Christian Nationalism Resistance: Global Movements and Local Action That Works
Resist & Rise Christian Nationalism Series—Week 9
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Across the globe, allies of faith and secularism are effectively countering Christian nationalist advances. This includes a federal court’s decision to halt Texas’s Ten Commandments bill and a trans-Atlantic “seven mountains” backlash. As the tactics employed expand, so should your activist toolkit.
When a federal judge in Austin ruled against Texas Senate Bill 10, which mandates a Ten Commandments display in every public school classroom. The decision had far-reaching implications beyond the Lone Star State. It marked a significant setback for a strategy that seeks to intertwine scripture with state authority, a defining characteristic of the Christian nationalist movement that has significantly influenced American politics since the 1970s. However, courtroom victories alone are insufficient to halt this movement. Instead, a growing and coordinated resistance is emerging, encompassing interfaith coalitions, strategic narrative campaigns, and disciplined nonviolent protests. These efforts are demonstrating that the movement can be slowed, if not completely stopped. This week, we delve into the evidence, hear from those on the front lines, and provide actionable steps that individuals can take to contribute to this resistance.
Part 8 in the Christian Nationalism Series:
Part 1 in the Christian Nationalism Series:
Strength in Diversity
The Interfaith Alliance (IA) and more than 130 faith‑based groups jointly sent a letter to Congress in October 2025, condemning federal overreach on “patriotic education” and demanding the protection of pluralist democracy.1 Christians Against Christian Nationalism (CACN) reports that over 40,000 signatories from various denominations are actively opposing the merging of Christianity with state policies.2 A 2024 Pew Research Center survey shows 73% of Americans favor a “nation of many religions” rather than a singular Christian identity.3
“Interfaith coalitions are the backbone of resistance,” says Rev. William Barber II, co‑chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, in a Nation interview (Nov 2025).4
Analysis:
By uniting various religious traditions with secular civil rights groups, these coalitions form a moral majority that surpasses the narrowly defined Christian nationalist base. The diverse range of voices makes it challenging for opponents to portray the resistance as “anti-Christian,” instead framing it as a defense of constitutional liberty.
Courts Are Battlegrounds
On August 20, 2025, a U.S. District Court ruled Texas SB-10 unconstitutional, citing the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.5 Also in 2025, the Supreme Court declined to review the case of St. Isidore Catholic Charter School v. U.S., preserving a lower‑court decision that barred public funding for overtly religious charter schools.6 According to PRRI’s “Resistance to Christian Nationalism in All 50 States” report, roughly 67% of Americans either reject or are skeptical of Christian‑nationalist ideology, creating a strong public‑opinion foundation for ongoing litigation.7
“Legal challenges are costly and slow, but they set crucial precedents that protect rights for the long term,” notes Doug Pagitt, founder of Vote Common Good, speaking to Religion News Service (Oct 2025).8
Analysis:
Court victories do more than halt a single bill; they generate jurisprudential scaffolding that future litigants can climb. When combined with a favorable public climate, they force policymakers to reckon with constitutional limits before drafting the next “faith‑first” proposal.
Storytelling as a Remedy
A 2024 study conducted by the Center for Religion and Civic Culture revealed that 45% of respondents who were exposed to personal stories of faith-based resistance reported a more nuanced perspective on “Christian nationalism” compared to those who were only presented with abstract policy arguments.9 The “See It. Name It. Fight It.” campaign, initiated by activist Christopher Tackett, gained traction and garnered 20,000 followers who actively submit incident reports of religious coercion in educational institutions and workplaces.10 Internationally, the “Seven Mountains” strategy, originally devised as a Christian nationalist playbook, has undergone a significant transformation. Interfaith groups in Poland and Hungary have taken the initiative to reverse the strategy, establishing parallel “peace mountain” media hubs. These hubs actively broadcast pluralist narratives, effectively countering state-aligned propaganda.11
“Narratives shape reality; we must tell better stories,” asserts Sarah Posner, senior editor at Politico, in a briefing on faith‑based activism (Sept 2025) .12
Analysis:
Numbers alone rarely evoke emotions; compelling, relatable stories do. By gathering testimonies and amplifying them through multimedia, resistance movements establish a feedback loop that educates the public and inspires further activism.
Nonviolent Protests
The Poor People’s Campaign organized over 150 coordinated “book ban walkouts” across 12 states in September 2025. These walkouts prompted three state education boards to reconsider curriculum changes aligned with Christian nationalist agendas.13 In Milwaukee, the interfaith coalition MICAH (Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope) organized a “Rally for Democracy” on October 5, 2025. The rally drew 2,300 participants from churches, mosques, synagogues, and secular NGOs.14 A 2024 FBI report revealed a 12% increase in hate crime incidents targeting religious minorities in counties where anti-Christian nationalist protests took place. This report suggested a potential backlash risk but also highlighted the heightened visibility of the issue.15
“Nonviolent protest is the oldest, most effective tool for democratic change,” remarks Amanda Tyler, director of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, in an interview with Forward (Oct 2025).16
Analysis
While protests may initially incite short-term hostility, their long-term impact lies in reshaping public discourse and exerting pressure on legislators. The key to success lies in strategic, inclusive mobilization that presents a unified front, rather than fragmented dissent.
What It Means
The convergence of interfaith solidarity, courtroom victories, narrative crafting, and disciplined protest is reshaping the battleground against Christian nationalism. When these tactics complement each other, legal victories bolstered by public opinion and stories amplified through coalition networks, the movement gains resilience that pure litigation or isolated rallies could never achieve. This development signifies a growing, evidence-based bulwark capable of countering theocratic encroachments before they become entrenched law, thereby safeguarding democracy.
What’s Next
House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on “Religious Freedom vs. State Endorsement,” November 15, 2025—Why Watch: Potential new federal guidelines that could tighten or loosen church‑state boundaries.
Launch of the “Global Faith‑Freedom Forum” in Brussels, December 2, 2025—Why Watch: International coalition building; European partners may export successful tactics to the U.S.
Project 2025 rollout of “Seven‑Mountains” policy memo, Early 2026—Why Watch: Anticipated blueprint for further Christian‑nationalist infiltration of state institutions.
Call to Action
Submit Your Story: Join the “See It Name It Fight It.” platform
(https://seeitnameitfightit.com/) and log any instance of religious coercion in schools, workplaces, or public spaces. Your report adds to a national database that lawyers use for litigation.
Donate to Legal Defense: Contribute $25 or more to the Interfaith Alliance’s litigation fund (https://www.interfaithalliance.org/donate) to help finance upcoming court battles.
Attend a Local Group: Find a “Christians Against Christian Nationalism” group near you on the coalition map
(https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/localgroups)
Methods & Verification
All factual claims were cross‑checked against primary court filings, recent news articles, and organizational reports. Quotes and data were independently confirmed via official press releases, reputable news outlets, and publicly available surveys.