While some white evangelical leaders have responded to results of this week’s midterm elections with dismay, others are responding with calls to action that echo the insurrection of January 6, 2021. By and large, these white evangelicals cannot believe the…
The Military Chaplaincy Was Already Captured, Well Before Hegseth’s Arrival
Public concern over Christian nationalism in the armed forces has been almost entirely preoccupied with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—and not without good reason. He invited his personal pastor to lead prayer breakfasts at the Pentagon while Hegseth himself prayed: “Let every round…
Christian nationalism takes a beating at the polls
Christian nationalism, at least in its official Trump-inspired manifestations in Washington, D.C., may have been handed a significant setback in the midterm elections. Democrat James Talarico’s 55%-43% trouncing of Ken Paxton in Texas’ U.S. Senate race, together with the victory…
The birth of Christian nationalism: ‘I’ll teach them how to hate’
Editor’s note: This presentation was made to a gathering of the Forum on the Military Chaplaincy held at Brite Divinity School at TCU on Monday, Oct. 19. It has been edited only slightly for context. On a July evening in 2024,…
‘We don’t mind the killing; we just don’t want to watch it’
Donald Trump has cancelled the planned public livestream of Nidal Hasan’s execution. The decision comes a few days after Trump began privately expressing doubts about the decision, which was spearheaded by self-styled Secretary of War and Crusader wannabe Pete Hegseth….
For the love of God, stop making transfolk the butt of your jokes
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz isn’t up for reelection this year, but I wish he were. I’d love to see him get Talaricoed. The soon-to-be senior senator from Texas has a way of saying the nastiest things. And this week he…
Hegseth’s New ‘Office of Religious Affairs’ Will Accelerate the Military’s Christian Nationalism
In his September 30 ‘State of the Force’ speech before 600 E-6s and O-3s, staff sergeants, and captains at Quantico, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth formally announced the “establishment” of a new Office of Religious Affairs (ORA) for the military chaplaincy. Reading…
Theobro pastor Joel Webbon calls for public execution of Mike Huckabee
Texas pastor Joel Webbon, known for his outspoken antisemitism and criticism of Israel, in a social media post this weekend called for the public execution of Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Catholic and Methodist leaders condemn livestreamed firing squad
Roman Catholic and United Methodist leaders have joined the condemnation of Pete Hegseth’s planned livestreamed execution of Nidal Malik Hasan. Any Catholics assigned to the firing squad are “obliged” to request to be excused from this action, which is “contrary…
What kind of people are we becoming?
The following comments were given by the author on Saturday, Oct. 10, at a Dallas rally against the death penalty. I speak today as a Christian, mindful of the ancient conviction expressed in Genesis that every human being is…
Robert Jeffress should not be trusted with a Bible
Major freeways in North Dallas are adorned with billboards proclaiming that First Baptist Church of Dallas is “built on the Bible.” If that’s so, why does the church’s pastor not seem to understand what the Bible teaches? Fresh off his…
The state doesn’t need my eyes
On what must have been a dark day in the first century, leaders of the Roman Empire began loading exotic animals into crates. Lions, leopards and crocodiles were led down ancient routes. Via Salaria, the “Salt Road,” and Via Latina…