Chapter 42: Christian Nationalism and the Narcissism of Moral Empire — from The United States of Disconnection
This book was always meant to be both a love letter and a warning. A love letter to those who long for a faith that heals rather than harms. And a warning, because religion has too often been used as a mask for narcissism.
In Chapter 42, Christian Nationalism and the Narcissism of Moral Empire, I explore how the language of morality has been twisted into a weapon of control. When religion demands unquestioned loyalty, punishes difference, and confuses domination with holiness, it stops being love—it becomes abuse.
I have sat with clients who were told God demanded their silence, their submission, or their shame. I have seen how faith can heal, but also how it can wound when hijacked by fear and power. This chapter was written with urgency because Christian nationalism is no longer fringe—it is shaping policy, culture, and family life in ways that suffocate empathy.
This isn’t an attack on faith. It’s a call to reclaim the heart of it: compassion, humility, and connection.
Chapter 42 Summary
Christian nationalism sells itself as unity, but it thrives on division.
Elliott exposes the narcissistic tactics at its core:
Gaslighting: redefining love as punishment.
Projection: blaming outsiders for the very violence it enacts.
Control: demanding loyalty to ideology over empathy.
Fear: using threats of exclusion or hell to enforce silence.
“When faith becomes control, it stops being love.”
The chapter reveals how these patterns mirror narcissistic abuse—whether in families, churches, or politics. Moral empire is not moral at all; it is trauma disguised as holiness.
But this chapter also invites hope. Real faith is not about dominance. It’s about presence, humility, and love. Healing begins when we name the difference and choose connection over control.
Closing Invitation
If you’ve felt the sting of spiritual abuse, know this: you are not alone. And you are not broken.
Here’s where to begin:
Download free Love Loops™ guides at https://loveloops.love
Visit https://www.thenarcissismrecoveryproject.com/usofd for more info or to purchase the book.
Start a reading group in your church or community.
Ask your library or bookseller to order the book using these ISBNs:
Hardcover: 979-8-218-36690-3
Paperback: 979-8-218-36691-0
Ebook: 979-8-218-36692-7
Let this be the bottom. Wake up to what is happening so that change is possible. Join us today.
