The conservative national right has a complex and, at times, deeply intertwined relationship with religion. In both Europe and the U.S., many far-right groups identify as Christian, either in a broad cultural sense or through affiliation with a particular sect – such as Roman Catholicism—as part of their national identity.
In the U.S., the Christian sect most closely associated with nationalistic Christian ideals is the white evangelical-Protestant movement. Originating in German- and English-speaking Europe, evangelicalism gradually spread across continents, establishing itself as the dominant expression of Christianity in the U.S. –historically a predominantly Protestant nation – by the 19th century. Today, approximately a quarter of Americans identify as evangelicals. However, less than half of those who claim this identity fully adhere to the core theological tenets of evangelical faith. A significant portion of white evangelicals in the U.S. interpret the world primarily through a conservative Republican political lens, followed by their white racial identity, and only then through their Christian theological beliefs.
Over time, the term evangelical has become nearly synonymous with Christian conservative and, more specifically, with white conservative Republican. A landmark national survey revealed that about two-thirds of white evangelicals either support or sympathize with the idea of national Christianity. Some argue that, in the public sphere, evangelicalism's political nature has overshadowed its theological and spiritual essence.
Evangelicals, in a manner reminiscent of the national-religious movement in Israel, advocate for policies that reinforce Christianity's presence in public life. They support the federal government's recognition of the U.S. as a Christian nation, the promotion of Christian values, and the idea that America's success is tied to divine favor. Many also endorse measures such as allowing prayer in public schools. A central theological belief among evangelicals is that America has fallen from greatness and lost God's grace due to its embrace of sinful beliefs and lifestyles. To restore this lost status, they argue, the nation must return to the "right faith" and reinstate traditional ways of life, such as family values rooted in religion and built upon patriarchal, chauvinistic, and white supremacist principles.
Many evangelicals today believe that the U.S. is "God's country." Some see this belief as a call to actively defend Christian culture and maintain the political influence of Christian believers. Research has identified a strong connection between Christian nationalism – an ideology that seeks to merge national and religious identities in a way that grants Christians a privileged status in American society and governance – and racism, xenophobia, misogyny, as well as authoritarian and anti-democratic tendencies. The study also noted a correlation between Christian nationalism and an inclination toward violent extremism.
By mid-2024, approximately 32 percent of voters in the U.S. presidential election identified as evangelicals, with the overwhelming majority leaning toward the right. Some analysts argue that evangelicals represent the most powerful voting bloc in the U.S. today.
Similarly, the religious-nationalist right in Israel has emerged as the dominant ideological and political force within the broader right-wing spectrum. Many believe that the balance of power between religious nationalism and liberal democracy has shifted dramatically, with the former holding a clear advantage. In this framework, liberal democracy can only persist to the extent that religious nationalism tolerates and allows space for it. As a result, liberal democracy has become the weaker entity –constantly defending itself, justifying its existence, and struggling to maintain its place in the political landscape.
Surveys indicate that an overwhelming majority of Israel's national-religious population leans decisively to the political right. Data shows that 78 percent of this group identifies as right-wing or moderate-right, while only ten percent consider themselves centrist, and a mere three percent align with the left or moderate-left. This rightward tendency is particularly evident in political and security matters, often manifesting in a markedly unequal approach toward non-Jewish populations.
