RNS asked some of the country’s top faith leaders, scholars and activists to consider what changes the religion landscape will see in 2018. Find all their predictions here.
(RNS) — I predict that in 2018 some event involving President Donald Trump will pose a decisive moral test for his strongest base of supporters, white evangelicals.
Perhaps it will be new evidence related to sexual assault allegations against him, or an indictment from FBI Director Robert Mueller of his family members or even of the president, and a presidential firing of Mueller or pardon of the indicted.
Sadly, I think that we already know what will happen. A core of #Trumpvangelicals will remain loyal no matter what. They will take their talking points from Fox News. Their inability to offer anything resembling biblical moral reasons for their view will be painfully obvious. And it will be even more clear that whatever happens to Donald Trump will happen to these evangelicals, because they have become indistinguishable.
The Rev. David P. Gushee wrote the popular RNS column “Christians, Conflict & Change.” He is the director of Mercer University’s Center for Theology & Public Life. He is also president of the Society of Christian Ethics and president of the American Academy of Religion. The views expressed in this opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)
Read RNS reporters’ deep dive into President Trump’s “unprecedented ties” with white evangelicals.