Pete Hegseth's holy war: the militant Christian theology animating the US attack on Iran

If you need to get up to speed on current Christian zealotry within the trump administration, this is a worthwhile introduction. It’s good to remember why these people are so dangerous and intractable. Their world is one of certainty, ferocity and solidarity.* Those who follow these undercurrents within our government will appreciate this read.

Pete Hegseth’s holy war: the militant Christian theology animating the US attack on Iran — Julia Carrie Wong, The Guardian

Excerpt:

There have been moments in US history when Christian nationalist ideas were broadly embraced. One is the Confederate States of America, which was conceived of as a Christian nation, “invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God” in its constitution. (The Southern Baptist Convention, today the largest evangelical denomination in the US, was formed in 1845 when it broke from northern Baptists in order to continue to support slavery.) When Wilson calls himself a “paleo-Confederate”, he appears at least in part to be referring to his desire for an explicitly Christian government.

The other was in justifying the genocide of American Indians; early settlers often framed violent aggression against the native population in terms of bringing salvation to the “savage”. By the 19th century, this tendency had evolved into “manifest destiny”, a belief that white settlers were fated by God to conquer all of North America. The Trump administration’s promotion of the painting American Progress by John Gast – it depicts a white woman clad in robes sweeping across the continent, bringing light and technology to the dark and fearful natives – has indicated its desire to revive this way of thinking as well.

At another violent time in US history, Christian nationalism is enjoying a strong baseline of support among Americans – about one in three are either sympathetic or strong believers in the idea of the US as a Christian nation, according to a recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. But the real strength of the Christian nationalist movement in the US now comes from its access to power. The second Trump administration is rife with Christian nationalists in leadership positions.

The contemporary Christian nationalist movement in the US unites Christians from disparate denominations. Hegseth represents the Reformed/Calvinist wing, which is distinct from the charismatic evangelicalism practiced by figures such as the White House “faith office” adviser, Paula White-Cain. A third camp are Catholic Integralists, who want to integrate church and state; adherents include Steve Bannon and the Project 2025 architect Kevin Roberts.