LogFAQs > #979056464

There was a lot of criticism on the old politics board about saying that Trump is not actually a Christian. That saying it is a cop out to protect Christianity. And that is a valid position to hold. But, while it is unwise to question the faith of anyone, here is what I know for sure:

1.I have been a churchgoing Christian for my entire adult life. I know my Bible well and I am married to a woman who got an M.Div and was a hospice chaplain for years before following me into the non-profit world. Trump and his loud far right evangelicals dont practice any kind of Christianity we recognize. Our entire church is completely horrified by the words and actions of Donald Trump, as are most of the Christians I know personally.

2.I was watching Donald Trump for decades even before he entered politics and tried to overthrow the duly elected government. I have never met the man (thank goodness), but I am as certain as I can be that he has no principles derived from religion or otherwise. All that matters to him is saying and doing what benefits him. I firmly believe that if he thought declaring himself a Democrat would get him where he wanted to go, he would do that. If he thought the atheist vote would carry him over the line, he would declare that. If he thought saying the earth was flat would benefit him, then that is what his speeches will be.

It is not about judging his faith or testing him in theology. It is about knowing that this is a man with a long history of saying and doing anything that will win whatever transaction or conversation he is in. It is impossible to know what a person like that actually believes, I doubt Trump even knows. He is out for his own benefit only, and any belief beyond that is incidental.

Being a Christian has been a positive part of my life, but not only is Christianity (and organized religion itself), not for everyone, but it is perfectly valid to debate the positive and negative impacts of religion as a whole and those denominations in particular on our culture and society.

But, although the GOP has been weaponizing Christian extremists for decades, and they are loud, this MAGA cult is a whole other thing with a lot more than religion tied up in it. And again: I talk to lots of Christians daily. None of them approve of what Trump is doing or how he conducts himself. He isnt really a Christian to me. I think he is using a twisted version of it only to get where he wants to go, which is what he has done for his entire public life.