Lutheran Advocacy—Minnesota
Political Violence, Division, and Extremism
With the level division and polarization in the United States, acts of political violence and extremist views are becoming increasingly common. As advocates committed to the wellbeing of all God's beloved children, we are deeply concerned by this cultural shift.
To help address these complex issues, we have assembled resources focused on education and conversation about their various causes.
Causes of Political Violence in the U.S.
Misinformation
It is easier than ever to pass off misleading and outright false claims as the truth. Across all forms of media, traditional and digital alike, there is an epidemic of those who would take advantage of this vulnerability.
A great deal of political violence is motivated by conspiracies and falsehoods meant to sow fear and division, generate profit, or secure power. Regardless of the reason, these lies are dangerous and have real consequences
Media literacy is an important skill to remain informed and grounded in facts and reality.
Download our media literacy guide below to learn about questioning media, evaluating sources, and identifying logical fallacies.
Polarization
The United States is in a period of deep polarization. We are told often and explicitly that those on the other side of the aisle are enemies and threats. This division has fractured friendships, families, and communities across the nation.
For many, simply having a conversation that might become divisive may seem impossible. We firmly believe that these conversations, though difficult, are key to bringing us together and promoting an environment of understanding and peace. To help with this, we encourage you to check out our Graceful Conversations workshop linked below. This 5-session program is completely free for your use, and provides tools for conversation based in grace and love.
Christian Nationalism
Christian nationalism is on the rise in the United States, and has been for decades. This distortion of the Gospel masks itself as patriotism and devotion to God while abandoning the underlying values of both.
Framing patriotism as unquestioning devotion to the United States without criticism or dissention is a cornerstone of this ideology. Christian nationalism also promotes the false belief that America was founded as a Christian nation.
Follow the link below to the FAQ page of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, a non-partisan, inter-denominational advocacy organization. This page is an excellent resource for questions and answers about Christian nationalism.
Political Grievances
Policies on all levels of government shape nearly every aspect of our lives. From healthcare to nutrition, transportation to employment, our lives are shaped by the decisions of elected officials. These decisions can be divisive, leading some to feelings of helplessness and anger. In an environment that promotes extreme views and deep divisions, these political grievances can fuel violent action.
Advocating for policies that meet basic needs and give all Americans a seat at the table is an effective way to reduce these sentiments, promoting a nation that cares for its people and shows them their opinions are valued.
Our current legislative agenda which focuses on many such policies can be found at the link below.
Additional Resources
The slides below detail several other resources regarding political violence. We hope you and your communities can make good use of them in our ongoing effort toward a more peaceful, patient, and tolerant country.