Much ink has been spilled over the last decade revealing the ways white evangelical Republicans have descended into the abyss of authoritarianism. But while they claim to be the most committed to Christ and the church, their empathy-starved embrace of…
How will your grandchildren view your role in the present struggle?
After the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, there has been a lot of discussion in the nation about whether he was a positive or negative character. I think like most people he was a mixture. He was not the epitome…
The gospel of MAGA in their own words about Charlie Kirk
Last April — long before Charlie Kirk’s untimely and horrific assassination Sept. 10 — I wrote an article about his rise from college dropout to Trump influencer. Since Kirk’s murder, I’ve watched with fascination the battle over his legacy. The…
Embattled Oklahoma schools chief leaving post
Ryan Walters will step down as the superintendent of Oklahoma public schools Oct. 1 to lead a conservative organization founded to oppose teachers’ unions and “the liberal, woke agenda” he claims is polluting American education and values. “For decades, union…
Evangelical worship is the sugar that helps the poison of power go down
In today’s world of white supremacist politics, white evangelical worship is the sugar that helps the poison of power go down. And perhaps no event has put this more clearly on display than the Charlie Kirk memorial service. When many…
Reflections on a five-hour memorial service
I must report a grievous theft. God’s sacred gifts to me, my words, have been stolen. They have been filched and deceptively redefined, their time-honored meanings scrapped and their hollowed sounds marshalled for cheap tricks. This switcharoo is not my…
The making of a martyr
The gunshot that killed Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University Sept. 10 changed everything. The conservative activist’s assassination tornadoed through America’s Christian nationalist movement, which reeled at the loss of one of its greatest warriors in a battle for the soul…
Oklahoma Supreme Court blocks social studies curriculum
The Oklahoma Supreme Court dealt Ryan Walters another blow Sept. 15 and he responded by calling the court “embarrassing and … out of step with Oklahomans.” Walters, the state superintendent of schools, is easily the most controversial person ever to…
You Might Not Recognize CALI Gubernatorial Candidate Che Ahn, But His Brand of Militant Christianity Should Feel Familiar
“Joel’s Army”—the militant Protestant movement that fueled both the January 6 insurrection and the recent political assassinations in Minnesota—is rearing its head once again, this time in the 2026 race for California governor. Pasadena megachurch pastor Che Ahn, who announced his…
What are Christians to make of this season’s South Park?
The television show South Park first aired in 1997, the same year I graduated college. I don’t remember watching it right away, but by the second season, I was an avid fan. I was drawn to the show’s total irreverence…
My summer quest to learn more about Christian nationalism
As a Baptist and Faith and Freedom Fellow with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Tennessee, I have observed how Christian nationalism is reshaping American churches, often blurring the lines between faith and political power. This poses a significant risk to our values…
Active Clubs are white supremacy’s new, dangerous frontier
Small local organizations called Active Clubs have spread widely across the U.S. and internationally, using fitness as a cover for a much more alarming mission. These groups are a new and harder-to-detect form of white supremacist organizing that merges extremist ideology with fitness and…