The Rise Of Theocracy
Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore.
— Donald Trump, July 26, 2024
During a televised debate between State Senator Bill Eigel (R – Mars) and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Eigel attacked Ashcroft for letting the abortion initiative exist. The senator claimed the secretary had the legal power to dismiss and disallow circulation of the proposal.
Now, in response Ashcroft did not mention the right of the people to petition their government nor cite the long Missouri tradition of issues important to both major political parties being put before voters. No, Ashcroft said he tried to kill the measure time and again but was stymied by the courts. Both stated abortion is a violation of God’s law and that they believe conservative Christian values ought to rule in Missouri.
Meanwhile, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley defended Christian Nationalism…
“I’m sure some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation. And so I am. And some will say that I am advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do… my question is, is there any other kind worth having?”
Our senior senator seems ok with a central tenant of Christian Nationalism, that religious values as detailed in the Bible trump national and state law – and nations must be led by appropriate, doctrinaire Christians, even if they would lose a popular vote (since God’s law must rule).
So, in that context Donald Trump’s remarks to a crowd of Christian fundamentalists is not a gaffe. No, it is saying out loud what’s supposed to stay secret until after the election/elevation of Trump as President this November.
Christian Nationalists oft point to the references to God by the Founding Fathers. They want us to believe that back in 1776 they had a united vision for a country under the God.
Yet, even back then was it the Puritan God of New England, the Roman Catholic God of Maryland, the Baptist God of the South (who seemed ok with slavery) or some other deity as the official God?
Or, ought it to be a state choice? The most popular religious movement in Missouri remains Evangelical Protestants with 36% of the population. But mainline Protestants and Catholics combine for a third of the population, non-Christians are a growing segment, and, 20% chose “none” when asked for their religion. https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/database/state/missouri/
In other words, despite what Christian Nationalists like Hawley believe there is no majority behind a single iteration of a state religion to be permanently elevated into power. And, bet lunch money that those excluded from government because they aren’t sitting in the correct pew on Sunday won’t take it sitting down.
Back to Trump…Over the years he’s proved to have little grasp of any theology. Most of the time he considers himself a deity. By joking about outlawing elections, well, he’s merely using that Christian Nationalist trend to get what the Supreme Court started, the appointment of an American King. God on earth.
If Trump is our God, I’ll volunteer for Hell.
Glenn Koenen