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Former President Donald Trump is now offering commemorative Bibles to his supporters, while President Joe Biden is facing criticism from Republicans for supposedly showing disrespect during the Easter holiday.
Biden is known for being more openly religious, as he is a devoted Catholic who has grappled with aligning his personal beliefs on topics such as abortion with his party's stance on women's rights.
On the other hand, Trump has been leaning towards Christian nationalism by pledging to bring back prayer in America if he wins the election, and by using terms like "persecution" when discussing his legal challenges in public.
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'Make America pray again': Trump reveals he is selling Bibles
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CNN’s AJ Willingham discussed the connection between Christian nationalism and Trump's endorsement of the "God Bless the USA" Bible. This Bible, priced at $59.99, is promoted by the former president to his supporters. Along with the Bible, Trump's version also includes the US Constitution and other founding documents. Historian Jemar Tisby expressed concerns about blending Christianity and patriotism in this manner.
Tisby explained that the issue lies in how this approach manipulates people's faith in God and their love for their country. While individually these sentiments may be harmless or even positive, combining them in this way can be problematic.
In this effort, it is blending the two and with Trump as the spokesperson, is conveying a very clear message about the kind of Christianity and love of nation he is promoting. Read Willingham’s full report.
Sen. Raphael Warnock, the Georgia Democrat and senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, mentioned to CNN’s Dana Bash that the Bibles are similar to other products bearing Trump’s name such as steaks, sneakers, and now Scriptures.
But the blending of public policy and religion on a larger scale is not the same as selling golden sneakers. According to Warnock, even though the country was founded on the idea of keeping church and state separate, religion is now being utilized once again as a weapon in the ongoing culture wars.
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Sen. and Rev. Warnock talks about Trump's effort to sell Bibles
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Biden faced criticism on Sunday from Wilton Cardinal Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, during an appearance on “Face the Nation”. Gregory pointed out that Biden selectively follows certain aspects of Catholicism.
Although Gregory acknowledged Biden's sincerity in his faith, he highlighted that Biden lacks clarity on his personal views, especially on "life issues".
Gregory mentioned a term we've used before: a 'cafeteria Catholic,' where you pick what you like and ignore what you find difficult.
Biden faced stronger criticism from his political opponents. They pointed out that he continued the tradition of declaring March 31 as the Transgender Day of Visibility, which happened to fall on Easter Sunday this year by coincidence.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his disappointment with the Biden White House for not honoring the central tenet of Easter, which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He shared his thoughts on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Johnson criticized the White House for banning sacred truth and tradition, while also declaring Easter Sunday as 'Transgender Day'. He found this decision to be outrageous and abhorrent, and mentioned that the American people are taking note of these actions.
During the White House Easter Egg Roll, Biden criticized Johnson, calling him "uninformed." Some conservative critics, much like the annual "war on Christmas," also attacked Biden for supposedly banning religious-themed designs at White House Easter events. However, it was revealed that this policy was actually in place during Trump's presidency as well, according to White House aides.
Despite the focus on these minor controversies surrounding religious symbolism, such as Easter eggs, there are bigger issues at play regarding the changing religious landscape of the country.
While most Americans support the idea of separating church and state and few want to see the US declared a Christian nation, there is a divide over what role the Bible should play in public life, according to a Pew Research Center survey released in March.
Nearly half the country, 49%, said the Bible should have “a great deal” or “some” influence on US laws compared with 51% who say the Bible should have “not much” or no influence at all. There is, not surprisingly, a partisan split here. About two-thirds of Republicans say the Bible should influence US laws compared with one-third of Democrats.
A recent survey by PRRI shows that Americans are increasingly moving away from organized religion. The only religious group seeing growth in the US is the "unaffiliated" category.
In addition, research conducted by PRRI in February highlights the significance of Christian nationalism within Trump's political supporters.
More than 30% of Americans may be considered sympathetic to Christian nationalism, believing that America was intended by God to be a Christian nation. According to PRRI, blue states like Massachusetts and Oregon have fewer than 20% of residents who are sympathetic to this idea, while red states like North Dakota and Mississippi have about half of residents who are sympathetic. Those who support Christian nationalism are also more likely to justify political violence.
PRRI president and founder Robert Jones stated that the survey highlights how this dangerous political ideology is influencing support for Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, and how it has become a key belief in today's Republican Party.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the evolving religious landscape of the United States, particularly the rise of Christian nationalism and its influence on politics. The juxtaposition between Trump's commemorative Bible sales and Biden's Easter controversies reflects the deep divide in the country's approach to religion. While some see Christian nationalism as a threat to the separation of church and state, others embrace it as a way to preserve their religious identity.
It's important to note that Christian nationalism is not synonymous with Christianity itself. The former emphasizes a political agenda that seeks to impose a specific religious belief on the nation, while the latter focuses on personal faith and spirituality. The blending of religion and patriotism, as seen in Trump's Bible sales, can be seen as a form of religious manipulation and can lead to the marginalization of other religious beliefs. As the country continues to grapple with these issues, it's crucial to promote religious freedom, tolerance, and the separation of church and state to ensure that all citizens feel respected and valued.
