Are most white American Christians actually committed to a Religion of Whiteness? Recent years have seen a growing recognition of the role that White Christian Nationalism plays in American society. As White Christian Nationalism has become a major force, and as racial and religious attitudes become increasingly aligned among whites--for example, the more likely you are to say that the decline of white people as a share of the population is "bad for society," the more likely you are to believe the government should support religious values--it has become reasonable to wonder which of the adjectives in the phrase "White Christian Nationalism" takes precedence. In this book, Michael O. Emerson and Glenn E. Bracey II respond definitively: the answer is "white." The majority of white Christians in America, they argue, are believers in a "Religion of Whiteness" that shapes their faith, their politics, and more. The Religion of Whiteness, they argue, raises the perpetuation of racial inequality to a level of spiritual commitment that rivals followers' commitment to Christianity itself. This religion has its own unique beliefs, practices, sacred symbols, and organizations. What is more, this religion affects more than just churches. It drives the nation's politics, divides families, and is especially harmful to communities of color. Using national survey data, in-depth interviews, and focus group results gathered over several years, Emerson and Bracey show how the Religion of Whiteness shapes the practice of Christianity for millions of Americans--and what can be done to confront it.

As disturbing in its implications as it is informative in its data, this book will become canonical content for any analysis of race and religion for decades to come. I couldn't stop highlighting and note-taking! * Jemar Tisby, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Color of Compromise and How to Fight Racism, Professor of History at Simmons College of Kentucky *
The Religion of Whiteness presents a provocative thesis that all Americans-whether Christian or not-will be forced to engage. Marshalling an impressive collection of empirical data, Emerson and Bracey's work deserves a wide reading. It will likely shape the discussion around race and American Christianity for years to come. * Andrew Whitehead, Author of American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church *
Sometimes we must look at what we fear to see the depth of the problem we know we have. Whiteness is that problem. Emerson and Bracey's The Religion of Whiteness makes such looking productive and possibly healing. At a moment, when so many people refuse to accept the truth of the problem of whiteness, this book dispels the myths, lies, and evasions that mark white American Christianity. If there is a future for Christianity in the United States (and many other places) it will require accepting the truth this book illumines and choosing to walk in its light. * Willie James Jennings, Yale Divinity School *
[T]he authors persuasively depict a religious movement that seeks to defend its destructive principles at all costs. This is sure to spark debate. * Publishers Weekly *
The authors are careful to support this assertion through quantitative survey data. Some of the most powerful moments, though, come from interviews with people who have been wounded and alienated from their Christian communities for opposing tenets of the religion of whiteness. * Choice *
The extensive quotations and case studies of individualswho have shared their painful experiences are a highlight of the book. This is engaged scholarship that wears its heart on its sleeve. The authors write not with detachment but with evident distress about the pain the religion of whiteness is causing. This is a life-affirming book for the "trampled", those whom the religion of whiteness has harmed. It is highly recommended for anyone who has ever wondered why these dynamics persist or who has experienced them and felt that they were alone. * Jesse Curtis, The Journal of Religion *

Michael O. Emerson is the author of over 15 books and 100 other publications. Considered one of the nation's leading scholars of religion and race, he has won multiple research and teaching awards. His work has been funded by several million dollars in grants, and he has appeared on national and international media outlets for the past quarter of a century. As the Chavanne Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, a leading non-partisan thinktank, he works to communicate the implications of American religious life for national policies, and to help policymakers understand the impact of policy on U.S. religions. Glenn E. Bracey II is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Villanova University, where his work specializes in race, religion, and social movements. Bracey is an award-winning teacher and scholar with publications in leading academic journals. An emerging voice on issues ranging from critical race theory to racial protests and national politics, Bracey has appeared in several national media outlets.