritual life or scholasticism.
Brilliant read. It's also almost amusing how christianity (true, red-letter christianity) originally walked hand-in-hand with mysticism until it was demonized. John was a mystic. Some might even classify Yeshua himself a mystic. But somewhere along the way, we lost that connection between faith and spirituality. And now most are so afraid to even consider one could be a Christian and a mystic at the same time. But Christian mysticism IS still a thing.
Anyway, you just won yourself a subscription. 😌👌🏽
You’re right that mysticism was there early, but it wasn’t preserved. Christianity lost most of its mystical path through institutional suppression. What survived did so at the margins and often under suspicion.
Much of what modern Christianity now calls contemplative practice re-entered modern Christian discourse through borrowing from Sufism, though its Islamic roots are usually not acknowledged.
When someone actually begins to awaken inside Christianity, they’re rarely celebrated. They’re monitored, corrected, or pushed out.
S'why I don't really talk about my personal path publicly. Cos I know what they do to people like me. 😅😅
Thanks for this calm & respectful look into Islam — instead of the hateful propaganda we always hear from MAGA.✨🌙✨
Best advice for a MAGA Christian: Get down off your cross.
Brilliant. Can I borrow that? I'll credit you 😉
Yes, you may
christian nationalism is not Christian!! It is Blasphemy!! Christ loved all and would never chose a nation!
CHRIST LOVES THE POOR, those Turned away from Christian nationalist! These people are shams! They don’t believe in CHRIST!!
Do you follow Father Richard Rohr? I think you would enjoy him. Mysticism still exists in my tradition, and always has, but we’re a minority in the U.S., even though we’re the single largest branch of Christendom in the world. Great essay, btw!
Mary, thank you. And yes, Rohr’s work has been part of my path. He helped reintroduce a lot of people to the contemplative stream, even if he’s translating things that used to be handed down through elders instead of paperbacks.
And you’re right that mysticism still exists within your tradition. I never meant to say it disappeared. What I’m pointing to is that across Christian history, the mystical path often survived by clinging to the edges—protected by monastics, visionaries, and the occasional stubborn saint. It was present, but it wasn’t exactly encouraged. More often it was monitored, corrected, or treated like a problem waiting to happen.
Islam, by contrast, never exiled its own interior path. Prayer, presence, breath, fasting, remembrance, those stayed central. That contrast is part of why Christian Nationalists react the way they do.
But I’m grateful you brought this up. The contemplative minority inside Christianity has always carried an outsized amount of light. And I’m glad you’re part of it.
Truth is so compelling & for me, at least today, calming. The first 3 hours today were wonderful (i was still in bed). Then made the mistake of getting up & had several chances to practice Presence after discovering things like a clogged dehumidifier that were NOT on my agenda. Raged & then paused & took a breath. Checked my phone & cried….15 people killed at Bondi Beach, one of my favorite places on earth I’ve only been to once, because a Hanukkah celebration was happening. I’m not Jewish, my former husband was, & actually my reaction would have been just as deep no matter the reason or religion - it just hits closer to home.
I said forget it in a very profane way to a few other things i had planned to do & read your beautiful post on why Christian Nationalists are afraid of Islam. Itz Truth. And it calmed me down because for some reason, what i know of Islam, i can’t imagine why it would cause fear.
You answered everything with details and explained it with such clarity - both Christian Nationalism AND Islam. Unbiased, factual, understandable.
It was illuminating & shines a bright light. Wish it was on the cover of every mainstream magazine that still exists (are there any?)
Jesus walked on water. He performed miracles. He said you can throw a mountain into the sea if you have enuf faith. If that’s not mystical, I don’t know what is.
I’ll read this a few more times tonite & let it soak in. It’s brilliant.
Glad you’re still sharing the prayer cards. I think because I always wear a mask, people are too scared to talk to me so i never get a chance for a conversation that would lead to it. Carry em with me & I still hang them up slyly in every store bathroom i visit. It’s such a beautiful prayer 🙏
And THAT was a much needed, reality-check post.
A system that depends on outrage is not sustainable. Shared practice vs. shared outrage....that resonates.