In recent years, Texas politics have become closer to religion than ever before, and various experts say this could have a major impact on the upcoming election.
The Cut News recently reported that Pastor Robert Jeffries delivered a sermon on politics and religion at the First Baptist Church of Dallas.
“Government is God’s creation. Genesis chapter 9. After the flood, God gave Noah the foundation for government,” Pastor Jeffries told the congregation of about 16,000 believers.
And with Texas politicians pushing for Bible lessons to be taught in public schools and displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms, it’s clear that religion, and Christianity in particular, is a top priority for officials.
This is a trend that began in the 70s and continues to this day.
“The Christian Right didn’t emerge organically,” Andrea Hatcher, a political science professor at the University of the South, told The Cut News, “It was created by religious and political elites who saw a way for the Republican Party to use religion for political power to benefit both sides.”
This relationship has had a major impact on policy, including the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision that many critics argue was heavily influenced by religious beliefs.
However, some politicians believe Christianity has been misunderstood and distorted by officials.
“If you open your Bible, you’ll find 2,000 verses about economic justice and zero about abortion,” said Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat and seminary student. “There are hundreds of verses about welcoming the stranger, lifting up the poor, treating your neighbor with respect, healing the sick.”
He also said there was no “biblical evidence” that “Christianity was used to hurt LGBTQ people.”
These competing interpretations of Christianity create tensions in both the political and religious spheres.
“What’s happening is that Christian fundamentalism is on the rise. In fundamentalism, everything is black and white,” Eric McDaniel, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Austin, told The Cut. “There’s no discussion of gray areas.”
