ABSTRACT
This chapter treats the centrality of Christianity to U.S. national identity as a social justice issue that requires the kind of historical, structural, and cultural analysis we use to understand other forms of advantage and disadvantage. It traces the centuries-long historical legacies of antisemitism and Islamophobia in Europe, the role of Christianity in European colonization of the Americas, and the racialization of religion and explores their relevance to contemporary issues such as immigration policy and the role of religion in public education. After identifying some of the key concerns for religious pluralism as a form of social justice, the chapter concludes with a sample workshop design for teaching about Christian hegemony and religious oppression in the US, along with a discussion of pedagogical and facilitation issues likely to arise when addressing this topic.
