Comparison Report: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in the U.S. and Its Parallels to Sharia Law, Religious Totalitarianism, and Historical Forced Conversions

Paula Sadler
May 13
3 min read

Compiled by Rev. Paula Josephine Sadler, Universal Rainbow Faith Church – May 2025

Introduction

This document examines the alarming similarities between the current wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States—particularly under the Trump Administration and Project 2025—and the mechanisms of control used by religious totalitarian regimes. It draws parallels between:

Sharia law in Islamic theocracies
Spanish Inquisition-era Catholic extremism
Colonial American Puritanical persecution

The comparison is not religious in its condemnation, but structural and behavioral, showing how religion, when weaponized by the state, becomes a tool of oppression, erasure, and violence.

The American Christian Nationalist Movement (2025)

Current Characteristics:

Theocratic ideology infiltrating federal and state governments
Over 27 U.S. states with laws criminalizing trans youth care, banning pronouns, and punishing educators, parents, and physicians
Executive orders redefining sex as binary and erasing legal gender identity rights
Proposals to mandate religious-based counseling (e.g., “exploratory therapy”) as alternatives to affirming care

Emerging Practices:

Criminalization of LGBTQ+ adults, children, and caregivers
Forced detransitioning of youth
Surveillance-style policies encouraging citizens to report gender-nonconforming individuals
Public shaming, school bans, bathroom bans, and the threat of custody loss

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and the Army of God

The new religious movement gaining traction in the United States is increasingly referred to as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) or the Army of God:

NAR is a charismatic evangelical Christian movement characterized by self-proclaimed prophets and apostles who claim direct revelation from God.
It is not a formal organization but a theological and ideological movement with a loosely connected network of leaders, churches, and influencers.
According to The Atlantic and other media sources, the term “Army of God” is now often used to describe its political and social influence.
Rebranding efforts are underway by some leaders to appear more mainstream in response to criticism of the movement’s anti-democratic goals.

The NAR/Army of God movement is tightly interwoven with the Trump-era evangelical base, pushing policies through the GOP and red-state legislatures that mimic theocratic rule.

Parallels to Sharia Law in Authoritarian Regimes

Aspect	Sharia Law (in authoritarian states)	Project 2025 / Christian Nationalism / NAR
Religious law as state law	Yes	Yes (via Executive Orders & state laws)
Criminalization of LGBTQ+	Yes – punishable by death/prison	Yes – prison/fines/child removal
Forced conformity	Yes – under threat of violence/imprisonment	Yes – conversion therapy, detransition laws
Policing gender roles	Yes – dress codes, behavior	Yes – school dress code and pronoun bans
Erasure of gender variance	Yes – not legally recognized	Yes – revocation of legal gender change

Parallels to the Spanish Inquisition & Colonial American Persecution

Women accused of witchcraft for healing, dissent, or difference
Forced conversion under torture and threat of death
Public executions and shaming of “heretics” who resisted church dogma
Suppression of science and bodily autonomy, especially among women, queer people, and healers

Modern Echoes:

LGBTQ+ people and allies labeled “groomers,” “mutilators,” and enemies of God
Schoolteachers and therapists fired or fined for affirming care
Political purges of DEI leaders, LGBTQ civil servants, and public figures
Trans and queer youth being placed in state-run foster care if parents affirm their identity

Forecast: If This Continues

By 2030, without intervention:

Gender-affirming care could be banned nationwide
Trans adults may be forced to de-transition to access government services
Religious exemptions will only apply to Christian nationalism
Public executions or detainment of “non-conforming” individuals may become normalized in red states
Medical professionals may be jailed for offering evidence-based care
Trans and LGBTQ+ people will flee their home states, creating a domestic refugee crisis

Conclusion: A Spiritual and Societal Reckoning

The United States is facing a theocratic threat that mirrors the darkest eras of religious oppression in human history. From the burning of witches to the moral policing of Sharia regimes, we are repeating an old story—this time under the guise of protecting “children” and “morality.”

This is not freedom. This is forced religious conversion, authoritarian governance, and cultural genocide.

If America wishes to reclaim its vision as a land of liberty and leadership, it must: