Idaho lawmakers again introduced a suite of bills aimed at inserting “traditional,” Christian values and ideals into Idaho schools and healthcare. These bills reflect a broader Christian nationalist political agenda being seen across the U.S.—a trend with firm roots in conservative states like Idaho. Proponents of Christian nationalist legislation describe such laws as a necessary response to the rise of “secular and progressive” policy, law, and culture, which ultimately “threaten” society.
We recognize Christian nationalist legislation as part of a broad scheme aimed at shoring up political power, rather than an earnest attempt to return to “traditional values.” In fact, every attempt to embed Christian ideals in Idaho law showed a blatant disregard for constitutional protections against religious coercion, the separation of church and state, and marked an extreme departure from legal and political precedent—and tradition.