I’d like to thank Abbey Hamilton (“MAGA is antithetical to the teachings of Christ,” Feb. 5) for articulating so clearly what many of us feel about the rise of Christian nationalism and its wrongful and damaging portrayal of the principles of Christianity.

That such a young person sees deeply into the meaning and significance of religion in public life is inspiring. As a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, a religion born of Jewish and Christian traditions, I hear “God is love” echoed in all major religions. Centering love of neighbor, having compassion for the marginalized and providing service to the needy are fundamental principles of them all. 

History is replete with individuals and institutions, such as Christian nationalism today, manipulating religion to gain political power. But history also reveals that such power is often transitory. When people unite and resist, in the end might is not greater than right. 

I thank Ms. Hamilton for reminding us to hold ourselves to the high moral standards our religions demand of us: to speak up in defense of those least able to defend themselves, to speak up against the degradation of our civil rights, and to defy the legitimacy of white nationalist supremacy in the name of any religion.

Betsy Williams
Brunswick