A rabbi’s warning to America about Idaho’s Christian nationalism | Opinion

I’ve learned it is rarely a good thing when national media features Idaho. It’s often about the state’s horrifying abundance of right-wing extremism. No different was a recent New York Times piece spotlighting Doug Wilson, a self-described theocrat and pastor based in Moscow, Idaho, whose disciples now include powerful MAGA acolytes in the federal government.

I urge all Americans to stand up for true freedom and reject Christian nationalism.

For many years, I hoped that Idaho would moderate to grow more like the rest of America. Instead, America is becoming more like Idaho. Religious reactionaries like Wilson have emerged to lead a far-reaching movement to cement power in the hands of a theocratic minority. Their goal is clear: Replace democratic governance with fundamentalist rule.

Idaho’s reactionary right-wingers are hell-bent on creating a Christian nationalist dystopia, and residents are suffering. Far-right extremists and militia members — often heavily armed with assault weapons and hiding their faces with masks — regularly occupy public spaces. They’ve normalized intimidation and exclusion in the name of faith. Their fear tactics are working, especially in our statehouse, where the lopsided Republican Legislature has unleashed a torrent of laws to undermine Idahoans’ fundamental freedoms.

Despite its longtime libertarian reputation, Idaho now has one of the nation’s most extreme abortion bans, which has driven OB-GYNs and young families out of the state in record numbers. The ban has put the health and lives of women who remain in Idaho at profound risk.

The legislature has also continuously targeted the LGBTQ+ community, banning displays of Pride flags, curtailing medical care for transgender individuals, and even calling to reverse same-sex marriage rights. Christian nationalist lawmakers have slashed Medicaid and pushed an out-of-state-billionaire-backed school voucher bill that undermines public education and funnels taxpayer dollars to religious institutions — in clear violation of Idaho’s state constitution.

Far-right out-of-state groups fund this nightmare, bankrolling reactionary candidates against moderate Republicans who once joined with Democrats to support public schools and defend personal liberties.

With the Trump administration in the White House, Idaho’s extremist takeover should serve as a cautionary tale for all Americans. Christian nationalists have been waiting for an ally like President Trump for many decades. His actions have emboldened lawmakers across the country to follow the Idaho agenda, from book bans to abortion rollbacks and anti-trans bills.

It is no coincidence that Trump appointed Pete Hegseth — a prominent disciple of Pastor Wilson’s church network — as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth re-posted a CNN video in which Wilson and other Christ Church pastors argued that women should not be allowed to vote. The president’s so-called “Religious Liberty Commission” is riddled with televangelists and misogynistic extremists. They share a devotion to Christian nationalism that demonizes LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, women, and people of color.

I’ve seen what this agenda has done to Idaho. It should serve as a warning for all Americans. If you care about democracy and human decency, now is the time to raise your voice in pulpits, halls of power, and protests on our streets. Our response will determine whether we remain a nation that moves slowly toward greater empathy and tolerance or devolve into one that anoints a chosen few above all others.

Here in Idaho, faith leaders and community coalitions are mobilizing for civil disobedience, lawmaker visits, and peaceful protest when legislators return to session on Jan. 5. That includes organizing bail funds and securing pro-bono legal support. Our message of “live and let live” resonates with those wary of government-mandated religious law, no matter their political affiliation. If we can do this, you can, too — wherever you work and live.

Idaho should serve as a call to action rather than a harbinger of a national dystopia. The freedoms of millions of our neighbors are at stake.

I urge people across all walks of life to stand up for true freedom and resist the Christian nationalist agenda. Our voices matter. I pray we find the strength and courage to use them well.

Daniel Fink is Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel in Boise, Idaho.

This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 4:00 AM.