Pastor Corey Brooks has voiced strong opposition to what he describes as a "war on America’s Judeo-Christian roots," particularly criticizing attempts to erase Judaism from the historical foundations of Christianity and the United States. Brooks argues that such revisionist narratives, which he likens to a "right-wing version of the 1619 Project," distort history and undermine the nation's core principles.
Brooks, founder of Project H.O.O.D., cited comments from Jordan Peterson emphasizing the Jewish origins of the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament, which form the basis of Christianity. He contrasted Peterson's view with remarks by Jack Posobiec and others who have claimed that figures like Abraham, Moses, and David were Christian. Brooks contends that this framing is not only historically inaccurate but also a form of "intellectual dishonesty and spiritual malpractice" that strips Christianity of its heritage.
"The United States is a Judeo-Christian nation. That is not sentiment; it is history," Brooks stated, referencing the New Testament's reliance on the Old Testament and Jesus Christ's Jewish identity. He asserted that attempts to recenter Christianity by claiming figures like Abraham as Christian represent an "erasure of Jews and Christianity’s origins dressed up as false piety."
The pastor drew a parallel between these historical revisionist efforts and the 1619 Project, which he believes sought to make slavery America's founding truth. Brooks argues that the current trend aims to "erase the Jews, center only the Christians, and call it faithfulness."
Brooks emphasized that America's founding documents, with principles such as "All men are created equal" and being "endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights," are rooted in the biblical concept that every human bears the image of God. He stated that the rule of law, human dignity, and justice tempered by mercy flow from the Judeo-Christian revelation, preserved by Jewish people and fulfilled in Christ. "Cut that root, and neither Christianity nor the American experiment has an anchor left," he warned.
He also addressed the rising tide of antisemitism, calling it "vile and must be confronted without apology." Brooks highlighted the historical bond between the Black church and the Jewish people in standing against oppression, stating, "We stand on that bond together now."
Through Project H.O.O.D. in Chicago, Brooks is working to establish a Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center that offers job training, education, and financial literacy, alongside teaching "the uncompromised truth of both Testaments of Scripture alongside honest American principles." He believes this approach equips young people with a "full story: sins confronted, founding ideals upheld, and the God-given capacity for agency and achievement."
Brooks concluded by asserting the need for honesty about faith and the nation's founding, stating, "There is no room for rewriting the past to serve agendas or social-media clicks. We do not need new idols. We need honesty about our faith and our founding. That is the only path to strength, unity, and restoration."