Representative Jared Huffman Released Book on Nationalism
The California congressman explores the intersection of politics and Christian nationalism in his new book.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Christianity
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Representative Jared Huffman has released a new book titled No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism. The publication addresses what Huffman describes as a critical gap in public awareness regarding nationalist movements.
Why it matters
Huffman, who identifies as the only non-religious member of Congress, argues that Christian nationalism poses a unique threat to democratic institutions. He aims to shed light on how these movements influence national political discourse.
Jared Huffman represents a district in California and serves as a co-founder of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. He first disclosed his non-belief in 2017 following the death of his mother and the election of Donald Trump.
The players
Jared Huffman
He is a U.S. Representative from California and the only member of Congress who publicly identifies as non-religious.
Jamie Raskin
He is a U.S. Representative from Maryland who co-founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus alongside Jared Huffman.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States whose presidency prompted Huffman to disclose his non-belief.
The details
In his new work, the congressman outlines his humanist perspective, which emphasizes leading a moral life grounded in science, facts, and reason. Huffman co-founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus with Representative Jamie Raskin to foster a platform for secular political engagement.
Timeline
2013: Huffman participated in a traditional Bible-holding ceremony for his swearing-in photo.
2017: The representative publicly acknowledged his non-belief for the first time.
January 6, 2021: Huffman witnessed the use of religious symbols during the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
September 2026: The congressman officially published his new book.
Culture Shift
The publication reflects a growing trend of secular officials engaging directly with the role of religious movements in public policy. This marks a departure from traditional congressional decorum where non-religious stances were rarely integrated into legislative messaging.
The book encourages readers to re-examine the role of religious influence in their own political environments and school boards. It provides a framework for constituents to track how nationalist rhetoric shapes the legislative agenda in their local districts.
The takeaway
Huffman's work challenges the assumption that public service requires religious adherence to maintain moral legitimacy. Readers can implement these insights by researching how religious-based organizations advocate for policy changes in their home states.
Further reading
Explore the intersection of faith and policy in the Christianity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RocketNews.
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Should religious beliefs influence the political discourse of elected officials in the United States?
