UChicago’s Institute of Politics recently held a panel discussion on the intersection of Christianity and American politics. Yet somehow, they failed to consider the perspective of regular Christians by exclusively inviting progressive Christian leaders to discuss progressive topics.
American Christians can be divided into two groups: regular Christians and progressive Christians. Regular Christians strictly adhere to the Bible, are usually not invested in politics, and have traditional social views.
Progressive Christians suffuse extraneous interpretations of the Bible, are often very invested in politics, and have woke views on social issues—such as transgenderism and abortion. They are a shrinking minority of Christians; progressive churches struggle mightily with attendance and have little appeal outside of the college-educated demographic—only about 36% of Christians in the United States according to a 2010 Pew Research Center review.
Nonetheless, the IOP only invited progressive Christian leaders to its seemingly typical church event titled “Church & State: Christianity & American Politics.”
The panelists included an abortion-friendly nun, a never-Trumper magazine editor, and a racial justice activist. Throughout the event, panelists espoused views decidedly misaligned with the more conservative Christian ethos in the United States.
The abortion-friendly nun, Sister Simone Campbell, spoke about the need for “holy curiosity” and understanding the other side, advocating for a collaborative approach to societal challenges. Under the guise of “toleration,” Sister Simone Campbell actively worked to circumnavigate her Church’s institutional beliefs on abortion.
In response to a question asking what she thought about people who tell those who are not Christian that abortion is wrong, she stated, “My beloved Church has a tendency to do that around the abortion issue. Much of the leadership is very adamant, but I think that has changed a bit with Pope Francis.”
Sister Simone’s failure to unequivocally condemn abortion reveals a troubling disregard for the sanctity of life, falling in the minority of Christians who support and advocate for abortion. This attempt to minimize the moral gravity of abortion not only dismisses the deeply held convictions of millions of devout Christians but also perpetuates divisions within the Christian community.
Another panelist, Russell Moore, is the editor-in-chief of the Christianity Today magazine. He is, perhaps, best known for being critical of Donald Trump and using his former position as a high-ranking Southern Baptist leader to openly criticize Trump’s character and policies during the 2016 presidential campaign and beyond.
Despite being arguably the most conservative voice on the panel, Dr. Moore seems completely oblivious to the views of most regular Christians. Regular Christians are often working-class and middle-class, and Trump’s campaign addresses their most important concerns, even if his behavior may come off as uncouth.
Trump’s significant victory in Iowa during this year’s Republican primary highlighted Dr. Moore’s seeming disconnect with the regular Christian. Iowa is a state that is both heavily Christian and middle/working class. Yet, Moore appeared not to understand or care why people like Iowa’s working-class residents support Trump.
Furthermore, the panel ignored key issues of importance to conservative Christians, such as religious freedom and education. Instead, the conversation veered towards progressive interpretations of gender identity and reproductive rights, alienating a significant segment of the Christian population who adhere to traditional biblical teachings.
Dr. Starsky Wilson, another panelist and a racial justice activist, emphasized the significance of “connection and contemplation to get to the sacred.” However, he did not discuss scripture nor objective truth, two concepts integral to regular Christians’ understanding of sacredness.
The IOP’s partisan ploy of a panel discussion on Christianity reflects its broader disdain for right-wing America. In particular, the IOP’s leadership seems completely uninterested in platforming or dialoguing with social conservatives and populists. Simultaneously, it eagerly platforms arguably fringe radical progressives like AOC’s former chief of staff or washed-out Democratic politicians like Beto O’Rourke and Lori Lightfoot.
The event’s failure to genuinely engage with conservative Christian viewpoints raises questions about the IOP’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue and inclusivity. Rather than seeking to understand and address the concerns of all Americans, the IOP appears content to cater to the far-left; caring little to bring speakers with varied political alignments. The IOP relies on squishy, “token” Republicans to virtue signal their “support” for political diversity while avoiding real, incisive discussions.
Future events hosted by the IOP should strive for greater inclusivity and genuine representation of all viewpoints, including those of regular Christians, social conservatives, and populists, such as Josh Hawley, J.D. Vance, and Katie Britt, all of whom make up an increasingly large portion of the American population.
* The views expressed in this article solely represent the views of the author, not the views of the Chicago Thinker.
So proud of you Tyler. Regular Cristians, as you point out, are really just true Cristians. When we read the Bible as the infallible word of God, we absolutely know God’s message on abortion and homosexuallity. Getting, Christians, in name only, to speak for conservative Christian view points is nothing but woke agenda hand holding.
This post gives to us a key to the whole political struggle going on in our nation. The left liberals in charge of things like this want it to be about the WHO and they are in charge of bringing things together according to their WHAT. I think of the U of Chicago, Mortimer Adler et al, who searched for objective truth and deep knowledge and this tradition is what you all are upholding. Great work. I salute you as a great grandmother who studied political theory at Georgetown in the early 1960s when Leo Strauss was teaching at U of Chicago. With my nonprofit Educational Guidance Institute, I work to integrate the classic mode of moral inquiry into our greatest films from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Visit our website at Educationalguidanceinstitute.com You are on the front lines and I believe 80% of Americans center, center right and center left are for the Founders and for America…
These CINOs don’t want a dialog. They want a soapbox and an audience of far left extremists. Ion their echo chamber, there is no other point of view.