Losing Our Religion

So we’re heading into the mid-term elections, much like the Titanic heading towards an iceberg. The Maga Republicans are planning their fraudulent investigations, in order to claim that there is MASSIVE fraud in our voter records or election process. They know they can’t win in the midterms without cheating or pushing their blatant lies, shrouded in morality.

Yet somehow, they’ve managed to convince a lot of people that they know what they’re doing, and are qualified to lead the country. And the one thing that they are using to their advantage to create this façade: Religion.

I like to call it hijacking Jesus.

The Maga Republicans have staged a hostile takeover of “faith”, tricking many people into believing they are the sole guardians of American morality, but we all know that they are using Jesus to push their own political agenda and propaganda, in order to hold onto power.

The Maga cult is trying to frame their scripted messaging as if they are the only faithful people in America. But I don’t think Trump has seen the inside of a church in a long time. His hair would probably catch on fire if he made the effort.

The Maga Republicans are also trying to create a religious cult called Christian Nationalism, which really is a platform of exclusion, which most people have now heard about, but we’ll save that for conversation.

Most people know that Religious sentiment has always been a bigger part of the political narrative for Republicans. In fact, it was recently announced that JD Vance has written a book about his “personal journey” in faith. 🤮

So, let’s say Vance runs for president in 2028. I guarantee his campaign will be all about his faith, and trying to pitch wholesome family values, and pushing the same old lie that immigrants are like the plague, taking over our country.

The reality is that most of the immigrants that are being locked up or deported, are not criminals, but they are Christians who wear the same crosses around their neck that the Maga Republicans wear. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.

So what can our Democratic leaders do to gain an edge in the mid-terms, aside from preventing the Republicans from cheating their way into maintaining power? They can take Jesus Back. It’s the power of religious persuasion that the Democrats need more of, in order to secure more votes, in my opinion.

As an example, James Talarico, who is running for Senate in Texas has based the vast majority of his messaging on his faith. His debates, interviews, and town hall gatherings are all rooted in religion, or his faith in God. The fact that he won his primary for the Senate in a deep-red state like Texas really indicates that his messaging is working.

He doesn’t just talk about policy; he talks about Moral Clarity. He uses the Bible to argue for better and more affordable healthcare, for a living wage, for human rights, civil rights, and women’s rights. He proves that the “Separation of Church and State” doesn’t mean the separation of Values and State.

But I understand why Democrats might want to steer clear of religious messaging, because the language in the First Amendment regarding the separation of Church and State says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” And that’s a good thing, and it’s imperative to keep that separation, but God and faith are very much embedded in our government.

Look at a $10 dollar bill for example:

It says “In God We Trust.” That’s on every piece of currency that we have in the United States.

If you listen to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, God and Jesus are everywhere in that song:

When you say the pledge of allegiance, it says “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

If God is on our money, in our patriotic music, and in our formal oath of loyalty to the United States, then He should be in the political conversation.

By the way, that $10 dollar bill will only get you 2 gallons of gas these days, thanks to Trump and his pointless war in Iran.

One thing that I think most people DO understand, is that when you set foot inside of a church, political affiliation isn’t something that anyone is really thinking about.

People are coming together as a community, to share their faith in God. It’s a very inclusive space. You shake hands with people standing next to you, whether you know then or not, regardless of their political beliefs. Everybody is welcome, regardless of the color of their skin, or what country they’re from.

Now I’m not trying to be preachy about this, because my focus is on the mid-terms, but Democratic leaders need to stop letting the MAGA cult own religion. It’s time to remind the country that “family values” and FAITH means taking care of the sick and the poor, and practicing EMPATHY, which is what Jesus actually taught.