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When we think of religion, what often comes to mind are organized traditions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism—institutions with sacred texts, rituals, moral codes, and a vision of ultimate meaning. Yet religion, at its core, is far broader than these particular expressions. It is any organized and intentional process through which a culture produces the meaning necessary for its existence. By this measure, nationalism functions as a religion in every sense of the word.
In fact, when stripped of theological language, the parallels between nationalism and Christianity—or any major religion or “ism”—become strikingly apparent. Both construct sacred narratives, foster collective identity, and demand acts of faith and devotion. To understand this equivalence is to deepen our awareness of how humans sacralize the systems that shape their lives and identities.
The Sacred Narrative of Nationalism
At the heart of every religion lies a narrative—a story that provides coherence, purpose, and ultimate meaning. Christianity, for example, tells the story of humanity’s creation, fall, redemption, and eventual reconciliation with God. This narrative orients believers within a cosmic drama that imbues their lives with significance.
Nationalism, too, is rooted in a sacred narrative. Consider the story of the United States: it begins with the Founding Fathers’ near-mythical struggle against tyranny, the declaration of human rights, and the establishment of a democratic experiment destined to lead the world toward freedom and prosperity. Other nations have similarly constructed foundational myths: France’s revolutionary commitment to “liberté, égalité, fraternité”; Britain’s narrative of empire and global stewardship; or Japan’s tale of divine ancestry and cultural exceptionalism.
These stories are more than historical accounts; they are sacralized visions of destiny. They define a people, consecrate their shared identity, and justify collective purpose. Like Christian salvation history, they transform mundane events into a narrative charged with ultimate significance.
Rituals and Symbols
Ritual is another hallmark of religion. Christianity has its sacraments—baptism, the Eucharist, and prayer—through which the sacred is encountered and affirmed. In a similar way, nationalism sanctifies itself through rituals like flag ceremonies, national anthems, military parades, and ceremonies at places like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Consider the act of pledging allegiance to a flag. It is not merely an expression of loyalty; it is a public declaration of faith in the nation as a transcendent ideal. The flag itself functions as a sacred symbol, much like the Christian cross or the Kaaba in Islam. It is venerated, protected from desecration, and imbued with an aura of untouchable significance. Burning a flag, like desecrating a religious icon, provokes outrage not because of the material loss but because of the perceived attack on something sacred.
National holidays—Independence Day, Bastille Day, or Remembrance Day—serve as collective rites of remembrance, uniting citizens in a shared act of reflection and celebration. These rituals reaffirm the nation’s sacred narrative and rebind the community to its mythic past and aspirational future.
Moral Frameworks and Eschatology
Every religion offers a moral framework—a vision of how adherents should live in alignment with the sacred. Christianity, for instance, centers on love, grace, and obedience to God’s will. Nationalism similarly offers a moral vision: loyalty to the nation, sacrifice for its good, and defense of its ideals.
Both Christianity and nationalism also have eschatological dimensions—a vision of the ultimate future. Christianity envisions the Kingdom of God, a world redeemed and restored. Nationalism offers its own version of this “promised land,” whether it be the triumph of liberty, the global spread of democracy, or the restoration of a perceived golden age. These visions guide the actions of individuals and societies, imbuing them with a sense of purpose and destiny.
Faith and Devotion
Religious faith demands trust in what cannot be seen, a willingness to believe in the transcendent even when evidence is elusive. Nationalism requires similar acts of faith. Citizens are called to trust in the nation’s inherent goodness, its moral superiority, and its destined greatness—even in the face of historical injustices, political corruption, or the realities of international complexity.
This faith is not just rational; it is emotional and deeply ingrained. Much like religious zeal, nationalist fervor can inspire extraordinary acts of courage and self-sacrifice—or horrifying acts of violence and exclusion. Just as religious martyrs have died for their faith, soldiers and revolutionaries have laid down their lives for the nation.
The Idolatry of Nationalism
From a critical perspective, nationalism constitutes a form of idolatry. It elevates the nation to a transcendent status, demanding ultimate allegiance and prioritizing it above other values, including justice, compassion, or truth. Yet this critique applies equally to traditional religions like Christianity, which sacralize their own constructs.
Christian theology often warns against misplaced worship, yet nationalism requires precisely that: a willingness to see the nation not as a human creation, flawed and evolving, but as an eternal and sanctified ideal. In this sense, nationalism mirrors the ways Christianity constructs its divine narratives, both demanding and justifying absolute loyalty.
Nationalism and Christianity in Tension
Interestingly, Christianity and nationalism have often found themselves in uneasy alliance or outright conflict. In the United States, for instance, Christianity has frequently been co-opted by nationalist agendas, with religious leaders framing the nation as a “city on a hill” or divinely chosen. Yet this alignment often distorts Christian theology, subordinating its transcendent ethic of agape to the particular interests of the nation-state.
At its best, Christianity challenges nationalism by calling it to account. The Christian emphasis on transcendent dignity and the radical ethic of agape stands in tension with the tribalism inherent in nationalist ideologies. Christianity’s vision of a global family united in love undercuts the nationalist tendency to dehumanize outsiders or elevate one’s nation above others.
Toward a Broader Understanding of Religion
Understanding nationalism as a religion invites us to see the ways in which humans sacralize their collective identities. It highlights the power of shared narratives, rituals, and values to unite people and give their lives meaning. Yet it also warns us of the dangers of placing ultimate faith in human constructs, whether they are nation-states, gods, or other sacred ideas.
By recognizing nationalism as a religion, we can approach it with a critical and reflective lens, questioning its claims to sacredness and challenging its moral vision. This perspective does not diminish the importance of nations or their role in human history, but it insists that they remain subject to ethical scrutiny and transcendent values.
In the end, the question is not whether nationalism is a religion—it clearly meets the criteria—but whether it is a religion worthy of our faith. Like Christianity, it must answer for how it embodies love, justice, and the common good. Only then can it transcend the tribalism and violence that so often accompany its rise.
