Conservative Christians would use their unlikely champion’s return to office to impose their own regressive values on America.
At first glance, the elevation of a candidate such as Donald Trump to be the Republicans’ undisputed, all-knowing and all-powerful leader seemed to indicate the decline of the American religious right. Trump has been found responsible by juries for sexual abuse and for falsifying business records after paying off a porn star with whom he cheated on his then postpartum third wife; his storied business career is littered with unpaid debts and accusations that he failed to pay workers. He’s a profoundly immoral character who revels in mocking and demeaning perceived adversaries. His most ardent supporters seem to admire him precisely because he’s not admirable and is instead a vulgar rule-breaker who worships money and power – more Tony Montana than Ned Flanders.
He’s not the sort of person you would imagine enjoying support from religious Christians, let alone overseeing a fierce revival of evangelical power in the US. Yet, it is through Trump that evangelicals are now on the verge of unprecedented influence in the political sphere. Evangelical Christians, who have often been aligned with conservative Republican values, view Trump as their champion. Despite his personal shortcomings, many see his policies as aligning with their social and moral beliefs, particularly in areas such as abortion, religious freedom, and traditional family values.
This unlikely alliance has been instrumental in Trump’s rise within the party, and it’s one of the reasons why he remains such a polarizing figure. His unapologetic stance on issues that matter deeply to evangelical voters, such as his opposition to abortion rights and his outspoken support for religious liberty, has garnered significant support within this community. Evangelicals see his presidency as an opportunity to not only advance their social agenda but also to entrench their values in the broader American political landscape.
The potential for Trump’s return to office raises serious questions about what kind of influence this alliance of conservative Christians could have on the country’s future. If Trump is re-elected, evangelical leaders may push for policies that further cement their ideological vision of America. This could include the further rollback of abortion rights, the introduction of stricter regulations on LGBTQ+ rights, and the prioritization of conservative religious views in public life.
For many Americans, the idea of Trump being re-elected with the support of the religious right is a deeply unsettling prospect. It highlights the growing tension between the secular and religious factions of American society, with the former fearing that the latter’s influence could undermine the country’s commitment to democratic values and individual freedoms. The potential for evangelical Christians to impose their values on the entire nation could fundamentally alter the American political landscape, shifting it in a more conservative, regressive direction.
While some view this alliance as a natural extension of conservative values, others see it as a dangerous trend that threatens to erode the separation of church and state. The rise of Trump as the leader of the Republican Party, supported by evangelical Christians, signals a shift toward a more religiously driven political agenda, one that could have long-lasting consequences for the future of American democracy.
As the 2024 election approaches, it remains to be seen whether this alliance will continue to gain strength or whether Americans will push back against the encroachment of conservative Christianity in the political sphere. One thing is certain: the intersection of faith and politics is set to be a defining issue in the upcoming election, with the future of American values hanging in the balance.
