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One of the many Liberal Democrat groups I belong to is the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum ("LDCF"). You don't need to be a Christian to join; you simply need to be a Liberal Democrat and to support the LDCF's objectives.

As far as I am aware, I am the only Muslim member!

During the Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference in Brighton, I was a panellist at the LDCF fringe meeting "How can Lib Dems challenge the rise of populism and Christian nationalism."

The panellists were:

1. Olivia Honeyman, Chair, LDCF Executive Committee. She chaired the panel.
2. Tim Dieppe, Head of Public Policy, Christian Concern.
3. Nigel Jones, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate
4. Elizabeth Jewkes, Director, LDCF
5. Me
6. Nathan Stilwell, Head of Press, Humanists UK

Despite the event title, I and the other speakers concentrated on Christian Nationalism, rather than populism generally, since it is the topic LDCF should have more expertise about.

When thinking about the topic in advance, I decided to focus on the similarity between Christian Nationalism and Islamism. I believe that both ideologies have to be tackled by showing how they betray the religion they claim to represent. For Islamism, see for example my review of "Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings" by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.

I believe in keeping prepared remarks short, so that they fit within the allotted time with some safety margin. You can read them below.

The event was attended by over 100 people, but was not recorded.

My prepared remarks

Listen to my prepared remarks

Read my prepared remarks

Good afternoon.

I want to begin with the Muslim equivalent of Christian nationalism. That is Islamism. The idea that Islam requires a particular political system. Islamism ranges from organisations like the Muslim Brotherhood to very extreme forms like Hamas, Al Qaeda, and ISIS.

I believe Islamism fundamentally contradicts what Islam teaches.

In the same way, we need to show how Christian nationalism is fundamentally un-Christian. The rebuttal can be as detailed and long as you want. But, in the time available, I just want to mention two basic points.

Firstly, although popes have often tried to become earthly rulers, that contradicts what Jesus himself said. When Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate, accused of calling himself King of the Jews, he replied, “My kingdom is not of this world.” [John 18:36]

Secondly, in his lawmaking, and particularly as a Muslim I focus on God as a lawgiver, God is unambiguous about how to treat people from outside your community. Different translations of the Bible call such outsiders strangers, or foreigners, or aliens.

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I have never forgotten how after killing an Egyptian, Moses fled and became a stranger in the land of Midian. When his son was born, to quote from Exodus, Authorised Version: “he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.” [Exodus 2:22]

The word Gershom means stranger. In passing, that is where Robert Heinlein’s famous science fiction novel got its name “Stranger in a Strange Land.” If you haven’t read it, I recommend it strongly.

When God gave his law to the Israelites, he was unambiguous. In the Authorised Version from Leviticus chapter 19:

“And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.

But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt:

I am the Lord your God.” [Leviticus 19:33-34]

Christian nationalism is a dangerous doctrine. It has to be challenged at its very heart. Namely, that it is a betrayal of Christianity.

You can’t defeat Christian nationalism with purely secular arguments, because that leads to a dialogue of the deaf. Two sides just talking past each other. You have to destroy its claim to be Christian.

Thank you.