This week, Saint Anselm College hosted the “Christian Nationalism as Democratic and Religious Threat” conference, a two-day working conference at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics' Center for the Study of Religion and Public Life, looking at the relationship between Christian nationalism, religion, politics, and American democracy. The conference took place on Sept. 17 and 18, 2026, and brought together presenters from colleges and universities across the country, including Boston College, the University of Tennessee, the University of Oklahoma, and more. Theology Professor Marc V. Rugani and Politics Professor R. Ward Holder, were among the presenters. The conference featured presentations about the history of Christian nationalism and its connections to politics.
R. Ward Holder, the Center’s director explained that the event aimed to bring together scholars from different fields to examine Christian nationalism, including what it is, who supports it, and its significance to religious and political contexts. He described the conference as a “smashing success,” saying participants appreciated having so many different perspectives in the same room. The event also allowed Saint Anselm students, faculty, and staff to listen and participate in the discussions.
This workshop conference asked the question, “What are Christian Nationalism’s impacts on a democratic and pluralistic society?” The conference explored this and other questions to understand various angles of the topic. Over the course of two days, we heard from various presenters shared their insights.
Rugani contributed to the project with a paper that examines the relationship between Catholic social teaching and Christian nationalism in the United States. It argues that the rise of Christian nationalism in the United States represents a new "Americanist heresy" that distorts Catholic social teaching. “What I want to share with you today is from this draft chapter, from the work that all of us are contributing here to,” Rugani said. His presentation, titled “A New Americanist Heresy: Christian Nationalism in the Fight Over Catholic Social Teaching in the United States,” explored the influence of Christian nationalism on American Catholicism and political life. He concluded by describing his hope that the discussion would encourage church leaders to look at the relationship between Catholic identity and Christian nationalism. “That is my hope and my challenge to this room,” Rugani said.
The project will continue beyond the event, with a proposal for a book already submitted and a hoped-for publication date of early 2027. Holder said the event demonstrated the value of a liberal arts college in bringing together people who may not typically interact on research university campuses, allowing for wide-ranging discussions.