Last week I was able to attend an online webinar hosted by Political Research Associates (PRA) that was related to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement and Christian reconstructionism. The panel was led by leading scholars of right-wing, authoritarian Christian movements in the U.S. and added to the information I have previously learned as I have been researching and writing about Christian nationalism in the past few years. While there are differences in theological views between Christian reconstructionists and the NAR, there are enough areas of overlap to create great cause for concern because both groups want some version of authoritarian theocracy here in the U.S. and abroad.

The panel included Dr. Andre Gagne’ , author of many books and professor at Concordia University. His latest book is American Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and the End Times. Dr. Gagne’s presentation focused on the spiritual warfare that proponents of NAR dominionism believe is happening all around us. In their view, there are literally demons everywhere working to undermine Christianity.

Peter Montgomery is a Senior Fellow at Right Wing Watch (RWW). Mr. Montgomery focused on the political influence that people within the NAR orbit have in American politics and some of the groups/organizations within that orbit who seek to influence America’s political decision making. Those groups included: The Courage Tour , Kenneth Copeland’s FlashPoint, Sean Feucht’s Kingdom to the Capitol, Jim Garlow’s 50 Day Fight, Lou Engel’s Esther’s Call, and traitorous General Mike Flynn’s ReAwaken America. All of these people and events are dangerous to democracy.

Dr. Julie Ingersoll is a professor at the University of Northern Florida and is an expert on Christian reconstructionism of the type that was preached by Christian extremists R.J. Rushdoony and Gary North. Dr. Ingersoll is the author of Building God’s Kingdom: Inside the World of Christian Reconstruction. I just picked up a copy for my Kindle and can’t wait to dive in!

Rachel Tabachnick is an expert on Christian Zionism and a researcher of the intersections between the religious right and free market think tanks. She highlighted the strange, seemingly mutually exclusive relationship between theocratic Christian movements and libertarianism that is pervasive in right wing American political movements.

Fred Clarkson is a Senior research analyst at Political Research Associates. He researches and writes extensively about Christian nationalism, the NAR, and dominionism. During his talk he mentioned Project 19 — a plan by the NAR to target 19 key counties in the upcoming presidential election. Clarkson is active on Twitter and definitely worth following for information on Christian extremism.

Dr. Anthea Butler is the Religious studies chair at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America. Dr. Butler noted that she was a student at Fuller Seminary when C. Peter Wagner was part of the faculty there. In her view, the NAR’s proponents are playing the long game and will not give up even if this election is won by the Harris-Walz campaign.

PRA is hosting another NAR webinar with the above mentioned scholars. You can register at this link: The New Apostolic Reformation and the Threat to Democracy. I highly recommend attending if you can, particularly if you live in a swing state or someplace where Christian nationalists are making waves. Christian extremism is a significant danger in the U.S. and the world at this time from groups like the NAR, as well as the Christian reconstructionists, hard right Southern Baptists like William Wolfe and Speaker Mike Johnson, right wing Catholics like Leonard Leo and the Teneo group, and all of the people/groups behind Project 2025. Be vigilant and above all vote in local, state, and federal elections for candidates who repudiate religious extremism while standing for the first amendment.

Peace be with you.