Christian Nationalism – bendingtheneedle

The National Prayer Farce and Christian Sectarianism

Did any “Christians” at the Prayer breakfast call out the President of the United States for his shameful statements and treatment of immigrants in America?

In between pancakes and coffee, did anyone speak to the hypocrisy of Donald Trump attending the event, considering his well-documented dishonesty, vindictiveness, and unrepentant sexual immorality, or was there just a hushed acceptance of this “flawed man”?

Did any of the “Christians” in attendance voice their concerns about the Trump administration’s cutting of USAID, which will lead to millions of deaths by 2030?

Did those in attendance lend support and prayer for marginalized people, and justice for young girls trafficked and abused by the rich and powerful, as documented in the Epstein files?

Seems like a prayer breakfast would be the perfect place for talking about all these things.

From what I’ve read, rather than promoting unity, spiritual reflection, and reconciliation, the Orange Ayatollah of Ice Brigades and Sexcapades turned the once venerated event into a boastful campaign rally brimming with self-promotion and partisan political attacks. Like every other institution he encounters, the president torched norms and obliterated traditions, while religious bigots in attendance bowed down to their true king.

One thing about Trump you can’t deny: there’s very little subterfuge when it comes to his bigotry, vindictiveness, and hate. And his unvarnished take on anyone who defies or challenges him has laid bare the true morality of his religious base, who have revealed themselves as people who care more about power and control than grace and humility, who want to subjugate and dominate, and who would sooner punch you in the face than turn the other cheek.

The National Prayer Breakfast is a National Farce. What used to be a bipartisan and unifying event has become a partisan pigpile, obscuring the event’s original, inclusive, ecumenical nature.

Examples:

President Trump used the breakfast to criticize political opponents, claiming they “oppose God and religious freedom.”
He also used the platform to attack political enemies along religious lines, turning the event into a partisan stage rather than a shared spiritual gathering.
Trump mocked Democratic lawmakers and questioned why “people of faith would ever vote for a Democrat,” despite the event’s bipartisan leadership.

Trump’s rhetoric excludes Christians who refuse to align themselves with the undeniably Christian Nationalist identity of the MAGA movement. Through words and actions, the President continues to make a mockery of Christianity, and that mockery gets amplified by conservative Christian leaders who to turn a blind eye to Trump’s amoral behavior.

The quote “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross” describes perfectly what occurred at this year’s National Prayer Breakfast and what’s happening in America today. The president’s remarks are indicative of the dangerous merger of nationalist demagoguery and religion.

How long before Christianity in America undergoes a full-blown sectarian split?

As America struggles to maintain Jefferson’s wall of separation between church and state, Atheists, Agnostics, and religiously unaffiliated need to unite behind the version of Christianity that promotes kindness, empathy, and love.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my book, My Paper, My Words: Rantings from a Progressive Boomer and Peeved Parent, from Amazon. And if you feel moved to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.

My Paper, My Words is a collection of essays, stories, and poems that reflect the challenges of a middle-class husband and father trying to navigate a rapidly changing political, religious, and technological landscape of post-911 America.

The Rope-a-Dope Pope

Mike Johnson’s recent attempt to use biblical arguments to justify America’s immigration enforcement shines a light on a dangerous problem: political leaders are misusing scripture to defend actions that run counter to the central Christian moral tradition. That should be a red flag to those of us who cherish living in a country guided by the rule of secular law.

The quote “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross” seems tailor-made for House Speaker Mike Johnson. Yesterday, he tried to “out-bible” Pope Leo by using his favorite little black book to justify the GOP’s cruel treatment of immigrants, saying, “Borders are biblical.”

Put aside the troublesome issue of the person third in line for the presidency using the Bible as justification for law; any credible theologian knows Johnson’s biblical argument for strict border enforcement is selective, incomplete, and doesn’t correspond to the broader Christian tradition.

When Pope Leo cites Matthew 25:35 (“I was a stranger and you welcomed me”), he highlights a moral duty toward immigrants, widely affirmed by Christian theologians: Hospitality to strangers is central in the Bible.

The Old Testament repeatedly commands care for foreigners (e.g., Deut 10:19).

Jesus’ teachings prioritize mercy over legalism.

Johnson uses scripture to highlight order and sovereignty, but pays less attention to major biblical themes such as hospitality, compassion, and the dignity of migrants. Additionally, this approach appears not to fully acknowledge Christian ethics, suggesting that governments also have moral obligations, as prophets in the Bible often addressed nations regarding their treatment of foreigners.

Again, putting aside the fact that we live in a society that is ruled by secular law, the Bible’s recognition of borders and civil authority does not override its commands to welcome and care for migrants.

Pope Leo is not a U.S. official—he is the spiritual and moral leader of Catholics worldwide. His call to “welcome the stranger” offers guidance for leaders in line with Christian tradition.

As an American citizen and atheist, all this bible thumping is infuriating. When officials use bible verses to justify policies, we cross the Rubicon. America is a constitutional republic, not a theocracy. Mike Johnson and Donald Trump are elected officials who swore to uphold the Constitution, not a religion.

Here’s a suggestion: Treat everyone with respect and dignity and give all people, including the undocumented, the due process guaranteed them by the constitution.

What Would Jesus Do? (Music by Suno, Lyrics by Me).

My Christian Man Crush

I’ve been on a rant lately about the toxicity of religion in politics and the existential threat it poses to American democracy. So, imagine my surprise when I found myself in political lockstep with a devout Christian pastor and state legislator from Texas.

James Talarico is a state legislator, pastor, and former teacher representing Travis County, Texas. (When I hear the phrase Christian Pastor from Texas, I reflexively think this is not someone I’m going to connect with in any way, whatsoever).

As a humanist, my ethos is grounded in reason, compassion, and a commitment to human welfare, all without relying on religion or divine authority. I tend to distrust religious groups or individuals that emphasize moral absolutes, spiritual warfare, and cultural dominance, as many of today’s MAGA Christians do.

I deplore the charged and politically partisan nature of right-wing Christian leaders today, many of whom openly support Donald Trump as a divinely chosen figure. In my view, Donald Trump’s association with “the divine” is more accurately reflected in Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, which highlights how weak character and poor choices lead to moral decay in man – but I digress.

Although James Talarico and I disagree on the existence of God and the usefulness of faith, we share a common political identity and moral compass regarding the role of religion in politics and how we treat our fellow human beings.

When I listen to James Talarico speak, I hear humanism bathed in religious compassion. His arguments on why Texas should not display the Ten Commandments in schools are grounded in reason and commitment to the welfare of non-Christians and atheists.

Talarico’s political identity is fundamentally rooted in his Christian beliefs, which he draws upon to inform his legislative priorities and public stances. Now, one can say the same of the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, whom I detest.

Mike Johnson has informed Americans that the best way to understand his stance on any issue is to read the Bible. ‘That’s my worldview, that’s what I believe.‘ James Talarico proudly proclaims, “Jesus is the reason I’m in politics.”

So, we have two men who identify (quite publicly) as politicians guided by their Christian beliefs. Yet, the divide between them on almost every issue is wider than the Grand Canyon.

So, what gives?

Imagine two river boats (the SS MAGA for Christ and the SS Real Deal Christians) drifting down a wide river. The passengers on both boats refer to themselves as Christian, both rely on the same map for navigation — the Bible — but they interpret the terrain and the currents very differently.

The SS MAGA for Christ is sturdy and traditional, built from old wood passed down over generations. Its passengers believe God divinely determines the river’s course and shouldn’t be altered. They value order, hierarchy, and preserving the design of the boat as their ancestors built it. They’re wary of new boats with modern tech, worried those might drift off course or sink under unfamiliar values.
The SS Real Deal Christian is sleeker and adaptive, built with newer materials and open decks. Its passengers see the river as dynamic, winding through evolving cultures and perspectives. They believe their faith calls them to adjust their sails and reach out to those stranded along the shore, even if it means challenging long-held boating rules.

When the crew and passengers on the SS MAGA Christians see other boats on the river, like the SS Islam or the SS Atheists, they immediately consider them a threat and aggressively try to ram those boats or push them towards the riverbank to wreck them. Sometimes, crew members on the SS MAGA become pirate-like and try to board the other boats and convert their passengers to their dogmatic views of riverboat travel.

When the crew and passengers on the SS Real Deal Christians see other boats on the river, like the SS Islam or the SS Atheists, they share the waterways in the spirit of cooperation. They have no desire to board them or force them off the river.

In the analogy above, James Talarico is clearly aboard the SS Real Deal Christians. His interpretation of Christianity emphasizes tolerance, compassion, justice, and care for the marginalized or other, which he uses as the foundation for his political views.

Talarico’s political stances are an extension of Leviticus 19:18, which states, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord,” where he applies that verse to issues like healthcare, education, and immigration.

As a Real Deal Christian, Talarico’s faith calls on him to challenge far-right, conservative Christians and Christian Nationalists, making him a natural ally to humanists and non-believers like me.

He is known for quoting scripture in legislative debates, often to counter conservative Christian arguments. His speeches have gone viral for reframing Christianity as a force for inclusion, equity, and environmental stewardship.

For example, Talarico:

Opposed a Texas law requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms, calling it “un-Christian” and “idolatrous,” arguing that it misrepresents the teachings of Jesus.
Supports abortion rights, citing biblical passages that suggest life begins with breath and emphasizing the importance of consent in creation.
Rejects the idea that Christianity mandates opposition to LGBTQ+ rights or abortion, saying there’s no biblical basis for those positions.

Talarico describes Christian nationalism as “the worship of power – social power, economic power, political power, in the name of Christ” and has accused Christian Nationalists of turning Jesus “into a gun-toting, gay-bashing, science-denying, money-loving, fear-mongering fascist” and argued that it is “incumbent on all Christians to confront it and denounce it.”

Political progressives and moderates in the Democratic and Republican parties would be smart to build coalitions with Christians, in the mold of James Talarico, and use these coalitions as a form of political activism moving forward.

Unfortunately, in America today, there’s no getting religion out of politics altogether. The best we can do is to fight fire with fire by co-opting the positive, humanistic ideals and values espoused by Mr. Talarico’s interpretation of Christianity (inclusion, equity, and tolerance) and use them politically to win the hearts and minds of voters.