Politics and religion intermeshed
can be a nasty business. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, witnessed every
venue of his planned tour in Europe cancel because Franklin had “called Islam
‘evil,’ attacked laws increasing rights for transgender people, and told his
followers that the legalization of same-sex marriage was orchestrated by
Satan.”[1] Although criticizing another religion is religious in nature,
turning to laws renders the attack political too. Although Franklin Graham may
have assumed that many of his co-religionists would agree with him both in
religious and political terms, wading into controversial political matters
risks alienating people who are or would otherwise be religious followers.
Even the willingness to traverse into the political realm may not be liked by
some religionists, whether followers or not, especially if the incursion is
into a controversy. Some co-religionists may agree with the distinctly
religious belief, yet hold dissimilar political views. Such distance created between
religionists can weaken a religious leader’s credibility and even following in
the religious domain. Politicians dragging their respective religious faiths
into the political domain can also be problematic, though authentic
applications can pay off even if there is a cost politically. The incursion of
Christianity at the end of U.S. President Trump’s trial in the Senate and as he
took a victory lap can demonstrate the complexities of religion distended into
another domain.
The full essay is at "Politics and Religion: President Trump."
[1] Rob Picheta, “Evangelist Preacher Franklin Graham Planned a Seven-City UK Tour. All Seven Venues Have Dropped Him,” CNN.com, February 6, 2020(accessed same day).