From Texas and Iowa to Arkansas, faith leaders are wading into politics to counter the rise of Christian nationalism

He grew up on a farm in Indiana, the son of a factory worker and eldest of five children. He studied at Liberty, a Christian university founded by the conservative pastor and televangelist Jerry Falwell, and recalls wearing a T-shirt expressing opposition to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Two decades later, Justin Douglas is running for the US Congress – as a Democrat.

He is among around 30 Christian white clergy – pastors, seminary students and other faith leaders – known to be potential Democratic candidates in next year’s midterm elections, including a dozen who are already in the race. While stressing the separation of church and state, many say that on a personal level their faith is calling them into the political arena.

The trend marks a break from a traditional racial divide. Whereas Black pastors who run for office are typically Democrats, their white counterparts are usually Republicans, reflecting the strength of the religious right and the party’s dominance among evangelical voters.

  • ByteOnBikes@discuss.online
    26·
    15 hours ago

    I used to think that religious Trump supporters were also the ones who believe in funding a pastor’s private jets. But my take: a lot of religious MAGA just want someone to validate whatever racist stupid ass thoughts come to their mind. May it be politician, pastor or a fucking podcaster.

    Religion is just another mechanism.

  • Bakkoda@lemmy.zip
    8·
    13 hours ago

    It makes sense that the clergy are meh on a man raping a child but oh no that’s bad about a penis going in a grown man’s butthole or mouth. That’s their whole schtick.

  • Ashenlux@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    251·
    17 hours ago

    Oh! So this is why the Dems are throwing trans people under the bus, to attract the clergy. We have to run some better people. The answer to Christian fascism, is not more Christianity.

    • TronBronson@lemmy.world
      8·
      16 hours ago

      There’s a lot of power in holding the “good Christian” title. Clearly. Look around. Perhaps that one is worth wielding again.

      If 30% of the country subscribes to Christian values, maybe we should broadcast those values back to: empathy, socialism, community service etc.

      Use the centuries of brainwashing and existing power structures to reign back in the village idiots? Idk it was working for a while until Christianity became: stave people and hate gays

      • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
        6·
        14 hours ago

        I agree 100% and I am a preaching atheist.

        I view religion as an overall negative. But I cannot ignore that for a large minority it is helpful for them. We cannot just throw out the entire religious populace and still expect to win elections. Instead religious Democrats need to take back the image of God. Show that almost all MAGA values are against the teaching of Christ.

      • 20cello@lemmy.world
        141·
        18 hours ago

        I live in Italy and I can safely blame the Roman Catholic church for the cultural backwardness in which my country finds itself. The interference of the church has this as its main purpose, after all only by remaining ignorant one can continue to believe certain nonsense.

      • NotSteve_@piefed.caEnglish
        172·
        20 hours ago

        Yeah, for sure but religion plays a stupid amount of a role in the US compared to other normal western countries. Just look at the Christian Heritage Party of Canada with their grand total of zero seats. Hell, the Conservative Party of Canada doesn’t even dip into religion very often and they’re also unpopular.

        Your country’s broken, mate

        • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
          121·
          20 hours ago

          Calling one of the two major parties in Canada, which almost won the last election if not for its leader fucking up to an insane degree, “unpopular” is certainly a take. Also the current senior part of Germany’s ruling coalition is the Christian Democratic Party so… yeah. More broadly, though, you have to realize that Protestantism in US rightwing politics is just a stand-in for white nationalism, while in more anti-clerical Western countries nationalism is the dominant religion with traditional religion mostly a distant second. The GOP isn’t a cult because it’s religious (they still have a hefty atheist and otherwise non-Protestant support base); it’s a cult because rightwing politics are inherently culty, far-right politics even more so. It’s not like cannibalizing fellow workers while the owner class bleeds you dry becomes more rational when you’re doing it for the German nation instead of Jesus.

  • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
    231·
    20 hours ago

    Because fucking Bush was? Give me a fucking break. Their guys are, if elected, going to be Republicans in all but name and the establishment is going to prop them up anyway.

  • Geodad@lemmy.world
    4·
    15 hours ago

    If he’s a humanist, he’s welcome. We can address the problems of religion after we stop the fascists.