Donald Trump, a 77-year-oldĀ Bible salesman from Palm Beach, Florida, has emerged as the nationās most prominent Christian leader. Trump is running for president as a divinely chosen champion of White Christians, promising to sanctify their grievances, destroy their perceived enemies, bolster their social status, and grant them the power to impose an anti-feminist, anti-LGBTQ, White-centric Christian nationalism from coast to coast. That Trump doesnāt attend church and has obviously never read the book that he hawks for $59.99, seems of interest exclusively to his political opponents.
What might catch the attention of some evangelical conservatives, however, is that Trumpās ostentatiousĀ embraceĀ of White Christian militantism coincides with a precipitous decline in religious affiliation in the US. According to the Public Religion Research Institute,Ā one-quarterĀ of Americans in 2023 said they were religiously unaffiliated. āUnaffiliatedā is the only religious category experiencing growth. In a single decade, from 2013 to 2023, the percentage of Americans saying that religion is the most important thing, or among the most important things, in their life plummeted to 53% from 72%.
Anecdotally, Iām a former pastor who hasnāt stepped foot inside a church in four years because of Trump and these people.
I almost walked out of church in 2016 when the head pastor thanked God for Trump from the pulpit. I hung on till the pandemic and when the church insisted on becoming centers for disease, I was just through.
As an ex-Christian of 35 years, I can only imagine the turmoil youāve been through. Not just as a person of faith, but as a pastor who took his Biblical office very seriously. I have no judgement and certainly nothing to add, just saying I see you and wishing you peace.
Thanks. Itās been very difficult because Iām not an ex-Christian, but Iām not one of them anymore either. I doubt I ever really was.
I still want to be a pastor though, to talk about God and theology and support others as they go through life. It was my entire adult life.
I just donāt think thereās a puzzle out there that will fit my jagged little piece.
I was never really one of them either, I think maybe I just got tossed farther on the discard end, lol. Between that and my decades of study, there was never going to be a day when I could agree biblical canon said what it did not say, or that the authors meant other than what they classically have been understood to mean.
But regardless of the reasons or the exact form it takes, when the church fails and it no longer bears any resemblance to its own message, individually there is an inner dissonance, a struggle, that is absolutely a form of torture.
If you donāt mind me saying so, I think your exact experience and goals are more needed than they ever were ā but as an individual, walking alongside other individuals like yourself. The churches are too far gone. Help the few and far between that are as repulsed as you are.
Thatās absolutely my hope, though Iām not sure if it will ever be properly realized. Thank you for the encouragement.
For what itās worth, Iām sorry for my part in the system that hurt you and so many others.
That is truly kind of you to say. Thank you. I wish you well.
I totally get that tbh. Iām naturally drawn to religion and when I look at the benefits to society that pastors can provide I see a lot of capacity for it, but Iām queer and drawn to paganism. In a different world Iādāve been a pastor or priestess or whatever. Thankfully Iāve got another career Iām called to.
Iāve heard the term seeker used to refer to people who just feel called to religious wisdom more than to a specific dogma and I kinda like it. No matter where I go Iām looking to better understand the same things. What I saw in Catholicism and was drawn to there I find in a way that makes more sense in my current understanding of old gods.
I donāt know if youāve already looked into it, but check out a non-denominational church in your area. Most of my family is reformed Catholic, and my grandfather was the only one who attended a real church. Iām not a fan of them, but my uncle and mother found solace in ND churches to fill their spiritual needs.
Iāve been in more than a few of them, and someone like you might do very well in one. I enjoyed listening to the sermons for the most part, and itās always nice to see someone who doesnāt dress up bigotry and hatred in the trappings of religion.
I really appreciate the suggestion, but I think my personal hesitation is that most churches hide their problems fairly well. So long as theyāre not waving Trump flags or maga hats, it can be hard to know how healthy a church is until youāre reasonably invested in it.
I just donāt think I could handle that sort of discovery right now.
Thatās understandable. I hope you can find a community that you want to be a part of.