FFRF Action Fund’s “Secularists of the Week” are two Minnesota legislators who have recently denounced Christian nationalism.
Minnesota state Rep. Andy Smith, representing District 25B, and state Sen. Erin Maye Quade, representing District 56, are both working to protect our secular democracy and the rights of all their constituents, regardless of their religion or nonreligion.
While speaking at a recent news conference in the state Capitol, Smith followed his Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party colleagues’ remarks on reproductive care and transgender Minnesotans by addressing the underlying issue: Christian nationalism. “I want to step back a bit and talk about one of the roots of this movement that we are fighting, and that root is Christian nationalism,” Smith said.
Smith described Christian nationalism as a movement to define the United States with a specific type of Christianity that the government would enforce. He contended that the concept should terrify all Americans.
Smith later detailed his experiences growing up in an evangelical family. He described his time in Christian schools during his youth, recounting how, every morning, he and his classmates followed the Pledge of Allegiance with a second pledge to the Christian flag. This pledge referenced “one savior crucified and coming again with life and liberty for all who believe.” Smith argued this implies that “those who do not believe in that particular religious vision do not deserve life and do not deserve liberty.”
Smith said that he and his wife became “exvangelicals” later in life when they realized the church was not embracing “love and inclusion.” He said the warning flags included women not being given equal standing for women in the church, vehement opposition to the legalization of gay marriage, aversion to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the church’s support for Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Smith also argued that anti-abortion rhetoric is founded on religious ideas, saying, “It’s: ‘I understand my holy text to say this about this issue and I think that should apply to you as well,’ and I think that it’s a very scary thing to go down this path.”
Quade agreed with Smith’s concerns.
“It’s an incredibly dangerous ideology that seeks to create a racial and gender hierarchy and rejects secular laws, including the U.S. Constitution, in favor of a strict interpretation of the bible,” Quade said. “Those who are not white or Christian, or who do not conform to a narrow view of Christianity, are seen as enemies of God, justifying actions against them — such as silencing or taking away their rights — as necessary to fulfill God’s mission.”
The Minnesota House is currently under GOP control, and Smith noted that Christian nationalists will celebrate many of 2025’s early bills, such as proposals to exclude trans girls from girls’ sports, promote private religious school vouchers and establish fetal personhood. Smith pointed toward Christian nationalist efforts all over the country as evidence, mentioning Oklahoma’s attempt to require every classroom to have a bible and the progress of a South Dakota bill aimed at requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms.
Smith contends that he is still a regular churchgoing Christian, saying, “I think Christ teaches very specifically about caring for the least of these my brothers, caring for the poor, those who are imprisoned, those who are looked down upon, who are othered and I think championing that in the Legislature is championing my Christian values.” Importantly, Smith said he does not want his religion to be superior.
Smith remarked that he wants all Minnesotans to agree to fight for religious liberty for all. “I truly want that to be the cornerstone of our society. It has been for a long time, but I’m scared of losing it,” Smith stated.
FFRF Action Fund thanks both Minnesota lawmakers for their commitment to defending our secular democracy from Christian nationalism. Publicly opposing Christian nationalism and ensuring constituents know its dangers are crucial steps to blocking the dangerous movement. More legislators should follow in their footsteps.
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.