US Lawmaker Warns of Rising Threat From Christian Nationalism

Democratic Representative Jared Huffman of California raised concerns about the growing influence of Christian nationalism following the publication of his new book on August 18, 2026, describing the movement as the most dangerous political threat to American democracy.

Huffman, one of the few openly non-religious lawmakers in Congress, warned that the movement gained significant momentum after the January 6 Capitol riot and the return of former President Donald Trump to power. In his book, titled No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism, he argued that religious extremism actively threatens science, education, and democratic norms.

Reflecting on the events of January 6, 2021, Huffman noted the prominent religious symbols displayed during the Capitol attack, including crosses, shofars, and 'Appeal to Heaven' flags, alongside public prayers offered by rioters.

"This Christian nationalist movement that I had seen growing so much stronger and more militant during my time in Congress erupted in plain view," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

He expressed disappointment over the subsequent national response to the insurrection, criticizing the political establishment for failing to address the underlying religious ideology driving the riot.

"I truly believed January 6 would be the wake-up call our country needed to confront this movement to understand it and to hold it to account," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

Huffman emphasized that many of his congressional colleagues failed to acknowledge the explicit religious motivations of the mob that targeted the Capitol complex.

"Unfortunately, the country went back to sleep and many of my own colleagues who the mob wanted to kill that day didn't even seem to notice the religious elements of the group that was trying to kill them," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

Raised in Missouri as a devout Christian and ordained into the priesthood of the Community of Christ, Huffman gradually shifted toward humanism following his father's death during his college years. He defined humanism as an affirmative commitment to leading moral and ethical lives grounded in science, reason, and human duty rather than fear or divine instruction.

"The bottom line is the supernatural tenets of my faith, the God belief, the notion of heaven and hell and miracles and so forth, no longer worked for me. That's a hard thing when you lose your faith," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

Huffman noted that departing from his religious upbringing took years of introspection, during which he realized core moral values were not exclusive to religion.

"It took me years of reflecting and thinking about it to determine that the things I liked about my religious upbringing, the universal values that are very much part of the Christian gospel, are available in all sorts of faith perspectives, including non-belief. They're things that good people often innately do and think," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

He explained his preference for identifying as a humanist rather than using other secular labels.

"The reason I prefer that to atheist is because atheist is a negative statement about what you don't believe. That feels like it reduces me. Humanism is a much more affirmative expression of what you do believe, and humanists believe we have a duty to lead moral and ethical lives based on science and facts and reason.

You choose to be a good person not because of some sky god or some inducement of an afterlife or fear of hell," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

For decades, Huffman kept his personal beliefs private. When he entered Congress in 2013, he recalled feeling uncomfortable when asked to pose holding a Bible during his ceremonial swearing-in photo with former House Speaker John Boehner.

By 2017, following the death of his mother and the escalation of religious rhetoric in national politics, Huffman decided to publicly disclose his secular worldview despite political advisers, family, and staff warning him that the decision could ruin his political career.

"They were giving me good advice because the polling to this day shows that the worst label you could attach to a candidate for public office in the United States is 'atheist'. I appreciated them trying to protect me, but I also knew that I felt increasingly uncomfortable hiding my moral framework and ducking these questions about religion. I felt increasingly drawn into the fight against all of these encroachments of religious extremism into our government.

I was on a collision course with 'coming out', if you will, and I decided to do it against that advice," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

Following his public disclosure, Huffman received encouragement from prominent House leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, Representative Jamie Raskin, and former House chaplain Father Pat Conroy. However, he also faced public backlash and judgment from political opponents and some Christian colleagues within his own party.

"I'm very glad I did it, but have I encountered some harsh judgments and prejudices? Absolutely. I've been called every name in the book.

I have Democratic colleagues who are devout Christians who seem to take some offence at my public existence as a non-believer," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

Huffman stated that the reaction highlights broader cultural issues surrounding religious authority in American political life.

"They seem to feel that threatens or insults them as Christians, which is baffling, of course, because I don't have a quarrel with Christianity or Christians, but it does speak to the privileged status of Christians not just within the Republican party, where Christian nationalism has become a defining feature, but even among my fellow Democrats," said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.

In 2018, Huffman co-founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus alongside Representative Jamie Raskin to promote government policies based on facts, science, and the separation of church and state. Membership in the caucus has grown to 37 lawmakers, surpassing the 34 members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. Over the past decade, the total number of Capitol Hill lawmakers identifying as unaffiliated or holding unspecific religious affiliations has risen from 16 to 40.