One theory is that evangelicals preach politics from the pulpit while Catholic bishops forbid it. Another is that both categories don’t want their diminishing numbers get up and leave too.
The article below is a good background read on this subject. The link may be paywalled as I found my way to this article from a gifted link to a similar article in The Atlantic.
Where Did Evangelicals Go Wrong?
Jesus told us to love our enemies. And yet so many have embraced hostile politics in the name of Christianity.
Thanks, Michael! Boy, that article is spectacular. If I had read it before I published my little post, I would have cited it and written a book! It has so much to think about, but so few read more than headlines today.
For churches to retain a tax-exempt status, there are restrictions on their activities. Apparently some churches love to push the envelope on what is considered lobbying. IMO they should lose their tax-exempt status.
Restrictions on lobbying and political campaigns
One key stipulation for churches with 501c3 status is the strict restriction placed on political campaigning and lobbying. Churches are strictly limited in how they can participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. While churches can engage in some lobbying activities, it must not constitute a substantial part of their overall activities, or they risk losing their tax-exempt status.
It's a great question. There's a lot of effort setting up a 501c3, but with donations as the prime source of revenues it's worth it. I run a small California based dance company that is a 501c3 and even though we don't make much profit it's worth maintaining the 501c3 status.
Diane, Thank you for wise words. I am unable to supply input on the in and after church crowd, since I stopped going to regular services over thirty years ago, but as I remember, my Lutheran church was pretty neutral, with the exception of some cheap shots at the Reverend who was born in and grew up in Nazi Germany but left as a young teenager at the end of the war with his family. They accused him of being a Nazi. The last I heard of the now retired minister is he spent the last thirty years, well into his nineties fighting for human rights, against war crimes, and abuses against undocumented workers.
We do have two large mega churches near where we live, one is extremely politically active bringing in guest extreme right political speakers on Sundays (it’s easy to get a mail order theological degree or ordination to cover the bases). The other will immediately label any person, member, or community member they don’t like a pedophile.
I now view organized western religions with complete disgust. In those last thirty years I’ve attended two church funerals long ago. Now I refuse to enter for any religious reason.
I understand. I’ve had a crisis of faith in organized religion but I do believe in God. I do pray. People calling themselves Christian who love Trump have made me disgusted.
Good question about what is discussed or not at evangelical churches. I have wondered the same. I have a family member who attends one and I would like to know what her pew mates and her ministers are saying.
She herself has tried to silence me for saying anything remotely government related in family discussions. Saying I/we should all talk about family topics and avoid politics.
And then her kids confront my kids on social media regarding my kid’s views on reproductive and women’s health freedom.
I feel like thought and discussion suppression in families and social life have become a thing. In 2016, before Obama was elected my community’s cars were covered with pro-Obama bumper stickers. Now the trend is to have zero commentary on your car. Unless you drive an in-your-face macho truck.
“drive an in-your-face macho truck”. Do I know it. Where I live big macho pickups, driven by speeding white males, in an area with roads and a climate where anything more macho than a Honda Civic is unwarranted is a 98 percent guaranteed tRumper. They usually have stickers to prove it. And there’s lots of those pickups.
True freedom of speech is verging on extinction. Intimidation of all types is now acceptable. Fox News plays on many military bases, to my disgust and dismay. We as a nation are in dangerous waters.
I always see safe cable channels, Home & Garden or Food Network stuff. But if they were to have on Fox, it could be used as a legitimate reason to explain high blood pressure.
Yes! Absolutely. Do consultants advise large and small medical practices to go this route? Or maybe it’s the “stay quiet/don’t expose your views in public” that’s our worse enemy today. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Time to double down on our squeaking! And Vote Blue.
I heard, but have not verified, that Fox pays hotels to run their channels exclusively. It’s hard to imagine medical practices falling for that. Clients or customers in waiting rooms may also change the channel to Fox. But I agree, ideally one can find another provider. But that is not always simple.
It’s easy to say we don’t talk about religion or politics during holiday dinners. I get that, but it very stressful on a daily basis. I guess creating a safe flock of like-minded friends is the best cure for frustration. I hope my Blue Notes substack helps a bit. I only want the Democratic Party to rise to the occasion and beat Trump royally. Voting out these subversive election deniers in each state is important. There’s a website electiondeniers.org that takes it state by state.
Yes absolutely. And admittedly I need to actively work on recreating the real life community I had in 2018 when I worked on flipping the house. I appreciate efforts like yours to create online community. But what is even more critical is voting blue 100%, saving democracy, getting out the vote and obliterating Trump and MAGA in 2024. Will check out electiondeniers.org, thanks!
Thanks for highlighting Barb and Heather‘s books, Diane. I just tried to follow Barb on Substack yesterday, but I see that she doesn’t post. Where else can I follow her besides Twitter? That said her book has come across my radar as has Heather Cox Richardson’s. I hope this doesn’t sound pathetic (and it very rightly might), but I also have a confession. One that illustrates the fact that I need to bolster my dwindled post-Covid real life community, as noted. But my confession is this: I fear that reading books like theirs is going to feel like reading books about feminism has often felt to me. I read them and then it feels like there’s no one in my real life to do the actions with and then it feels lonely and depressing. That is very Eeyore of me, especially with loving people around me, and so I need some humor to counterbalance that. Or a walk in nature. But I used to have those kinds of books on my bedside table constantly.
Anyway, which one do you think would be most uplifting for someone who is battling an inner Eeyore?
And Sara, if you’ve not read Heather Cox Richardson’s new book “Democracy Awakening:Notes on the State of America” or Barb McQuade’s “Disinformation” —the professors are great, and the audios are read by them. I love them both. These two alone plus Joyce Vance have been my stars since before COVID.
Way too many Evangelical ministers are Trump supporters, which tells us everything we need to know about the Evangelical Movement. It has little to do with Christianity and much to do with White, male supremacy.
The article below is a good background read on this subject. The link may be paywalled as I found my way to this article from a gifted link to a similar article in The Atlantic.
Where Did Evangelicals Go Wrong?
Jesus told us to love our enemies. And yet so many have embraced hostile politics in the name of Christianity.
By Peter Wehner
The Atlantic
March 3, 2024
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/03/evangelical-support-republican-trump/677610/
Michael, it’s so good I just shared it with everyone. Thanks again! 🇺🇸💙
Thanks, Michael! Boy, that article is spectacular. If I had read it before I published my little post, I would have cited it and written a book! It has so much to think about, but so few read more than headlines today.
For churches to retain a tax-exempt status, there are restrictions on their activities. Apparently some churches love to push the envelope on what is considered lobbying. IMO they should lose their tax-exempt status.
Restrictions on lobbying and political campaigns
One key stipulation for churches with 501c3 status is the strict restriction placed on political campaigning and lobbying. Churches are strictly limited in how they can participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. While churches can engage in some lobbying activities, it must not constitute a substantial part of their overall activities, or they risk losing their tax-exempt status.
Good points. Some of the small more rural denominations may perhaps skip the process because they don’t apply to be exempt?
It's a great question. There's a lot of effort setting up a 501c3, but with donations as the prime source of revenues it's worth it. I run a small California based dance company that is a 501c3 and even though we don't make much profit it's worth maintaining the 501c3 status.
Diane, Thank you for wise words. I am unable to supply input on the in and after church crowd, since I stopped going to regular services over thirty years ago, but as I remember, my Lutheran church was pretty neutral, with the exception of some cheap shots at the Reverend who was born in and grew up in Nazi Germany but left as a young teenager at the end of the war with his family. They accused him of being a Nazi. The last I heard of the now retired minister is he spent the last thirty years, well into his nineties fighting for human rights, against war crimes, and abuses against undocumented workers.
We do have two large mega churches near where we live, one is extremely politically active bringing in guest extreme right political speakers on Sundays (it’s easy to get a mail order theological degree or ordination to cover the bases). The other will immediately label any person, member, or community member they don’t like a pedophile.
I now view organized western religions with complete disgust. In those last thirty years I’ve attended two church funerals long ago. Now I refuse to enter for any religious reason.
I understand. I’ve had a crisis of faith in organized religion but I do believe in God. I do pray. People calling themselves Christian who love Trump have made me disgusted.
Good question about what is discussed or not at evangelical churches. I have wondered the same. I have a family member who attends one and I would like to know what her pew mates and her ministers are saying.
She herself has tried to silence me for saying anything remotely government related in family discussions. Saying I/we should all talk about family topics and avoid politics.
And then her kids confront my kids on social media regarding my kid’s views on reproductive and women’s health freedom.
I feel like thought and discussion suppression in families and social life have become a thing. In 2016, before Obama was elected my community’s cars were covered with pro-Obama bumper stickers. Now the trend is to have zero commentary on your car. Unless you drive an in-your-face macho truck.
“drive an in-your-face macho truck”. Do I know it. Where I live big macho pickups, driven by speeding white males, in an area with roads and a climate where anything more macho than a Honda Civic is unwarranted is a 98 percent guaranteed tRumper. They usually have stickers to prove it. And there’s lots of those pickups.
A lot of truckers and workmen have Confederate paraphernalia on bumpers and windows here.
True freedom of speech is verging on extinction. Intimidation of all types is now acceptable. Fox News plays on many military bases, to my disgust and dismay. We as a nation are in dangerous waters.
Indeed we are, Gary. When you go to a doctor’s waiting room, and Fox is on (this happened to me), it’s time to switch doctors!
I always see safe cable channels, Home & Garden or Food Network stuff. But if they were to have on Fox, it could be used as a legitimate reason to explain high blood pressure.
Yes! Absolutely. Do consultants advise large and small medical practices to go this route? Or maybe it’s the “stay quiet/don’t expose your views in public” that’s our worse enemy today. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Time to double down on our squeaking! And Vote Blue.
I heard, but have not verified, that Fox pays hotels to run their channels exclusively. It’s hard to imagine medical practices falling for that. Clients or customers in waiting rooms may also change the channel to Fox. But I agree, ideally one can find another provider. But that is not always simple.
It’s easy to say we don’t talk about religion or politics during holiday dinners. I get that, but it very stressful on a daily basis. I guess creating a safe flock of like-minded friends is the best cure for frustration. I hope my Blue Notes substack helps a bit. I only want the Democratic Party to rise to the occasion and beat Trump royally. Voting out these subversive election deniers in each state is important. There’s a website electiondeniers.org that takes it state by state.
Yes absolutely. And admittedly I need to actively work on recreating the real life community I had in 2018 when I worked on flipping the house. I appreciate efforts like yours to create online community. But what is even more critical is voting blue 100%, saving democracy, getting out the vote and obliterating Trump and MAGA in 2024. Will check out electiondeniers.org, thanks!
I think Preet is probably where I first heard Barb.
The Cafe website has Preet, Barb and Heather—the trifecta of smart people!
Sara, here’s a podcast I follow with an interview on Barb’s book. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stay-tuned-with-preet/id1265845136?i=1000647506368
Oh I love Preet, too!
Thanks for highlighting Barb and Heather‘s books, Diane. I just tried to follow Barb on Substack yesterday, but I see that she doesn’t post. Where else can I follow her besides Twitter? That said her book has come across my radar as has Heather Cox Richardson’s. I hope this doesn’t sound pathetic (and it very rightly might), but I also have a confession. One that illustrates the fact that I need to bolster my dwindled post-Covid real life community, as noted. But my confession is this: I fear that reading books like theirs is going to feel like reading books about feminism has often felt to me. I read them and then it feels like there’s no one in my real life to do the actions with and then it feels lonely and depressing. That is very Eeyore of me, especially with loving people around me, and so I need some humor to counterbalance that. Or a walk in nature. But I used to have those kinds of books on my bedside table constantly.
Anyway, which one do you think would be most uplifting for someone who is battling an inner Eeyore?
I would do the audio of Heather.
Okay! Gonna dig up an Amazon gift card and place my order!
PS: LOVE Joyce Vance and also her Sisters In Law podcast!
The whole title of Barb’s is “Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America”
And Sara, if you’ve not read Heather Cox Richardson’s new book “Democracy Awakening:Notes on the State of America” or Barb McQuade’s “Disinformation” —the professors are great, and the audios are read by them. I love them both. These two alone plus Joyce Vance have been my stars since before COVID.
Oops I replied in the wrong place. 🙃
Way too many Evangelical ministers are Trump supporters, which tells us everything we need to know about the Evangelical Movement. It has little to do with Christianity and much to do with White, male supremacy.
And money looking at Joel Osteen and a host of TV showmen!