What does joining the Radical Right entail for a Christian?:Hint: Religious Moderation

The relationship between religiously motivated violence and religious value expressions remains understudied. This link is often assumed to be self-explanatory in the politics of Muslim (de)radicalization. For example, in France, illiberal value expressions—from burkini to refusing handshaking—are held responsible for creating an atmosphere of “separatism” conducive to violent extremism.[i] Populist Radical Right movements push for similar policies by referring to the irreconcilable “Islamic” and “Western/Judeo-Christian” values.[ii] However, the values that they keep for themselves hardly include conservative Christians’ “non-negotiable moral issues.” These campaigns against Muslim radicalization ultimately promote a religious moderation that transcends Islam. I argue that a critical question is the direction of this moderation for Christians, especially in the context of multiple religiosities in Europe.