The White Christian Nationalist movement’s goal is indoctrination, not free inquiry. Not to understand our history, but to rewrite it.
A year ago, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a law requiring the University of Iowa to establish a “Center for Intellectual Freedom,” so that, as one supporter put it: “Instead of absurd courses [like “Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion”]… students will now engage in the study of our founding principles instead of ideological electives. Civic education is not partisan.”
Curious, then, that one of the Center’s two courses culminates in a lesson titled “Capitalism Rocks!” in which students learn it provides “superior benefits to humanity in comparison to all other economic systems.”
Still, the Center’s website assures us: “Seats are limited. Ideas are not.”
Turns out the seats aren’t that limited, though, because after Iowa Republicans allocated millions of public dollars to this thing, the University ended up having to cancel one of the first classes because only one student enrolled. And a report from the Common Sense Institute (I can’t make this stuff up) found enrollment wouldn’t grow unless the state forced students to sign up.
A week ago, it did just that. Gov. Reynolds signed a second law requiring Iowa students to take — and pay $3,000 for — the Center’s classes if they want to graduate.
Iowa isn’t alone. American Atheists’ policy team has been tracking and opposing the expansion of these centers across the nation, as well as a number of other policies to restrict the free exchange of ideas in classrooms. To date, eight other states and dozens of universities have established similar “intellectual freedom” centers, all backed by tens of millions in public funds.
(Savvy Iowa students might consider transferring to Ohio State, where they can receive a $4,000 bribe to attend these classes.)
The model legislation for these “civics” centers comes from a conservative bill mill that also supports authorizing public schools to teach the Bible and claims, “The survival of American liberty depends upon its public universities continuing to teach their students to cherish the Western and the American heritage.”
Under the second Trump Administration, this far-religious-right re-education movement has reached new heights. What remains of the U.S. Department of Education is promoting the “America 250 Civic Education Coalition” and sending federal officials to schools across the country as part of its “History Rocks!” tour.
And much like Iowa’s Center invited exclusively Republicans to its inaugural event last year, this federal coalition is composed entirely of conservative and Christian organizations:
Have you ever seen so many diverse viewpoints?!
But seriously, it’s no great mystery what narrative this group will get behind. And they aren’t exactly hiding it, either. The coalition’s motto is, “Know America. Love America.” A dramatic promo video begins with, “American education was once a shining light guiding generations, built on faith, heritage, patriotism.”
One coalition member, representing Turning Point USA, straight-up said: “[We are] more resolved than ever to advance God-centered, virtuous education for students flourishing across our nation… to restore, revive, and reclaim robust American civics education for all students throughout our country.”
Ah, there it is. You see, this isn’t about academic freedom or free inquiry or even civics education. It’s about re-education. You can tell because “renewing patriotism” and “advancing a shared understanding of America’s founding principles” are not objectives of educators but of propagandists.
George Orwell observed that to retain power, totalitarian rulers must be considered infallible, “but since, in practice, no one is infallible, it is frequently necessary to rearrange past events in order to show that this or that mistake was not made, or that this or that imaginary triumph actually happened.”
In a healthy democracy, civic literacy is absolutely essential. But that’s not what the anti-democratic White Christian Nationalist movement is seeking. “Capitalism Rocks!” and “History Rocks!” aren’t exactly the products of rigorous intellectual study. They’re conclusions. Because the goal is indoctrination, not free inquiry. Not to understand our history, but to rewrite it. And what better way than to “reclaim American civics education for all students.”
It doesn’t much matter that this push for civics re-education is premised on fictions: that this is a Christian nation, that public schools are giving kids litterboxes, that conservative students feel persecuted, that there is a demand for or even public support for any of this. None of it holds up to scrutiny.
But it doesn’t have to. We atheists know better than most how powerful a fairytale can be.
As one University of Iowa employee explained: “The conservative caricature of college campuses as liberal indoctrination camps persists because it is useful cover for the actual threats to intellectual freedom their movement supports.” And because, as actual history shows, capturing and controlling institutions of learning is not some extraneous perk to authoritarians; it’s essential for them.
And they love to call it “Intellectual Freedom,” which, admittedly, does look better on a brochure.
In solidarity,
Melina Cohen
Director of Strategic Communications & Policy Engagement
We oppose the outsourcing of public responsibilities to religious groups that believe some families are more worthy than others — like mine.
From fighting harmful policies to ensuring atheists have access to secular resources, American Atheists is working nationwide to advance religious equality for all.
When the Pentagon decides atheists, humanists, pagans, and more don’t belong, the message is clear: The government values some people more than others.
