The Civic Logic of a Conservative Christian School: Institutionalizing a Theopolitical Ideology

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Eleven
  In Roundtable Session: Tensions and Dangers: Uncovering Christian Privilege and Christian Nationalism in Schools (Table 17)

Abstract

The rise of Christian nationalism poses a concern and danger to democratic society. Using data collected as a larger ethno-case study (Parker-Jenkins, 2018), this paper explores the institutional logics of a Conservative Christian school in order to understand the civic education students are receiving and being formed by. The institutional logic of this Conservative Christian school is not primarily aimed at forming democratic citizens but forming alternative “gospel-oriented” citizens within society who are driven by a theo-political ideology. This theo-political ideology is codified in the language of a Christian worldview, maligns anything labeled as liberal, and presents to students a pragmatic approach to politics and citizenship.

Author

• Jeremy Alexander, Boston College
  Presenting Author