The FFRF Action Fund condemns the virulent Christian nationalist agenda of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, which met last week in Virginia.
Jason Rapert, the former Arkansas state lawmaker who founded and heads the group, describes it as a place where lawmakers can formulate model legislation from a “biblical worldview.” At the Virginia event, Rapert disgracefully showed off an “Appeal to Heaven” flag, known for its prominence at the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, while calling to return America to its so-called Judeo-Christian origins.
Basking in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to cavalierly overturn Roe v. Wade, Rapert and Christian Lawmakers members have proposed 15 pieces of model legislation to distribute to lawmakers across the country, including so-called “heartbeat bills” and bills stating that “life begins at conception.”
Rapert is a part of a lawsuit that the Freedom From Religion Foundation, FFRF Action Fund’s sister organization, is litigating. The suit challenges an unconstitutional Ten Commandments display erected on the grounds of the Arkansas Capitol at the request of then-state Sen. Rapert and fellow Christian nationalists. A zealot, he foolishly claims the bible display on state property is the answer to society’s problems.
When legislators join National Association of Christian Lawmakers, they’re made to sign a pledge stating, among other outrageous assertions, that they oppose same-sex marriage, believe “life” begins at conception and essentially endorse America being a Christian nation. They also pledge to promote legislation that is “consistent with traditional Christian values.” The pledge stokes fear by contending that “our nation is in moral decline” and that “atheist and anti-Christian groups have recently been more strategic in pursuing a godless worldview.”
“Rapert and his organization are constant offenders of the constitutional principle of secularism,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF Action Fund president. “Their goal is to inflict their religious doctrines on other citizens through the force of the government.”
The FFRF Action Fund, as a voice for the rapidly growing population of “Nones” who are atheists, agnostics or nothing in particular, now at 29 percent of the adult population, will continue to expose and fight the Christian nationalist agenda of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers. It’s time that Rapert realizes his message is a losing one.
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations, and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues. FFRF Action Fund serves as the advocacy arm of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which has more than 40,000 members and works to keep religion out of government and educate the public about nontheism.
