Published February 22, 2024
The much-discussed Rob Reiner-produced God & Country documentary is now in theaters and the final product confirms how the documentary was marketed. It’s a biased vilification of conservative Christians that is little more than an exercise in fanning progressive wrath.
Admittedly, the documentary landed a few good punches in its criticisms. Did it rightly call out a lot of cringe and horrible theology done to defend Trump? Yes. Some of the precincts in conservative evangelicalism deserve scathing criticism for sycophantically excusing or defending Donald Trump’s many flaws. But one need not be a theological or political liberal to make that criticism.
To its credit, the documentary did offer mild qualification that not all conservative Christians are enemies of polite society—but only because the interviewees couldn’t speak for all Christians. Even giving that qualification, one would never know at what point one of those culturally acceptable values that Christians affirm—like human dignity—runs afoul of progressive views, especially when politically mobilized. But one can assume from later in the film that if you mobilize to oppose abortion, you hate women and have sacrificed your faith on the altar of politics.
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EPPC Fellow Andrew T. Walker, Ph.D., researches and writes about the intersection of Christian ethics, public theology, and the moral principles that support civil society and sound government. A sought-after speaker and cultural commentator, Dr. Walker’s academic research interests and areas of expertise include natural law, human dignity, family stability, social conservatism, and church-state studies. The author or editor of more than ten books, he is passionate about helping Christians understand the moral demands of the gospel and their contributions to human flourishing and the common good. His most recent book, out in May 2021 from Brazos Press, is titled Liberty for All: Defending Everyone’s Religious Freedom in a Secular Age.
