This is why I’m angry at the GOP. I follow a non-Christian spiritual path. I’m a polytheist. Now, I don’t expect to be catered to politically. What I don’t like is the outright mockery and provincialism.
Some of these religious attacks are about race, but for the most part, there is a major religious litmus test for being a Republican. I am in alignment with Republicans with most economic and border issues. I voted for Trump and I voted GOP in the last election.
There are many different religious ideas in this country. I’m a Pagan Thelemite. I also follow Asatru. Hegseth went out of his way to bash servicemen, many of whom are conservative, who practiced Asatru, the old Nordic religion. Every religion in the world is in this country. I once knew a Parsi who’s been here his whole life practicing Zoroastrianism. I moved from Los Angeles to Southern Indiana during the COVID lockdowns. There are two Hindu temples, a Mosque, and a Buddhist center here.
Islam aside, there is an open hostility towards non Christian religion in the GOP. It’s hard to deal with. Much of this has to do with the influencer class and pastors who try to get involved. For instance, our Lt Governor in Indiana, Micah Beckwith, when he was a candidate, had an online meltdown over Harmeet’s very humble Sikh prayer at the RNC in 2024. Having read the Sikh religious texts, and being someone who expresses a love and interest in comparative religion and enjoys reading the texts of world religions, I found this deeply offensive. I used to be more open and tolerant of Christians but it’s getting increasingly difficult to communicate with people on my own side of the political isle.
And this religious pluralism doesn’t have as much to do with immigration as one would think. Many people I knew in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and other places I’ve lived have a wide variety of religious views. Very few are atheists.
The GOP has two choices: Secular Conservatism or Religious tolerance. It’s going to be the only way to maintain the big tent and take back urban areas. The fanaticism and intolerance isn’t going to work.