Ryan Walters, a rising star on the Christian right, has been making headlines in Oklahoma with his efforts to erode the separation of church and state. As the state superintendent overseeing policy for K-12 schools, Walters has pushed for the creation of a department of religious freedom and patriotism, a Catholic public charter school, and the placement of Trump-branded Bibles in classrooms. His actions have sparked controversy, with schools and the state attorney general pushing back against his attempts to impose religious practices on students.
This rise of Christian nationalism in governance is reflective of a broader trend on the right, with elected officials at various levels expressing a desire to blend religion with government. Organizations like the National Association of Christian Lawmakers are creating model legislation to promote Christian-based laws, while wealthy donors are pouring funds into initiatives that seek to increase the role of religion in education and limit abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights.
The erosion of the separation of church and state has taken hold in other states as well, with laws passed to require the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, introduce daily Bible readings, and allow schools to hire chaplains. Scholars and advocates for church-state separation argue that the founding fathers intended to create a secular government, but the Christian right, led by figures like David Barton, pushes back against this idea.
As these debates continue across the country, observers warn that the rise of Christian nationalism poses a threat to fundamental principles of democracy and individual rights. In Oklahoma, with figures like Ryan Walters at the forefront of the movement, the state has become a testing ground for the national agenda of those seeking to blur the lines between religion and government.
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