Your question, Georgette, cuts to the quick of American culture, and an accurate answer is most likely to be found in statistics, the hard facts of who believes what. The dividing line between progressives and moderate/conservative Christians can be identified as the issue of Christian nationalism. According to a 2023 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution, 10% of all Americans are Christian nationalists [CN] while 19% are sympathetic to it, about 30% total. The same numbers hold true for mainline Protestantism, which I guess is why they are “mainline”. Contrast those numbers with white evangelical Protestants, 29% of whom are Christian nationalists and 35% of whom are sympathetic. Adding the percentages, we see that almost 2/3 of the white Evangelical church is supportive of CN, twice the number for mainliners. As for progressives, there is scant data, and I personally have never heard a Progressive Christian [PC] speak positively of CN. In fact, PC and CN are diametrically opposed on most issues.

CN, according to the Report, proclaims that America is specially chosen by God to lead the world. Its government should be theocratic, based on Christian principles. The government should be authoritarian rather than democratic. Nuclear families should be headed by the father. Non-Europeans should be excluded. A just-released 2025 US National Security Strategy, a document that outlines US intent in foreign policy, underscores these principles on a geopolitical scale.

PC, on the other hand, proclaims that God loves all equally. This inclusiveness incentivizes equality in wealth distribution as well as equality in political power, including the family. Xenophobia and misogyny are denounced, and the imposition of limited Chrisian values on others is rejected. PC usually considers CN to be based on racist stereotypes.

In short, PC and CN are diametrically opposed. When it comes to elections, the Report found that more than half of Republicans support CN, revealing that there is a close bond between Republicans and CN. Political power and religious belief work hand in hand. It is not the case that being “Christian” binds people together, so it is very doubtful that progressive Christians and conservative Christians will join forces in 2026.

Carl Krieg, Ph.D.