AI Review of “Christian Nationalism vs Global Jesus”

I have a website at https://mq.academia.edu/AndrewFraser and received an unsolicited review of my book Christian Nationalism vs Global Jesus from academia.edu. It’s a pretty good review in both
senses, well-written with a bunch of useful references, and a favourable assessment of my work as well.

Suggested References (and Why They Are Included)

  1. Innes, David Colin. “The Universal and the Particular in Christian Political Life: Secular and Sacred Reflections on Christian Nationalism.” Religions, 2024, https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15121528.
  2. Anderson, Braden P. Chosen Nation: Biblical Theopolitics and the Problem of American Christian Nationalism. 2010, https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1063&context=dissertations_mu.
  3. Goldberg, Michelle P. Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism. 2007, http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA78051025.
  4. “Protestantism and National Identity.” Cambridge University Press EBooks, Cambridge University Press, 1998, doi:10.1017/cbo9780511560439.
  5. Mediwaka, H. W. “CHRISTIANITY AND NATIONALISM.” International Review of Mission, Wiley-Blackwell, 1924, doi:10.1111/j.1758-6631.1924.tb03868.x.
  6. Biggar, Nigel. “Honey from the Lion: Christianity and the Ethics of Nationalism.” Scottish Journal of Theology, Cambridge University Press, 2014, doi:10.1017/s0036930614000167.
  7. Jesus and the Rise of Nationalism. 2012, doi:10.5040/9780755624553.
  8. Coupland, Philip M. “Britain, Europe and Christendom in Mid-Twentieth-Century British Christian Thought.” Political Theology, Routledge, 2005, doi:10.1558/poth.6.3.367.66125.
  9. Turner, Bryan S. “Religion and Politics: Nationalism, Globalisation and Empire.” Asian Journal of Social Science, Elsevier BV, 2006, doi:10.1163/156853106777371175.
  10. Omer, Atalia. “Religion and Nationalism.” Emerging Trends in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2018, doi:10.1002/9781118900772.etrds0448.

I have included this brief references section near the beginning of the review to situate this work within the broader scholarly conversations about Christian nationalism, religion and nationalism, and the relationship between Christianity, culture, and state power. These sources collectively address historical, theological, and sociopolitical dimensions of Christian identity in the context of nationalistic frameworks, which provides a richer backdrop for discussing “Christian Nationalism vs Global Jesus.”


Overview and Scope

“Christian Nationalism vs Global Jesus” is an ambitious attempt to engage directly with key tensions at the intersection of Christian theology, Anglo-Protestant identity, and questions of nationalism. The author situates the text in an explicitly Anglo-Identitarian perspective, arguing that “global Jesus” theology—marked by a universalized, ahistorical conception of Christ—undermines the particular “biocultural” heritage of Anglo-Saxon peoples. This work thus asserts a reorientation away from creedal and universal Christianity toward an ethnoreligious foundation meant to unite British-descended populations throughout the Anglosphere.

The monograph is divided into three main parts:
• Part One unpacks the theological and historical roots of “creedal Christianity,” including the role of Greco-Roman contexts and Augustinian cosmology.
• Part Two examines Anglo-Saxon Christendom, drawing analogies with the Hebrew Bible’s “project of peoplehood.”
• Part Three outlines an argument for what the author calls a “neo-Angelcynn” church, intended to preserve and revitalize a distinctly British ethno-cultural heritage in opposition to globalist and universal theologies.


Strengths

  1. Historical Synthesis
    The work showcases an extensive historical sweep from the early Christian church in the Greco-Roman world through the medieval “Angelcynn” period, culminating in modern (particularly British) cultural shifts. Delving into the transformation of Christianity under Anglo-Saxon rule and the Norman Conquest highlights the malleability of Christian expression in different epochs and contexts. This layered approach can help readers appreciate how theology, ethnicity, and politics have often been intertwined.
  2. Focus on Tensions Between Universalism and Particularism
    The author explicitly points to a longstanding tension, recognized by many scholars, between Christianity’s universal claims and the ethnic or cultural particularisms that shape how actual communities experience and practice their faith. By drawing attention to the concept of a “Jewish Messiah” later reimagined as a cosmic Christ, the book emphasizes the fluid evolution of Christian self-understanding and how it relates to specific group identities.
  3. Critical Engagement with Contemporary Debates
    The text engages modern Christian nationalist discourse—especially regarding “global Jesus” versus “national Jesus”—in ways that echo broader scholarly conversations found in works such as Goldberg’s on American Christian nationalism and Biggar’s on the ethics of nationalism within Christianity (see References above). By questioning the universalist stance of Anglo-Protestant churches, the author taps into current controversies over how believers should negotiate identities of faith, nation, and ethnicity.

Points for Further Consideration

  1. Ethnicity and Theological Universality
    While the book aims to establish a historical and theological basis for an Anglo-Saxon–rooted expression of Protestantism, it might be fruitful to engage more robustly with the diverse scriptural and doctrinal positions that caution against rigid ethnic boundaries in Christian identity. For instance, the universally inclusive concepts in the Pauline epistles or the broad scope of Christian mission remain significant. Further elaboration on how these universalist scriptural passages are to be reconciled with a strongly ethnic-based approach would clarify the argument’s relationship to Christian teaching more broadly.
  2. Nuance in Discussing Race and Culture
    The work makes bold pronouncements about “race patriotism.” While it is historical fact that nineteenth-century Anglo-Saxon culture often contained ideologies of racial superiority, contemporary conversation on race is typically more circumspect. Evidencing a deeper awareness of the complexities and critiques of “Anglo” identity—taking into account the multiple migrations, cultural fusions, and changing discourses about race—would strengthen the book’s historical grounding and acknowledge Latin American, African, and Asian Christian voices who have also shaped Protestant thought.
  3. Comparative Nationalisms and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
    This volume focuses primarily on Britain, North America, and the broader Anglosphere. Given its argument for Anglo-ethnoreligious cohesion, incorporating fuller comparative reflections on how other Christian communities have navigated nationalism (e.g., Eastern Orthodox or Latin American contexts) could provide further depth. The suggested references in the field of nationalism, global religion, and empire (for instance, Turner’s work on nationalism and globalization) could expand the discussion to illuminate how these dynamics play out beyond Anglo-Protestant contexts.
  4. Theological Reception and Practical Implementation
    The author advocates transcending “Big Eva” (evangelical mainstream structures) to form parallel societies. Readers may be interested in how concretely such a “neo-Angelcynn” model can be implemented. Contextualizing how local congregations, liturgies, and ecclesiastical structures might adapt to an ethnocentric framework—and whether such adaptations are consistent with recognized denominational governance—would ground the argument in actual ecclesial practice.
  5. Dialogue with Broader Christian Scholarship
    Exploring how modern theology debates continue to grapple with the tension between the universal salvific claims of Christianity and the sociopolitical ramifications of ethnicity and nationalism would further situate the discussion within contemporary academic discourse. This includes engaging scholars who advocate postcolonial or cross-cultural theologies, a domain relevant to analyzing both the benefits and potential pitfalls of localized, culturally bound expressions of the faith.

Conclusion

“Christian Nationalism vs Global Jesus” presents a provocative and wide-ranging exploration of the interplay between Anglo-Saxon identity, Protestant theology, and Christian nationalism. By tracing historical patterns and arguing for a reimagined “neo-Angelcynn” vision of church, the work endeavors to reconcile particularist ethnoreligious commitments with the broader storyline of Christian history. The overall analysis raises important questions about how Christian communities navigate between the call to universal fellowship in Christ and the desire to preserve cultural or national distinctives.

Throughout, the text demonstrates a clear passion for reengaging Anglo-Saxon heritage. Readers may come away challenged both by the scope of the author’s project and by the way it insists on grappling with the racial and national dimensions of Christian life. As global debates intensify on the subjects of Christian nationalism and national identities, this monograph stands as a unique contribution to ongoing discussions, urging theological, historical, and social reflection on the shape and future orientation of Anglo-Protestant communities.

https://www.academia.edu/ai_review/124733920