Evangelicals have, for decades, believed that the country was more conservative than not, more Christian than not. The bipartisanship on religious liberty and the civic faith of the country was conducive to that. Now they've woken up to a reality in the Obama years that this was a polite fiction.

The quote "Evangelicals have, for decades, believed that the country was more conservative than not, more Christian than not. The bipartisanship on religious liberty and the civic faith of the country was conducive to that. Now they've woken up to a reality in the Obama years that this was a polite fiction." by Ben Domenech reflects a critical shift in how Evangelicals perceive their role and influence in American society. For years, many Evangelical Christians operated under the assumption that the United States was inherently conservative and rooted in Christian values. This belief was reinforced by widespread bipartisanship on issues like religious liberty, creating a sense of shared cultural alignment and national civic faith.

Domenech uses the term "polite fiction" to describe the comforting but inaccurate narrative that Christian conservatism represented the national majority or mainstream. He argues that during the Obama years, many Evangelicals realized that the broader cultural and political landscape had shifted significantly. As societal views became more secular and progressive, particularly on social issues, Evangelicals began to feel culturally marginalized rather than culturally dominant.

The phrase "woken up to a reality" suggests a moment of disillusionment, where the assumptions about the country's ideological makeup were challenged by political developments and changing public sentiment. The Obama administration, through its policies and symbolic leadership, marked a turning point in American politics where traditional religious values no longer held unchallenged cultural sway. This awakening led to a more combative and politically active stance among Evangelicals, who now saw themselves as defending their values against a rapidly changing society.

Ben Domenech, a conservative commentator and co-founder of The Federalist, often explores themes around politics, culture, and religion. This quote illustrates his view of a pivotal transformation in American religious conservatism—from a quiet confidence in national alignment with their beliefs to a defensive posture in what they increasingly perceived as a hostile or indifferent cultural environment. It reflects broader tensions in American political life about identity, belief, and the evolving role of religion in the public sphere.