In the United States, the concept of “religious freedom” has been weaponized. What was meant to protect people of all faiths—and those with none—has been twisted into a tool of oppression, used to justify discrimination and enforce a narrow, exclusionary vision of morality.
Religious nationalism, which fuses Christian identity with American political power, has gained momentum in recent years, emboldened by Donald Trump and his allies. This movement isn’t about protecting religious practice—it’s about control. It’s about using faith as a political weapon to restrict reproductive rights, roll back LGBTQ+ protections, censor education, and silence diverse religious and secular perspectives. The consequences are real, and they’re devastating.
The Rise of Christian Nationalism and Its Political Power
Christian nationalism is not a new phenomenon, but it has surged to unprecedented levels, becoming one of the most powerful ideological forces in American politics. A 2023 survey from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that nearly one-third of Americans either sympathize with or fully embrace Christian nationalist beliefs, including the idea that the U.S. should be an explicitly Christian nation. Among Republicans, that number jumps to 50%, fueled by the rhetoric of Trump, Ron DeSantis, and other far-right figures. This ideology isn’t just shaping how people vote—it’s shaping the very laws and policies that govern our daily lives.
Over the past year alone, the rise of religious nationalism has led to unprecedented legislative attacks on marginalized communities. More than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state legislatures, a historic high, with at least 80 becoming law. These policies range from bans on gender-affirming healthcare to restrictions on LGBTQ+ discussions in schools. In Florida, the “Don’t Say Gay” law was expanded, making it illegal for teachers to acknowledge LGBTQ+ identities at almost any grade level. Meanwhile, abortion access has been decimated. Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, at least 14 states have enacted near-total abortion bans, with 26 states working to further restrict reproductive rights. As a result, countless people—especially Black and Indigenous women, who already face disproportionately high maternal mortality rates—are suffering the consequences.
The Supreme Court has further emboldened these attacks. In 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, the Court ruled that businesses could legally deny services to LGBTQ+ individuals if they claimed a religious objection. This decision set a dangerous precedent, granting corporations the right to discriminate under the guise of faith. And religious fundamentalists aren’t stopping there. Book bans surged to record highs in 2023, with over 4,000 challenges—most targeting literature that addresses LGBTQ+ identities or racial justice. Every one of these moves, from restricting healthcare to censoring classrooms, serves the same goal: to establish a rigid, Christian nationalist framework as the law of the land, erasing anyone who does not conform.
The Psychological Toll of Christian Nationalism
For those of us who have experienced high-control religious environments, this political moment feels disturbingly familiar. The same tactics that religious fundamentalism uses to enforce obedience—fear, shame, suppression of identity, and rigid gender roles—are now being institutionalized on a national scale. This is not just a political crisis; it is a mental health crisis.
The damage begins early. LGBTQ+ individuals raised in conservative religious households are at significantly higher risk for mental health struggles. A 2023 report from The Trevor Project found that nearly 70% of LGBTQ+ youth from these backgrounds experience long-term distress due to rejection and discrimination. Many are pushed into conversion therapy, a practice widely condemned by mental health experts yet still legal in dozens of states. Studies show that those who endure conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide. The psychological wounds inflicted by religious extremism last long after people leave those environments, with many former believers suffering from deep-seated anxiety, depression, and complex PTSD.
The impact of religious nationalism also extends to reproductive rights. The Turnaway Study, the largest long-term study on the effects of abortion denial, found that women who were forced to carry unwanted pregnancies experienced higher rates of depression, PTSD, and long-term economic distress. Many were more likely to stay in abusive relationships, suffer job losses, and struggle with financial insecurity for years. In states where Christian nationalist policies have made abortion nearly impossible to access, these psychological and economic harms are compounded. The people most affected are often the ones already facing systemic oppression—low-income women, people of color, and survivors of domestic violence.
Religious nationalism doesn’t only harm those in targeted communities. It also devastates those who attempt to leave high-control faith traditions. Psychologist Dr. Marlene Winell coined the term Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) to describe the psychological distress experienced by those who deconstruct their faith. Many former believers grapple with identity loss, self-worth struggles, and overwhelming guilt, often feeling isolated and adrift. They were conditioned to believe that questioning their faith would lead to punishment, and now, the nation itself seems to be reinforcing that fear.
The Weaponization of Faith
None of this is accidental. Christian nationalism thrives on control, fear, and exclusion. It tells LGBTQ+ people that they must hide who they are to be accepted. It tells women that their bodies are not their own. It tells teachers that they cannot discuss systemic racism, gender identity, or reproductive health without risking their careers. These are the same mechanisms of control that fundamentalist religious institutions have used for centuries—but now, they are being codified into law.
This movement operates in a chillingly predictable pattern. First, it restricts what people can say and think, whether through book bans, censorship laws, or purges of diversity programs. Then, it demonizes those who dissent, labeling anyone who resists as immoral, dangerous, or even criminal. Finally, it punishes those who do not conform, stripping them of healthcare, employment protections, and basic civil rights. These are not just policy decisions; they are an extension of fundamentalist doctrine, designed to maintain power at all costs.
Reclaiming Religious Freedom
But true religious freedom is not about privileging one faith over others. It is about ensuring that no one is forced to live under someone else’s religious rules. It means protecting people’s right to practice their faith—but also their right not to. It means recognizing that a government that enforces Christian nationalism today could just as easily impose another belief system tomorrow.
The fight against this movement requires us to expose the myth that “religious freedom” justifies discrimination. The reality is that religious freedom should never mean the right to impose your beliefs on others. We must also support those who are leaving fundamentalist faith traditions, ensuring that survivors of religious trauma have access to mental health resources and communities where they feel safe. Defending secular spaces is equally essential—because Christian nationalism is not just a religious issue, it is an attack on LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, racial equality, and democracy itself.
Above all, we must refuse to be silent. The louder we are, the harder it becomes for religious extremists to erase us. Whether through advocacy, education, or grassroots organizing, every voice in this fight matters.
Religious nationalism is not just a political threat; it is a fundamental issue of justice. The fight against oppression, marginalization, and rejection is inseparable from the fight for true religious freedom. If we are to build a world where all people can thrive—regardless of faith, gender, or identity—we must resist the weaponization of religion and reclaim the true meaning of freedom. Because real religious freedom doesn’t mean the right to discriminate. It means the right to exist, to live, and to thrive—without fear.
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