A former Archbishop of Canterbury has accused Nigel Farage of exploiting Christianity to “channel anti-Muslim feeling” in British society.
Rowan Williams, in an interview with New Humanist, shared his belief that Christian nationalism may be driven by “anxiety about migration” and “anti-Islamism”.
The former archbishop, who led the Church of England for a decade until 2012, said he also had some “awkward questions” for Tommy Robinson, the far-right activist and organiser of Unite the Kingdom, about “how attempting to lead a life of Christian discipleship squares with public rhetoric designed to produce hostility and violence”.
Asked about the growth of Christian nationalism by Humanist UK chief executive Andrew Copson, Williams said: “There are lots of possible causes. Anxiety about migration; anti-Islamism. In France that anxiety has a secular aspect, but the St George’s Cross still means something in the English imagination, which still has a Christian aspect.
“The second thing is the globalising of all political discourse. The message given at international Christian conservative gatherings is that self-respecting nationalist movements need a bit of theology injected into them. Ironically, for someone like Nigel Farage, it’s about trying to find a presentational strategy that allows him to be taken seriously outside England. He’s often not here, after all.
“Then again, if we’re looking for what animates Christian nationalism, I think it’s in part the very simple search for someone to blame.”
“It’s a bit of a conundrum. I suspect really that Farage and others want to channel anti-Muslim feeling, and it helps to have “we’re a Christian society” to fling back. It gives a sort of ballast.”
Williams went on to reference Dr James Orr, the philosophy of religion professor and Reform UK’s head of policy: “although Nigel Farage thought it was worth getting a theologian on board for Reform UK, I don’t think he lies awake at night thinking about his soul. I may be doing the man an injustice, but I don’t believe he cares about profound theological questions.”
At Easter, Farage posted a social media message which said: “the Christian values on which our country is built are something to be proud of.” In May, he also spoke about the “resurgence of Christianity” with the senior pastor of Bread of Life Community Church in his constituency.
On Robinson, the former archbishop said: “there’s an inevitable scepticism these days about some claims to religious conviction, and I don’t want to give way to this. If Tommy Robinson is doing his best to lead a life of Christian discipleship, I’m very glad, but I would really want to ask him some awkward questions.”
On responding to the Christian nationalism movement, the former archbishop said that the “restoration of a real sense of agency to people is at the heart of it”, referencing “democratic innovation [and] more investment in citizens’ juries”; calling for “mutual respect” in debating issues like immigration and assisted dying.
A Reform UK source has told Premier Christian News that “Mr Williams’ comments are tasteless drivel”.