Evangelicals push Trump into conflict with Iran

[marmar]

Evangelicals push Trump into conflict with Iran
Forget Joe Rogan — the Christian right remains Trump's most important constituency

By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer
Published June 25, 2025 6:00AM (EDT)


(Salon) For a moment, the spat between former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, drew most of the media’s attention when Cruz couldn’t answer basic questions about Iran, whose government he wishes to topple. Despite the Texas senator’s confident declarations about the alleged value of regime change in Iran, he couldn’t name the country’s population and seemed to know very little about its culture. But there was another part of the interview that was probably even more telling — and disturbing.

“As a Christian growing up in Sunday school,” Cruz said, “I was taught from the Bible that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed.” He added, “I want to be on the blessing side of things.”

Carlson, despite being a war skeptic, moved on without challenging Cruz’s assumption that the U.S. should behave as a Christian theocracy instead of a secular democracy. But Cruz’s statement is noteworthy, because it’s a head nod to a factor in Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran, one which most of the press is underplaying: The role of right-wing Christian fanaticism.

....(snip)....

Anthea Butler, a religious studies professor at the University of Pennsylvania, told Salon that Cruz was referencing evangelical belief in a Biblical prophecy that war involving Israel and the larger Middle East is “only one more step in ushering in Jesus’s return.” As journalist Sarah Posner explained at Talking Points Memo, “this movement holds that a series of prophesied events, including Jews’ return to Israel and invasion by armies of foreign countries including Iran, will culminate in a bloody, victorious battle at Armageddon.” As a result, the conflict between Iran and Israel has launched a frenzy within evangelical circles, as they hope the final battle is coming and they will get to witness the end times. .....................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/06/25/evangelicals-push-trump-into-conflict-with-iran/

[multigraincracker]

1. Biblical prophecy. Why don't we go to those Words in Red, direct quotes by Jesus himself.

He told the crowd there are people there that day would see his return.
So, he has come and gone again, according to Biblical prophecy.

[newdeal2]

2. Nah it's all about the money

Specifically Adelson’s billions. I’m sure she was a bigger influence on Trump’s decision than religion.

[UpInArms]

3. Am so unhappy the rapture did not occur in 2000

I had hoped all those freaks would be removed from this earth

[get the red out]

11. We would have more rights in Hell

Than trying to keep these fuckers from trying to shred the Constitution.

[EYESORE 9001]

4. Bloodthirsty bastards, aren't they?

Not so tough when sky daddy whisks you away just before the 💩 gets real. Meanwhile, they get half a chub thinking about the untold suffering the heathens will endure.

[travelingthrulife]

6. Blood thirsty and terrified of dying themselves. They all cling to the Rapture to whisk them away

so they do not have to go through the dying process. This fear is from people who say they believe the afterlife is a pardise.

[EYESORE 9001]

7. Suffering for thee

But not for me

[no_hypocrisy]

5. End Times. The Rapture.

Kirk Cameron must be cancelling his July calendar.

[Xavier Breath]

8. Guessing it's wasn't any too full anyway.

Creepy religious fuck

[hamsterjill]

9. As a Christian, I was taught in Sunday School

That no one, NO ONE - not even the Son - knows the time of the Rapture. It is blasphemous in my opinion for these dooms day freaks to be trying to force it to happen.

I am a believer. No one needs to believe the same as I do. I don't have any more answers than the next person. Just a set of my own beliefs. Every person is free to believe or not believe as they see fit. You cannot force religion on people. They have to come to it, if they choose, on their own path.

These Evangelicals make me furious and sad at what they've done to Christianity.

[Ping Tung]

10. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all Abrahamic religions. They quarrel about which version of their God is valid

Man is the only animal that has found the ONE true God....several of them. Mark Twain