God & Country Review: An Urgent Wake-Up Call on Religious Extremism

What would drive thousands of American Christians to storm the U.S. Capitol bearing crosses and “Jesus Saves” signs? That chilling question anchors the timely new documentary God & Country, an unflinching examination of the threat posed by the rise of Christian nationalism in America. Through archival footage and interviews with historians, faith leaders, and journalists, director Dan Partland argues that this extremist ideology distorts both Christianity and patriotism in its quest for minority rule.

As Partland traces the decades-long alliance between the religious right and the Republican Party, we’re confronted with the jarring reality that the Capitol insurrection didn’t materialize out of thin air on January 6th, 2021. Rather, it was the culmination of a radical, religiously-cloaked vision for America, one where dissent is crushed and civil rights reversed in order to impose a theocratic order. The film suggests we ignore this variably militant and legislative assault on pluralism at our great peril.

With empathy for the ordinary believers seduced by Christian nationalism’s false promises, Partland sounds the alarm about its brazen dishonesty. Through lies about America’s origins and inflammatory rhetoric pitting Christians against ominous “others,” opportunistic leaders have convinced followers they’re under attack. In truth, it’s inclusive democracy itself facing an unprecedented threat from within. The question is whether we can wake up to that reality before it’s too late.

Twisting Truths: How Christian Nationalism Subverts History and Scripture

Through archival clips and expert commentary, God & Country methodically deconstructs the alternative reality peddled by Christian nationalism. This ideology asserts America was founded as an exclusively Christian nation and aims to entrench conservative Christian rule. The film traces how this fringe movement gained momentum after civil rights advances in the 1960s challenged white evangelical power. With abortion rights further inflaming tensions, politically savvy pastors like Jerry Falwell Sr. harnessed their flocks’ anger into a disciplined voting bloc that helped elect Ronald Reagan.

Seeking more far-reaching dominion over law and culture, groups like the Christian Coalition began infiltrating school boards and local GOP chapters. Meanwhile, the rise of conservative Christian media immersed believers in an endless feedback loop of alarmist misinformation claiming they were under attack by rapacious “liberals.”

This carefully orchestrated culture of grievance primed the religious right to embrace Donald Trump’s false prophet routine. Despite his glaring personal immorality, Trump won over 80% of white evangelicals by vowing to deliver long-sought policy victories. Their ends-justify-the-means theology was on naked display when Christian flags joined white supremacist banners during the January 6th insurrection.

Throughout this disturbing timeline, God & Country offers cogent rebuttals to Christian nationalism’s warped biblical interpretations and historical fabrications. Conservative faith leaders highlight how its bigotry and lust for power utterly defile authentic Christianity. Likewise, scholars pick apart false talking points about America’s origins and the Constitution’s true church-state boundaries. Ultimately, the film frames Christian nationalism as democracy’s wolf in sheep’s clothing: an authoritarian ideology cloaked in religious rhetoric to undermine pluralism itself.

Sounding the Alarm, But What Next? Evaluating God & Country’s Call to Action

There’s no doubt director Dan Partland succeeds in vividly articulating the Christian nationalist threat and marshalling compelling evidence to back his alarmist case. Through choice archival clips and interviews with over 20 experts, God & Country provides vital historical context showing how today’s extremism was methodically cultivated over decades. Conservative thought leaders like David French offer especially sobering insider takes confirming the anti-democratic menace posed by politically weaponized churches. And the film pulls no punches in calling January 6th just an opening salvo if we don’t challenge Christian nationalism’s corrosive fictions.

Yet for all its urgency, God & Country falls short in a few key areas. Most glaringly, it fails to clearly differentiate Christianity from its nationalist counterfeit, often conflating the two. The choice to frequently cut inflammatory footage of pastors and activists without offering immediate rebuttal also lends an air of false equivalence rather than drawing stark dividing lines. Consequently, the film too easily allows Christian nationalism to claim the mantle of all evangelical faith.

There are also fair critiques regarding reach and proposed remedies. As several reviews note, God & Country essentially preaches to the liberal and moderate choir already appalled by Trumpism’s rise. The very evangelicals Partland hopes to alert are highly unlikely to seek out his unflattering expose. Even if they did view it, the film offers little to change hearts and minds hooked on disinformation and imagined oppression. And while effectively marshalling fears about Christian nationalism’s intentions, God & Country ends with a nebulous call for a “different kind of ‘Christian nationalism’” – one more focused on social justice. But how exactly we get from here to there remains disappointingly unclear.

In the final analysis, God & Country makes for an often-chilling case study of how extremist movements exploit faith to grab power. But as an actual catalyst for counteraction, its self-selecting audience, terminological muddiness, and hazy solutions limit its real-world impact. Still, sounding the alarm about Christian nationalism is vital, even if this single film isn’t the wake-up call America requires. Let’s hope it merely represents an opening shot to spur wider awareness before it’s too late to safeguard pluralism from authoritarian corruption – religious or otherwise.

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Time to Get Off the Sidelines

At its core, God & Country leaves viewers with two vital takeaways: Christian nationalism radically distorts both Christianity and democracy to impose minority rule, and we dismiss its alarming growth at our own peril. Through archival footage and expert commentary, the film effectively traces how this authoritarian ideology gained momentum by exploiting white evangelical anger over civil rights and feminism. Director Dan Partland chillingly frames January 6th as just a taste of extremism yet to come if more Americans don’t wake up to the manipulations of opportunistic pastors, media empires, and politicians.

While Partland sounds his alarm with clarity and urgency, God & Country suffers somewhat as a catalyst for tangible change. Its target audience of already alarmed liberals limits its reach, as does some blurring between legitimate faith and dangerous nationalism. The film also lacks concrete solutions beyond sounding this much-needed warning shot. Yet despite such flaws, God & Country delivers a bracing primer into a real threat simmering just under the surface of America’s supposedly settled political consensus.

The ultimate takeaway is that sounding alarms alone won’t halt Christian nationalism’s steady erosion of inclusive democracy. If we want something better for our polarized nation than devolving into warring religious fiefdoms, we have to get off the sidelines. Whether it’s building interfaith alliances, countering extremist propaganda online, or simply voting to reassert cherished freedoms, inaction poses the greatest danger.

The courageous leaders of America’s civil rights movement put their lives on the line when they saw democracy faltering. We dishonor their legacy if we casually expect some other generation to halt today’s slide toward theocracy. In truth, that heavy lifting falls to all of us – here and now.