One-Third of Americans Embrace Christian Nationalism, PRRI Study Reveals
A comprehensive new report from the Public Religion Research Institute has uncovered that approximately one-third of American adults believe the United States either is or should be a Christian nation. The groundbreaking research, based on more than 20,000 interviews conducted nationwide, reveals that women are just as likely as men to subscribe to Christian nationalist ideologies.
Measuring Christian Nationalist Beliefs
Researchers assessed participants' agreement with several key statements to determine their positions on Christian nationalism. These included whether "U.S. laws should be based on Christian values," whether "If the U.S. moves away from our Christian foundations, we will not have a country anymore," and whether "God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society."
Based on their responses, individuals were categorized into four distinct groups: adherents, sympathizers, skeptics, or rejectors of Christian nationalism. "If you completely agree with those statements, by and large, you're a Christian nationalist adherent," explained Melissa Deckman, chief executive of PRRI.
Political Implications and Gender Dynamics
While most Americans remain skeptical or outright reject Christian nationalism, those who embrace these beliefs represent a significant political force. The PRRI report found that 56% of Republicans identify as either Christian nationalism adherents or sympathizers. These individuals demonstrate strong support for former President Donald Trump and view him as a powerful leader.
Contrary to some expectations, women constitute a substantial portion of those who strictly adhere to Christian nationalist views. "Plenty of American women are conservative, and they hold strong theologically conservative positions, and they have found a home in this movement," Deckman noted.
Women's Role in the Movement
From an external perspective, it might seem puzzling why women would participate in a movement that seeks to limit their agency. Prominent Christian nationalist figures like the Rev. Doug Wilson have publicly questioned women's voting rights, suggesting the 19th Amendment was "a bad idea" and advocating for household voting through male heads of families.
Deckman explained that Christian nationalists, including many women supporters, are willing to restrict women's rights partly "because they see society changing. They see younger women who are less religious, who are opting out of marriage, and it's alarming to them."
"To understand the Christian nationalist worldview is that it's one that's deeply steeped in militant masculinity with very patriarchal views," Deckman added. "And so the role of women in society is really to be mothers, preferably of lots of children, and to be wives that are submissive to their husbands."
Shared Beliefs Across Genders
Women who strongly believe in Christian nationalism hold remarkably similar hard-line views to their male counterparts on several critical issues. Both groups demonstrate comparable support for political violence when they believe it necessary "to save the country." They also share beliefs about immigration, supporting deportation of undocumented immigrants without due process and endorsing the Great Replacement theory—the idea that immigrants are "invading our country and replacing our cultural and ethnic background."
Katie Gaddini, a sociologist and associate professor at University College London who studies Christian women in U.S. politics, noted that while the specific targets may have shifted over time—from Muslims in 2016 to Latinos more recently—"the idea of wanting to keep outsiders out of the country has stayed the same."
Nuanced Differences on Gender Issues
Despite these similarities, PRRI's 2025 survey on American values revealed some nuanced differences between Christian nationalist men and women on specific gender issues. Christian nationalist women (26%) were significantly less likely than men (43%) to agree that "The gains that women have made in recent years have come at the expense of men." This group of women was also slightly less likely to believe that society had become "too soft and feminine" compared to their male counterparts.
For these Christian nationalist women, gender equality doesn't necessarily conflict with their faith. "Within the MAGA coalition, there are prominent women and everyday women who would call themselves conservative feminists, and they believe in women's equality," Gaddini explained.
Broader Societal Impact
Overall, Gaddini observed that while Christian nationalist women might approach issues with different styles or perspectives, "the fervency of beliefs and the commitment to the cause is not any different from men." This shared commitment has significant implications for American society.
"The harm is the exclusion it causes to a lot of people, trans people, immigrants, gender, sexual, racial minorities," Gaddini warned. "There's documented harm that can be caused by those rigid, exclusionary beliefs."
The PRRI study illuminates how Christian nationalism continues to shape American political discourse and social dynamics, with women playing an increasingly visible role in advancing these ideologies despite potential conflicts with gender equality principles.
