Former president Donald Trump and his Republican rivals for the 2024 election have for months been heavily courting social conservatives and white evangelical Christians, seen as the most influential group in Iowa’s Republican caucuses.

“We thank you for the upcoming election, Lord — or caucus, as we call it in Iowa,” said Hundley, speaking from the sanctuary of his evangelical Christian church in his slight Texas drawl as his parishioners bowed their heads.

“It doesn’t matter what our opinion is,” he went on. “It’s really what’s your opinion that matters. But you’ve given us the privilege of being able to exercise a beautiful gift. The gift of vote. We thank you for that.”

While Hundley stops short of suggesting to his parishioners which candidate divine guidance should lead them to support, he is among more than 300 pastors and other faith leaders who’ve been described as supporters by former President Donald Trump’s campaign. It’s a message that some members of Hundley’s First Church of God have taken to heart, saying their faith informs their intention to caucus for Trump.

Ron Betts, a 72-year-old Republican who said he plans to caucus for “Trump all the way,” said he felt the former president “exemplified what Jesus would do.”

  • DigitalTraveler42@lemmy.worldEnglish
    32·
    6 months ago

    This shit is so aggravating, it’s like how tf do you interpret the Bible so badly that you wind up following the guy that checks every box for being the antichrist?

    It’s the same thing with all my fellow veterans who follow Trump, they all claim he’s the best leader, yet I and similarly minded veterans have to wonder wtf leadership classes these idiots got that they would think Trump qualifies for any kind of leadership position, because he absolutely does not.

    • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      6 months ago

      you realize most of these people have never even read the bible, right?

      they just like the sense of authority and power claiming faith gives them.

    • shasta@lemm.ee
      4·
      6 months ago

      They only listen to the “right things” Trump says because they only hear it indirectly from secondhand sources who filter out all the crazy and evil parts. Lots of people hate critical thinking and love being spoonfed what they should do and believe. Ignorance is bliss and they fully embrace it because they hate confrontation, feelings of helplessness, and guilt (if they ever realize they’re on the wrong side).

      Of course, this doesn’t include all Trump voters; this does describe a large portion of the church-goers though, especially the older folk. This is my anecdotal opinion from when I used to regularly attend church a few years ago before I became an atheist. There are a lot of good, but really stupid people in Christian churches who will actively avoid anyone trying to burst their bubble. The only real way to fight it is convince the people feeding them information to change their tune, which is basically impossible. The best you can do is swap them out for new people who aren’t intentionally manipulative and misleading. Unfortunately, those kinds of people are naturally attracted to the position due to how trusting the “flock” can be.