Why do many white supremacists claim to be Christians?

Response

Any reasonable response to the question “why do many white supremacists identify as Christian” begins with carefully defining terms. This involves not only determining what constitutes a “Christian,” but also considering the specific culture, nation, or group in question. Mere words are insufficient; it is simple to profess adherence to a major religion without genuine dedication, and racial bias is often used to distort spiritual concepts across various cultures.

To understand why many white supremacists profess to be Christian, we must consider self-identification. In Western society, including the United States, a significant number of individuals self-identify as “Christian.” In this context, many white supremacists claim to be “Christian” for the same reason that many musicians or politicians do. When an entire culture embraces Christianity as its identity, irrespective of other fundamental beliefs, it is unsurprising to find individuals from diverse social, political, and ethical backgrounds adopting the label of “Christian.”

Racial prejudices and biases have been present in every society throughout history. Someone from India might similarly inquire, “Why do many Indian supremacists adhere to Hinduism?” Likewise, in Africa, one might ask, “Why are many Somali supremacists followers of Islam?” The response, in part, would be consistent: due to the predominant religious affiliation within those respective societies. Statistically, this correlation is to be expected.

This brings us to the next crucial point: self-identification differs from genuine authentication. A person can declare, “I am a sports enthusiast,” but if they seldom watch games, do not engage in sports, and possess limited knowledge about the subject, their assertion holds little practical value. Identifying oneself is not equivalent to authenticating one’s connection. For instance, the self-proclaimed sports enthusiast may attend a couple of games annually and sport a team logo on their shirt. However, this does not necessarily indicate a meaningful engagement with the sport. Some may argue that individuals who truly appreciate a sport would regularly participate in it, follow it closely, and deepen their understanding of its intricacies.A person who says he is a sports enthusiast is a sports fan—but that’s not how the term fan, derived from fanatic, is used in actual conversation.

The same applies to Christianity. Referring to oneself as a “Christian,” occasionally attending church, or having a cross tattoo isn’t evidence of a genuine connection to the faith. Christianity is not merely about an inclination towards the Christian religion due to a loose cultural association; it’s about loving and following Christ. It’s not about adopting a label, but emulating a person, Jesus Christ. While there may not be obligatory behaviors or attitudes for sports fans, there are such expectations for Christians (see John 14:15). A person who exhibits racism, arrogance, or prejudice is contradicting the teachings of the Christian faith (Galatians 3:28;James 2:8).

Therefore, self-identifying as a “Christian” while holding white supremacist views is, at best, contradictory and, at worst, self-deceptive. This is not to suggest that born-again believers could never possess such views. It is to emphasize that such views are not in line with the character of Christ; they go against the very essence of the faith that the racial supremacist professes to follow. In many societies, racial supremacists use cultural customs and preferences to validate their beliefs; religion often plays a role in these customs. Regrettably, this means that some individuals in the Western world adhere to racial supremacy while simultaneously—paradoxically—claiming to adhere to Christianity.