Senator Tim Scott, Chic Fil A and Christian Nationalism

  Rick Pidcock is a graduate of Bob Jones University, free lance writer whose pilgrimage has taken him into some scorching articles published at Baptist News Global. His most recent is an unflinching look at the christian nationalist leanings of Black SC Senator Tim Scott and his presidential bid.

    What he said was spot on but he couldve looked deeper into Scott's entanglements, connection to Chic Fil and that brand of evangelical Christianity.

      Scott wears that part of his religious and political pilgrimage on his sleeve so I think it fair game.

     Truett Cathy founded Chic Fil A and was named by likely greatest Baptist of the first half of the twentieth Century, George W. Truett, with whom Cathy's North Georgia Mother was familiar as Truett was born in 1867 in Hayesville NC where I was baptized.

     Truett was a strong Baptist laymen who at one point was influenced by the John Birch Society, but on the whole strong conservative middle of the road Southern Baptist of his time. At one point as a trustee of Mercer University he did stand up for the President Kirby Godsey when Godsey was under attack by takeover Fundamentalist.

     But lets focus on George Truett who was adored by the Cathy family. George W Truett gave a famous speech on the steps of the US Capitol in 1920 on Church State Separation. The Baptist Joint Committee in Washington DC is a direct legacy of Truett's church state stance. 

   A few months ago Amanda Tyler now head of BJC spoke before Congress on Christian nationalism. Congressman Rasmin, understood her, SC's Nancy Mace of the Citadel was kind of foggy on the presentation.

    Chic Fil A leadership may be a little naive on BJC insights on Christian nationalism but that begs the point. The point is the authentic Baptist Tradition on the guts of the MAGA Base, the Base Scott has to navigate if he is to get the nomination is with the BJC of which Scott apparently doesnt have a clue.

    So with Pidcock's piece as reference point, lets have this conversation with Scott and also with Nikki Haley. Haley is further afield as she flirts with Charlie Kirk and Turning point USA who question the patriotism of Chic Fil A. I heard Kirk say as much at Clemson Nov of 2021.

    So lets wade into the fog of these two South Carolinians. Wofford is a historically Methodist school, and Furman is historically Baptist where I was in religion class with Chic Fil A CEO Dan CAthy, Truett's son fall of 71.

      Wuthnow's Rough country chapter on Truett and race is informative and enlightening on George W. Truett's bend in the right direction hostage to the white Baptist world of the 1920s to 1940s.

    Lets get at this teachable moment in earnest.