WASHINGTON (RNS) — For centuries, Jesus has been a subject of choice for countless artists. But it’s fair to say that seldom has he been depicted quite like this.
In artist Jon McNaughton’s “One Nation Under God,” Jesus stands front and center at the nation’s capitol, holding the Constitution and surrounded by historical luminaries like George Washington and contemporary archetypes such as “Mr. Hollywood.”
Scroll over the image on McNaughton’s Web site and each of the characters in the painting is identified, along with a quick explanation of their role in the country’s public life.
For example, there’s the “Supreme Court Judge,” who is hiding his face in shame, “as he considers some of the court decisions that have done great damage to our country.”
Artist Jon McNaughton’s painting “One Nation Under God,” depicts Jesus holding the Constitution and standing at the center of American public life. (RNS illustration courtesy of John McNaughton)
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And the “liberal news reporter,” who, the scroll-text informs, is part of a media that is “biased to the left and tries to shape the thinking and actions of Americans in that direction.”
Standing in the heroes quadrant of the painting is Ronald Reagan, “a true patriot of freedom,” the text informs.
McNaughton, who lives in Spanish Fork, Utah, and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says he designed the painting to reflect his conservative views and his concern for the future of the nation if it departs from the Constitution.
“I think it’s been good for me to articulate what I believe,” said McNaughton, “I’ve done a lot of landscape paintings. Another landscape painting isn’t going to change anything.”
To be sure, others are noticing McNaughton’s work, particularly on the Internet, where “One Nation Under God” has reignited the fierce debate over religion’s role in the nation’s history. While many applaud the painting, some see it as historical revisionism at its worst. McNaughton paints famous figures whose religious views were ambiguous, such as Ben Franklin, assuming pious poses towards Jesus.
The painting has even sparked a spoof, in which sarcastic texts replace McNaughton’s explanations of what the characters represent. (Example: Scroll over U.S. Marine and the text says: “Was kicked out of the military for being gay.”)
In many instances the spoof points out the religious background of historical figures who were known not to be Christian, such as Thomas Paine.
Mark Silk, a professor of religion in public life at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., called McNaughton’s painting “a graphical representation in the effort of the religious right to re-construe American history as a Christian endeavor.”
“There is a religious conservative line on American history which makes the founders out to be more religious than they really were,” said Silk.
McNaughton said he wanted to depict people, such as Franklin, who had worked to create American rights and freedoms, even if they weren’t known to be pious Christians.
“Let me make myself clear from my writing that just because they stand behind Christ, does not mean they are devout Christians evoking all to come unto Jesus and be baptized.” McNaughton has said. “What I am saying is that they represent those who have influenced our country and our Constitution in a positive way.”
McNaughton also depicts what he calls “strong Americans” in the painting, including a mother, a Marine, and a farmer. All of them work to uphold the Constitution, although it “doesn't mean that they are all good Christian folk,” McNaughton said. Still, these people are depicted looking up to Jesus in awe as they kneel down before him.
At the bottom right of the painting, McNaughton included images of those he believes weaken the Constitution. This group includes a lawyer counting dollar bills, a politician and “Mr. Hollywood,” complete with cooler-than-thou smile and leather jacket. No one in this corner is looking at Jesus and Satan sits over them.
“These symbolize the type of American that, in my opinion, may be pushing our country towards socialism, which is opposite of the Constitution,” said McNaughton.
McNaughton said he wanted to create a work “that would make people talk and think.”
“I don’t want people to come away thinking that everyone in this country has to be a Christian,” he said, “I just wanted the painting to express the origin of our country’s strength.”