'God Is Going to Have to Forgive Me': Young Evangelicals Speak Out.

[elleng]

'The role of evangelical Christianity in American politics has been a hotly discussed topic this year, intersecting with front-burner issues like immigration, the Supreme Court and social justice. Often the loudest evangelical voices are white, male and … not young.

With just days left before the midterm elections — two years after President Trump won the White House with a record share of white, evangelical support — we asked young evangelicals to tell The Times about the relationship between their faith and their politics.

Nearly 1,500 readers replied, from every state but Alaska and Vermont. Hundreds wrote long essays about their families and communities. They go to prominent megachurches as well as small Southern Baptist, nondenominational and even mainline Protestant congregations. Some said they have left evangelicalism altogether.

We read every submission and spent many hours interviewing respondents. Here’s what we learned:

Young evangelicals are questioning the typical ties between evangelicalism and Republican politics. Many said it had caused schisms within their families. And many described a real struggle with an administration they see as hostile to immigrants, Muslims, L.G.B.T.Q. people, and the poor. They feel it reflects a loss of humanity, which conflicts with their spiritual call.

Plenty of young evangelicals believe Mr. Trump has helped to achieve their biggest goals, like curbing abortion rights and advancing religious liberties. But they are sensitive to other issues. Many feel politically independent, or politically homeless. There is a fight for what the term ‘evangelical’ even means, and they are living it.

And the struggle is not just with political leaders, but also within their religious communities.

The six young evangelicals featured here, all deeply involved in their churches, offer the textured sound of the rising evangelical voice in America, one that is often drowned out by white elders. The interviews and quotations from submissions have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

We are opening the comments section, and hope that you will add your own voice.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/01/us/young-evangelicals-politics-midterms.html?

[Stargleamer]

1. Vote Democratic and all is forgiven. N/t

[andym]

2. Abortion is the big GOP hold on the evangelicals.

It has been since Roe V Wade and Reagan.

[Scruffy1]

3. I never b0ught that.

To me the abortion thing was and always will be a great cover for good old "white natioalism". They nevre mentioned Roe vs, Wade until 1980, afull 7 year after the decision. It works great for them. They can vote for a Trump and not be called what they are. Besids which a lot of grifters made a lot of bucks hawking for the last 40 years. The case of the "pro life" Congressman in Tennessee who got re-elected after having been caught forcing his mistress to have an abortion and paying for it shows the real deal. He got reelected in a landslide.

[andym]

4. Well even a strong Democrat llike Jimmy Carter does not think Jesus

would approve of abortions. Jimmy is an evangelical, but also a life-long Democrat. Here is what was recently reported about his opinions:
"Jimmy Carter says ‘Jesus would approve of gay marriage’ but not abortions"
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/jimmy-carter-gay-marriage-abortions-supreme-court-nominee-jesus-a8439561.html
"Jimmy Carter has said Jesus would “approve” of same-sex marriage and so does he.

The 93-year-old former US president said on HuffPost Live: “I think Jesus would encourage any love affair if it was honest and sincere and was not damaging to anyone else and I don’t see that gay marriage damages anyone else”.
....

The former leader, who served as president from 1977-1981, said he “had [a] struggle” in support a woman’s right to choose an abortion. “I have a hard time believing that Jesus would approve abortions unless it was because of rape or incest or if the mother’s life was in danger,” Mr Carter said.

However, he added: “My oath of office was to obey the Constitution and the laws of this country as interpreted as the Supreme Court, so I went along with that." The landmark pro-choice case of Roe v Wade was decided in 1973, just four years before Mr Carter took office, and now that case is in jeopardy of being overturned."

--------------------
Jimmy Carter is a good example of someone who has religious problems with the idea of abortion, but is not a racist. He remains a Democrat as well. But I think he represents many evangelicals in their what they believe about abortion. I think there really is a strong sentiment in the evangelical community against abortions and it does play out in elections, such that the GOP gets guaranteed support from some who might otherwise vote differently. SO this is not racism per se, but something quite different and something that is not going to change.

[bronxiteforever]

5. In other words, young evangelicals still support the GOP

Although they have reservations about Trump, kinda like Corker and Flake. Just as useful as well.

I imagine many of them have economic anxiety, perhaps this is the next story for the NYT?

[ck4829]

6. K&R