Framing Christian Privilege in Schools in an Age of Christian Nationalism

Abstract

Rising Christian nationalism has led to the reification of Christian privilege and an increase in the de facto oppression of minoritized communities in schools. This frame analysis takes Blumenfeld’s work on Christian privilege (2006) as a starting point and examines the developments of the injection of Christianity in schools through Supreme Court decisions and policy developments during a time of the increasing reification of Christian nationalism in schools and society, specifically in terms of curriculum and culture and climate. This research finds an increase in the deployment of marginalization and cultural imperialism but also provides three "frames of tension" that require negotiation by Christians if resistance to Christian nationalism in schools and education is to be sustainable.