Tag: spirituality

From Constantine to Christian Nationalism: Faith as a Tool of Power

As I reflect on our current state of affairs, I can’t help but recognize we have a deep spiritual crisis in America. It seems religion is increasingly the enemy of spirituality rather than its ally. We are struggling to connect with the divine. There is so much noise in our world that there is hardly time to hear the universe whisper.

I was born into the United Methodist Church. A large portion of my values and beliefs were formed through my understanding of the Gospel framed through John Wesley’s way of preaching it. At the same time, I have broadly studied philosophy and history. It is not new that religion and politics have been co-opted by less than righteous individuals, causing the faithful to distrust their institutions.

When Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the early 4th century, it sent shockwaves through the Roman Empire and reshaped the course of Western civilization. But Constantine’s sudden embrace of the Christian faith wasn’t just a spiritual awakening—it was a masterclass in political strategy. Seventeen centuries later, echoes of that strategy can be heard in the rhetoric and tactics of modern right-wing Christian Nationalism.

Constantine: The Cross and the Crown

Constantine’s conversion is often portrayed as a divine revelation. The story goes that before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, Constantine saw a vision—a cross of light in the sky with the words “In this sign, conquer.” He adopted the Christian symbol for his army, won the battle, and soon after became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. He then issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, legalizing Christianity and ending centuries of persecution. It is absurd to me that Christians adopt this tale of an Emperor winning a battle with the cross in front of it, as Jesus’s life clearly demonstrates his commitment to non-violence.

But this wasn’t about religion—it was about unifying a fractured empire. The Roman world was riddled with internal strife, and Constantine recognized that Christianity, with its growing numbers and organizational strength, could serve as a cohesive force. His “conversion” allowed him to consolidate power, align himself with an increasingly influential group, and gain legitimacy as a divinely favored ruler. In effect, he weaponized religion to cement political dominance.

Christian Nationalism and the GOP

Fast forward to 21st-century America, and a similar pattern emerges. Within the Republican Party, particularly its right-wing faction, Christianity—specifically conservative Evangelical Christianity—has become a central pillar of political identity. It’s not uncommon to hear calls for the United States to be declared a “Christian nation,” or for policies to be framed as extensions of biblical values. Flags bearing crosses fly next to MAGA banners. Political rallies often resemble revival meetings.

Like Constantine’s strategic conversion, the modern use of Christianity in politics is less about personal faith and more about power. Christian Nationalism seeks to fuse national identity with a narrow interpretation of Christianity, positioning one religious worldview as synonymous with patriotism and moral authority. It often marginalizes those who fall outside that worldview—Muslims, Jews, atheists, LGBTQ+ individuals, and progressive Christians alike.

The Politics of Piety

For both Constantine and today’s Christian Nationalists, the strategy is clear: use religion as a tool to legitimize authority and create an “us vs. them” framework that rallies the faithful while excluding dissenters. Constantine turned Christianity into a state religion, blending the cross with the sword. Today’s Christian Nationalists echo this by advocating for policies that blur the line between church and state, from school prayer mandates to abortion bans rooted in religious doctrine.

But just as Constantine’s alliance with the Church transformed Christianity—making it a powerful institution tied to empire—modern political Christianity risks turning faith into a partisan weapon. The result? A version of religion more concerned with control than compassion, more about votes than virtue.

Lessons from History

History teaches us that when religion becomes too entangled with political ambition, it can lose its moral compass. Constantine’s legacy is complex—he helped spread Christianity, but also laid the groundwork for centuries of religious coercion and crusades. He also laid the ground work for the demise of the Roman Empire. Today, as some Republican leaders invoke Christian symbols to consolidate power, we’re faced with the same fundamental question: is this about genuine faith, or is it about using faith to gain and keep power?

The danger lies not in the presence of faith in public life, but in the distortion of faith for political ends. As history shows, when power and piety become indistinguishable, both can be corrupted. We need a spiritual revival in the country, but it needs to be based on love, mercy, humility and justice. This is what is missing in our lives and our politics.

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Character, Virtue and Spirituality

Aristotle described virtue as the mean between two extremes, but today, we live in an age where the two extremes are just increasingly mean. We have inflicted retribution upon one another, taking an eye for an eye so many times that most of us walk around blind. The ancient philosophers and mystics warned against the perils we face, but we heed their advice no more than the contemporary masses of their own times. We are a people who have fooled ourselves into believing we can have leadership without character, righteousness without virtue, and peace without spirituality.

We need look no farther than last year’s election to prove the foremost. Perpetual dishonesty, habitual marital infidelity, underhanded business practices and cash exchanges with foreign officials are the antithesis of qualities to be sought in a leader. In describing this list, you cannot determine if I am referring to the candidate who won or lost. In some absurd series of unfortunate circumstances, the electorate decided it best to vote for the lesser evil. But the lesser of evils is still evil, and thus, a conscious decision was made to vote in support of evil. 

The foundation of leadership is the ability to lead oneself. Said otherwise, character is the bedrock upon which leadership is built. When we’re looking for a leader, we should look first for those qualities that make for an upright individual. We should look for character strengths like honesty, humility and perspective. It makes no difference what policies a governor supports if their personal qualities lead the people into a state of corruption and moral filth.

However, I am skeptical to believe that those in power have led to our state of corruption and am more inclined to think we ourselves are to blame. Predominantly, this is a Christian society and the church has long been the standard bearer for morality in America. Today’s Christian community wants to claim the righteousness of Jesus Christ, but chooses to live with the virtues of Mel Gibson. 

Mainline denominations are in discord trying to appease opposing points of view and, meanwhile, relegate preaching the Gospel to a secondary status. The non-denominational and evangelical movement gravitates toward a narrow view that claims to take the Bible literally, but upon examination, takes literally only those parts that are convenient for its culturally homogeneous constituents, and performs theological gymnastics anytime a scripture is opposed to the constituency’s prejudice. 

This has created a moral void in our society. It is unclear how virtue ethics can regain footing in a time where the primary religion is already certain of its own righteousness, while those on the outside see the church for what it has let itself become. 

On the other hand, there is a growing number of us who are religiously unaffiliated. Many of these individuals seek a world peace based on rationality and science. They see those who are vocally religious and rightly identify the hypocrisy of their actions. Paradoxically, these people are equally as intolerant of religion in the same way they claim the religious to be intolerant. Nietzsche is the greatest philosopher who claimed God is dead, but he also went mad from his own internal disharmony. 

There is no peace without spirituality. All of the science, knowledge and rationality obtained throughout human history cannot replace the intrinsic, unspeakable peace that is only found through the introspective realizations brought about by the Spirit. If you acquire all the knowledge of the world, but are out of touch with your soul, you will be unable to achieve the peace that rationality tells you is possible. 

We have a problem. We lack character, virtue and spirituality. We need leadership that reflects these qualities. We need to work harder to cultivate these qualities within ourselves. And yet, I remain optimistic about the human condition. For all the troubles we face, there are those among us who have the answers, and if we quiet ourselves long enough to listen to them, I am confident we will continue to progress as a people. 

At the intersection of character, virtue and spirituality lies an inner peace that cannot be taken from you. If you have taken the time to read this to the end, then I am confident that you are person who values strong character, moral virtues and deep spirituality. If so, then I challenge you to look at your own thoughts and actions, and find the places where you can develop your character, expand your virtues and connect with your spirit. One by one, we can become the change we wish to see. 

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