The Modern Religious Triad and the Destruction of Democracy

Religion has always influenced American politics, but since the 1980s, its expanding role has blurred the line between faith and governance, corrupting both. Much of the corruption started in the 1980s when President Reagan, though not deeply religious, saw the rising power of Christian evangelicals as a political opportunity. He allied with leaders like Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority, securing large voting blocs in exchange for helping to embed religious interests into government policy. A generation of politicians followed Reagan’s example, fully displaying shameless political and religious corruption.

This marriage of convenience between Christian evangelists and American politics created a two-way street where the evils of corruption flowed unchecked in both directions. On the religious side, it’s now common to see figures like Joel Osteen jet-setting around the globe, preaching from a distorted gospel of greed and materialism, conveniently setting aside Jesus's passionate cleansing of the temple. On the political side, those aligned with this arrangement are given carte blanche to act with malicious indifference, immune to any religious or moral judgment so long as they advocate for evangelical Christian values. It's a transactional relationship that squeezes Christianity while corruption oozes out the side.

This brings us to a central concern - the emergence of a modern politico-religious triad of greed, materialism, and racism.

Why racism? Religion often promotes separatist thinking, sorting people into groups based on the notion of being "chosen" or "unchosen." As the distinction between religion and politics blurs, this sense of separation seeps into political thought, driving divisions along racial and cultural lines. As a result, politicians routinely marginalize groups, blaming "them" for the ills of society and reinforcing the divide between the chosen and the unchosen, the Republicans and the Democrats, the righteous and the unjust, and the good guys and the bad guys.

This triad poses a direct threat to American democracy because democracy respects the will of the people and rejects the idea of separation. It strives for equality and equity for all, not just a select few. To those with a separatist mindset, democracy becomes an obstacle that must be eliminated to fulfill both political and religious ambitions.

Does this sound crazy? Consider an article written by Josh Hawley in 2012 titled “A Christian Vision for Kingdom Politics: Immanentize the Eschaton!” Hawley penned this article to advocate for a Christian nation where the righteous would dwell and await God’s plan to bring heaven to earth, known as the "eschaton." To "immanentize" the eschaton means to hasten this divine plan, implying that humans, not God, control the timing of this event. While this may seem blasphemous to some, many evangelical Christians embrace it much like they embrace the recently manufactured notion of the rapture. Politicians like Hawley, operating at the intersection of politics and religion, eagerly pursue this vision, and churches across America amplify it, convincing their congregations of their righteous and dominant role in society. Meanwhile, politicians who aren’t particularly religious use the triad as an opportunity for personal gain - grifting for money, power, and sex - the three ambitions of all corruption.

How do we combat this threat? First, ordinary Americans must understand that passive citizenship - more commonly known as complacency - endangers democracy. Those who naively assume tomorrow will mirror today may wake up to a harsh reality. The stability of our democracy is never guaranteed. While we have overcome threats like the civil rights struggles and the Watergate scandal, surviving past challenges does not guarantee future success. It would be foolish to assume we are immune to collapse.

The path forward demands active participation. As Robert "Fighting Bob" LaFollette warned over a century ago, "Mere passive citizenship is not enough. Men must be aggressive for what is right if government is to be saved from those who are aggressive for what is wrong." To avoid collapse, we must be aggressive. We must raise our voices, contact our legislators, write letters to the editor, and organize with like-minded individuals to spread awareness. Engagement is our best defense - far better than passively watching events unfold on the nightly news and yelling at the TV. By standing up, taking action, and holding officials accountable, we can protect and strengthen our democratic ideals. Anything less is silent capitulation and ultimate surrender.

History is watching. This is our time. This is our fight.