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Jane Coaston: How evangelical Christians went from Jimmy Carter to Donald Trump
sltrib ^ | 07/31/2023 | Jane Coaston

Posted on 08/03/2023 7:15:57 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27

Many white evangelical Christians love Donald Trump — a fact of American politics that has shaped the makeup and rulings of the Supreme Court, the culture and morality wars waged by the Republican Party and the political evolution and power of evangelicals themselves. At the same time, some forms of evangelical Christianity are becoming less Christian, with believers less likely to attend church and less likely to embrace some of the faith’s most bedrock beliefs.

How did this happen? How did millions of Americans go from “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” to Mr. Trump, who appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine? It was never ordained that he would become a man compared to biblical figures.

As Jon Ward sees it, truly understanding American politics right now requires us to have a much more nuanced and informed perspective on evangelical culture and history.

(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: carter; christians; evangelical; trump
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They loved Reagan also
1 posted on 08/03/2023 7:15:57 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

And George W Bush, along with George HW Bush.


2 posted on 08/03/2023 7:16:40 AM PDT by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Evangelical Christians are not the same as Evangelical Christians 40 years ago.


3 posted on 08/03/2023 7:17:37 AM PDT by MMusson
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Could be a reaction to the idea of having a Muslim president.


4 posted on 08/03/2023 7:20:55 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> --- )
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To: No name given

Even Ford?


5 posted on 08/03/2023 7:21:42 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

One thing my dad pounded into our heads was to NEVER vote for a Democrat. What did he do? He voted for Carter. When I asked him about it, he said it was because he was a Southern farmer and a Southern Baptist. He admitted it was the worst mistake of his life and the only time he ever voted for a Democrat.

I think he would have loved President Trump.


6 posted on 08/03/2023 7:22:12 AM PDT by Melinda in TN
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To: ChicagoConservative27

I don’t see this as confusing at all. Donald Trump is the only one who has been willing to stand up for Conservatism and not be bought off. He had his own money and still valued what this country stood for.

When was the last time that we had a politician who put the country and the Constitution above his own material worth?


7 posted on 08/03/2023 7:27:39 AM PDT by Eva
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Not Donald Trump, his support of freedom of religion, his supporting sanctity of life, his emphasis on freedom.


8 posted on 08/03/2023 7:34:27 AM PDT by Raycpa
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To: No name given

Before they did nothing, and before they became Brandon’s buds.

I wasn’t old enough to vote for Reagan, I was just 17.

Phyliss Schlafly never endorsed a Presidential candidate before Trump.

Cultural Conservative Icon Phyllis Schlafly Dies at 92
Schlafly rose to prominence and influence among conservatives through her fight against feminism, the Equal Rights Amendment and abortion rights

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cultural-conservative-icon-phyllis-schlafly-dies-92-n643106
Schlafly caused a rift in her own political organization with her endorsement of Donald Trump in March during the Republican primary. Schlafly backed Trump at a rally in Missouri before that state’s primary after he promised her to support the “most conservative platform we’ve ever had,” according to Eagle Forum President Ed Martin.

“We have been stuck with the losers chosen by the Republican establishment for so long, and it’s time for a change,” Schlafly said in a statement at the time. “Now we have a guy who is going to lead us to victory!”

Trump praised Schlafly as “a conservative icon who led millions to action, reshaped the conservative movement, and fearlessly battled globalism and the ‘kingmakers’ on behalf of America’s workers and families.”
I am an Assembly of God, which is a step below Pentecostal, only voted for the Bushs to keep a DEMOCRAT OUT.


9 posted on 08/03/2023 7:35:18 AM PDT by GailA (Constitution vs evil Treasonous political Apparatchiks, Constitutional Conservative.)
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To: smokingfrog

When Michael Moore said that Trump was the human Molotov cocktails we could throw at the corrupt government the fuse was lit.


10 posted on 08/03/2023 7:35:51 AM PDT by cnsmom
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Lost me at, “the culture and morality wars waged by the Republican Party...”


11 posted on 08/03/2023 7:36:44 AM PDT by Do_Tar (All my comments are creative or artistic expression.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27
Donald Trump may not be a dyed-in-the-wool bible believin' Christian, but at least he has actually done things that give glory to God. Moving the embassy to Jerusalem, peace talks with North Korea, the Abraham Accords, placing justices on the Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade.

I'm reminded that throughout the Bible, God used non-Hebrews and non-believers to further His Glory- Cyrus, Ahaseraus, even Nebuchadnezzar and some of the Roman governors in Acts.

12 posted on 08/03/2023 7:38:57 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople (The best slaves put their own chains on )
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To: ChicagoConservative27

What a condescending piece of propaganda that attempts to paint evangelicals as hateful and stupid. This piece is based on an interview with Jon Ward, a never christian, who walked away from the faith and then works to destroy her.

Jon Ward has no clue who God is and the saving grace of Jesus and why evangelicals have no problem embracing a flawed man like President Trump. We are electing a President, not a Pastor.


13 posted on 08/03/2023 7:42:30 AM PDT by Dartoid
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To: ChicagoConservative27

It’s quite simple. Keep betraying a group of people, even very forgiving Christian people, and eventually they will want nothing to do with you anymore. And if they are betrayed by everyone who “should” be their ally, then they may end up allied with someone who looks like he “shouldn’t” be.


14 posted on 08/03/2023 7:50:51 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: ChicagoConservative27
Most of the Men and Women chosen by God to do his work on Earth have had their flaws.

Consider Moses, a murderer.

David, a murderer and adulterer.

Rahab, a prostitute and traitor to her city (in the service of God).

All people are flawed. God can use them for his purposes.

15 posted on 08/03/2023 7:52:03 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: All

Trump gave Christians their only real win in decades with the overturn of Roe v Wade. Say what you will about the guy but you can’t argue against that.
He comes off as more pro-peace than most other polticians too.


16 posted on 08/03/2023 7:56:48 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Its simple. We live in a flawed, fallen world. We support who supports us, or at least, who won’t trample our values and oppress our freedom to live as a Christian.

Trump vs. Biden and the woke Deep State, the choice is OBVIOUS.

As to Jimmy Carter - I’m old enough to remember him and his campaign. I don’t recall him having strong Christian support, and its BS to claim so. I know in our house, my father and mother disliked him as a weak, big-government, post-modern liberal - which is exactly what her turned out to be.


17 posted on 08/03/2023 7:59:47 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: marktwain
Most? All humans have flaws and are steeped in sin. Even the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Priests.

Okay, there has been one exception. But he just proves the rule.

18 posted on 08/03/2023 8:04:06 AM PDT by katana
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To: katana
All are flawed. The exception is obvious.

But some are more flawed than others. Most of the prophets do not seem to have been murderers and adulterers.

19 posted on 08/03/2023 8:09:02 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: GailA

Actually, she wrote “A Choice Not An Echo” praising Barry Goldwater and stridently campaigned for him in 1964.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Choice_Not_an_Echo

Great book, incredible woman.


20 posted on 08/03/2023 8:14:29 AM PDT by Republican in occupied CA (We had enough government in 1789)
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