We are witnessing the rise of Christo-fascism in the US and Canada. It is especially white Christian men finding political identity outside of previously trusted democratic institutions including public health. Sometimes this identity reveals itself as skepticism and hate for government leaders and vaccine mandates. The skepticism and hate is becoming increasingly personal, widening to include racialized people, queer folks, and women who suffer threats of violence. Conspiracy theories have proven to be a powerful vehicle for radicalizing people in these directions and recruiting them into hate movements. What to many of us sound simply bizarre, conspiracy theories represent a concerted propaganda effort spread by millions of people, disrupting the stability of an individual’s worldview. Yesterday’s truths are jettisoned in favour the promise of “real” truth a conspiracy theory reveals. Once a few dominoes fall it becomes much easier for more norms and truths to fall away as well.
For many of us in Canada our heads are spinning watching Roe v Wade overturned by the US Supreme Court, undoing decades of women’s rights and bodily autonomy. Meanwhile the January 6 hearings reveal how much the political situation is deteriorating. In the meantime some Christian churches remain at the forefront, accelerating the decline of social cohesion, preaching messages of division and hate. Churches in which conspiracy theories are tolerated if not actively promoted.
One danger we face in Canada is convincing ourselves that what is happening in the US can’t happen here. The same trends have been emerging closer to home for awhile now. We’ve seen the increasing popularity of “freedom” rallies grow through the pandemic sometimes led by Christian pastors. There is evidence that some organizers of “freedom” rallies have ties to white supremacy and anti-trans groups.
There is also a correlation between far right organizing and increases in violence. Ironically it is often the “freedom” folks who publicly profess support for the police, including displaying blue lives matter insignia, who also threaten violence to law enforcement when they are the ones being policed. On July 1 in Ottawa a “freedom” supporter placed a woman officer in a chokehold. This kind of hypocrisy is consistent with fascist organizing.
As the co-pastor of a church that stands in favour of public health efforts, standing with racialized people, queer people, and women, we have our work cut out. Together with churches, other religious groups, and community organizations, together we can rebuild social cohesion and safety for our neighbours through community organizing around shared truths.
The good news is that it’s never too late. We can commit ourselves to collective action in which all our neighbours flourish. Together we can push back against the threat of violence of creeping fascism, dismantling fascism in churches and other institutions. While we need to take threats of domestic terror seriously, escaping into our private lives only increases the loneliness so many of us have experienced throughout the pandemic. We need each other.
Recently many of us experienced the jubilation of 30,000 neighbours throughout Greater Victoria showing up for the Victoria Pride Parade. I marched together with local Lutherans and we were met with shouts of joy. It is with humility that we march, recognizing many people have complicated relationships with churches. People wanted to get out and celebrate as neighbours, celebrating queer lives, including Two Spirit and trans lives. Rather than being passive in the face of creeping fascism, let us turn the tide. Together we can make Victoria a safer place for racialized people including Indigenous neighbours, queer folks, disabled folks, women, and children.
Lyndon Sayers is co-pastor at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Victoria.
You can read more articles on our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking, HERE: https://www.timescolonist.com/blogs/spiritually-speaking
This article was published in the Times Colonist on Saturday, July 9th 2022
