How Trump is paving the way for a revival of the religious left

[rug]

Richard Montgomery High School junior Talea Kent marches with students during a protest at the school in Rockville, Md. (Lisa Bolton/The Washington Post)

December 14 at 7:00 AM
By Jack Jenkins
Senior religion reporter for ThinkProgress.

On Election Day, much was made of exit polls that showed 80 percent of white evangelicals backing Republican Donald Trump, a sometimes vulgar, twice-divorced candidate who could not name his favorite Bible verse and once bragged about sexual assault. The result seemed inexplicable, and political analysts are now questioning the theological credibility of right-wing Christian leaders who embraced Trump, with some high-profile religious conservatives decrying such support as hypocritical at best, heretical at worst.

But as some members of the religious right wrestle with how to reclaim their moral authority, another group is quietly beginning to rise. Progressive, faith-rooted advocacy organizations, such as Faith in Public Life, Auburn Seminary and Sojourners, have all reported surges in donations and interest in activism since November, and are now organizing to counter any number of Trump’s policy proposals. Meanwhile, progressive Christians long absent from Sunday worship are returning to church in droves.

The shift comes as left-wing religious leaders increasingly find themselves in the spotlight. Conservative Christians have grown so concerned with the rising influence of progressive evangelicals, such as Shane Claiborne and Brian McLaren, that a slate of religious right leaders published a letter in September condemning them and others as “enemies of biblical faith.”

Yet books by liberal pastors such as Nadia Bolz-Weber remain wildly popular, and groups such as PICO — which helps mobilize local churches for causes that usually lean progressive — continue to thrive. And the theology of Pope Francis, while he remains conservative on several issues, has re-energized a progressive strain of American Catholicism that champions lefty economics, immigration reform and action on climate change.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/12/14/how-trump-is-paving-the-way-for-a-revival-of-the-religious-left/?utm_term=.2b492db3b89f

[guillaumeb]

1. Can there be such a thing as the religious left?

Can believers really be progressive? Are they not all extreme conservatives, intolerant of any differences?

Recommended.

[hrmjustin]

2. Yes! My church and denomination is already mobilizing to get ready to oppose his policies.

And we also pray for him. I pray he grows brains but that is not likely.

[rickford66]

5. God didn't stop Hitler.

Why did he allow Trump to get elected? Oh, God works in mysterious ways. This is a real good mystery taking place.

[hrmjustin]

6. Man is responsible for Hitler and Trump.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. 22 million catholics and 60 million protestant men and women are responsible for Hitler.

If we're going to call out 'man', lets be precise in what kind of men/women, or rather, what sort of ideals they supposedly held.


Germany is doing a lot better now, that it's 38.9% atheist/agnostic/other.

[rickford66]

8. So, why pray?

[hrmjustin]

9. Because we are human and we are reaching out to the divine.

[Jim__]

3. Her sign may not say what she actually means. - n/t

[rug]

4. Heh, the curse of the misplaced punctuation.

[jonno99]

10. I was gonna say something - but, you did.

(and Trump's hate is definitely not something to love...)