Interreligious Dialogue and Religious Nationalism

Abstract Although the rise of religious nationalism problematizes interreligious dialogue and collaboration, progress may occur by emphasizing biblical precedents for engagement, correcting misconceptions about Christianity, and addressing common societal challenges. In the United States, Christian nationalism has been on the rise for decades, and it endangers biblical Christianity as well as interreligious dialogue. Christian nationalism accommodates the gospel of Jesus Christ to socio‐political influences that want to have dominion over all of society, emphasizing a kind of prosperity gospel by means of authoritarian governance. Christians need to confront Christian nationalism, for example, as articulated in the National Council of Churches’ policy statement entitled “The Dangers of Christian Nationalism in the US.” By re‐emphasizing biblical precedents for engaging in interreligious dialogue and by correcting misconceptions about Christianity caused by religious nationalism, progress may occur in addressing common societal challenges for the sake of mutual understanding and cooperation among the followers of different religions.