U.S. Representative Jared Huffman for California’s 2nd Congressional District visited UC Santa Barbara on October 13 to discuss his new book, “No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism.” The book details the January 6th insurrection in 2021 on the U.S. Capital in Washington D.C. and its role in the rise of Christian Nationalism in America. Huffman, who is a UCSB alum and the only openly non-believing member of the United States Congress, presented his perspective as a humanist, asserting that Christian Nationalism and Fascism are interlinked. The book, which is set to be published in 2026, explores these themes extensively.
The book talk was moderated by associate professor of religious studies Joseph Blankholm. During the discussion, Representative Huffman reflected on the origins of his personal relationship with religion and his humanist beliefs, tracing them back to a course he took at UCSB in 1985. The course, titled “Religion and Politics in America Today,” was taught by professor Walter Capps in the Department of Religious Studies. Huffman stated that studying the rise of the new religious right during this course provided him with early insights that motivated his later examination of the Christian nationalist movement.
Huffman noted his observation of the movement during his time as a student, stating that he "studied the power players and political agenda of that movement when I was at UCSB." While he expressed strong disagreement with their stances, he acknowledged that it was a movement that initially sought to operate within democratic systems to achieve cultural objectives.
Upon his initial election to office in 2012, Representative Huffman’s primary focus had been environmental and climate issues. However, his priorities shifted significantly after Donald Trump assumed the presidency in 2017. President Trump's platform, which emphasized the importance of religious tradition, became a pivotal moment for Huffman. He explained that he had already experienced uneasiness regarding religious encroachments in Congress, but this period marked a definitive turning point. This led him to dedicate himself to the ongoing effort to protect church-state separation, a battle he now primarily identifies as a fight against Christian nationalism.
Attendees at the book talk shared their reactions to the discussion. Isa Halle, a first-year political science major, noted her particular interest in Huffman’s connection to UCSB, expressing that she found it inspiring to see an alum serving in Congress. Zhai Gen Tan, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Political Science, highlighted the value of the event for academic discourse. Tan reflected on the prevalence of Christian nationalism in America and underscored that the influence of religion and religious groups on politics is often less studied than widely perceived. He emphasized the importance of hearing thoughtful contributions from speakers and representatives to enrich this critical conversation. The event at UC Santa Barbara provided a forum for these perspectives, connecting a national political figure with the local academic community on a pressing societal issue.
