Politically-engaged Christians in America aren’t thrilled with the way things have been going. They finally seem to grasp how badly they’re losing in the culture. And they’re getting desperate.
This desperation was the focus of a recent article in The New York Times, “Why a New Conservative Brain Trust Is Resettling Across America.” According to the article, Christians see themselves as living in “Negative World.” This concept was developed by Christian writer Aaron Renn, who describes three distinct stages in America’s turn away from Christianity:
- Positive World (pre-1994): American society viewed Christianity positively. Being Christian was seen as a “status-enhancer.”
- Neutral World (1994-2014): Society was neutral about Christianity. Being Christian wasn’t disfavored, but it no longer gave positive status.
- Negative World (2014-Present): In present-day America, “Being known as a Christian is a social negative, particularly in the elite domains of society. Christian morality is expressly repudiated and seen as a threat to the public good and the new public moral order. Subscribing to Christian moral views or violating the secular moral order brings negative consequences.”
In response to the fact of Negative World, pro-Trump conservatives (particularly those associated with the Claremont Institute) are moving out of cities and into rural communities. The New York Times describes this as part of a calculated political agenda known as the “great sort,” which is “a societal reordering in which conservatives and liberals naturally divide into more homogenous communities and areas.”
Rather than trying to live side-by-side with fellow Americans who happen to hold different values, Christians are escaping to safe spaces where their values won’t be challenged. Rather than competing with cultural forces they disagree with, Christians are simply leaving cultural hubs for middle-of-nowhere communities.
And it’s all part of grand plan. According to political scientist Damon Linker quoted by the Times: “It’s this idea of organizing discontent at the local level and building a network that over the next decade or three decades or even half-century would just keep moving the Republican Party further and further rightward, and mobilizing voters in discontented parts of the country, a lot of them men.” In other words: “It’s a highbrow version of the militia movement.”
There’s nothing wrong with leaving the city to find a quieter life in the country. I grew up in a town with a population of three thousand that was surrounded by thousands of acres of forestland. Country living is a good life. But this “great sort” movement, inspired by “Negative World,” has the energy of the proverbial kid who cries after losing a game, takes his ball, and goes home. It suggests that conservative Christians really have given up on contributing to mainstream culture.
Despite the advent of remote work, cities still remain the places where culture is made. Cities offer opportunities that simply aren’t available online or in small towns. Cities have an infectious energy that can inspire people to be more ambitious than they otherwise might be. Cities also draw highly motivated and talented people, and there’s no better way to maintain motivation than to surround yourself with people who are even more motivated than you are. If you want to start a company, move up the corporate ladder, work in the creative arts, become a journalist, etc., nothing beats living in a city.
In describing Negative World, Aaron Renn was right to point out that Christians have lost the social status they once had by default. I’ve previously written about how, on the flips side, atheism has now become high status. If Christians want to return to a world where their religion is a “status-enhancer,” they should reconsider the move way from cities. Participating in mainstream, urban culture is the fastest ticket to acquiring high status in America.
Dropping out and leaning into a game of “us” vs. “them” is not only a misguided political tactic, it’s detrimental to the future harmony of America. People with different viewpoints need to learn to live together. Ultimately, we’re all part of the same country and we want the same basic things in life. I’ll go so far as to say this, even speaking as an atheist with very little time or patience for religion: cities benefit from having conservative Christians around. At their best, they remind us all of the importance of having strong, stable families. Even at their worst (fighting to teach abstinence and intelligent design in schools, for example), they still serve as a reminder that everyone is sometimes susceptible to irrational, dogma-driven opinions.
So, Christians, come back to the cities! Come partake in the cultural melting pot that you helped create, and let’s all learn from each other and get along together!
America isn’t meant to be a Christian nation, just like it’s not meant to be an atheist nation. It’s meant to be a common project for people of all faiths and political orientations. Perhaps this is some secular dogma I’ve internalized, but I do believe it’s true: we’re all stronger together.
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Peter Clarke is the editor-in-chief of Atheists for Liberty. He hosts the podcast Team Futurism and also writes the Substack newsletter The Decadence Project. Follow him on X @HeyPeterClarke.
