As far-right movements gain visibility in Britain and beyond, many are drawing on Christian language, symbols and stories to justify exclusion and division. What happens when the gospel of love is co-opted by the politics of fear?
In this conversation, theologian and Baptist minister Helen Paynter explores how theology, scripture and nationalism are becoming dangerously entangled. She reflects on why parts of the church are vulnerable to far-right narratives, how faith can be weaponised, and what it means to resist with wisdom, compassion and courage.
Following the interview, Nomad hosts Tim Nash and Nick Thorley reflect on anger, numbness, purity spirals and the quiet work of resisting despair, and ask what it might look like to keep telling a better story when the old one keeps getting twisted.
Interview starts at 15m 29s
WEBSITES
The Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence
SOCIALS
Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence
Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence
BOOKS
The Church, The Far Right, and The Claim to Christianity
The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So: Why you don’t have to submit to domestic abuse and coercive control
God of Violence Yesterday, God of Love Today?: Wrestling honestly with the Old Testament
BOOKS MENTIONED
The Claim to Christianity: Responding to the Far Right – Hannah Strømmen & Ulrich Schmiedel
QUOTES
“I’m furious at the use of the Christian story, the use of Christian sounding language by bad political actors who have no principles that I would connect with the Jesus of the Gospels.”
“I’m furious at the use of the Christian story, the use of Christian sounding language by bad political actors who have no principles that I would connect with the Jesus of the Gospels.”
“Let’s stop shouting across the chasm at each other and let’s take responsibility for the extreme versions of our own theology and ideology.”
“Resistance involves confessing our own complicity, confessing our slowness to respond, confessing the way that we have perhaps not spoken clearly and boldly.”