I really do think there's a way in which, like, the shift from conservative evangelicalism of the 70s, 80s, 90s, to this charismatic strain of Christianity, there is this way in which the charismatic prosperity gospel Christians and Trump were made for each other because they've both valorized like money and getting rich and view

that as a sign of God's favor.

I mean, these are the kind of pastors who say, God laid it on my heart that you all should

donate to make sure I have a private jet.

But also, I think almost like the leap into the absurd dimension of Trumpism.

Like no one who is an expert in this area thinks this will work, but your faith in

Trump, somehow it will work out and your side will prevail. I don't know if I've ever heard you

say it that way exactly before, but it's so key. The idea of just like, just believe in Trump

and it will all work out. If you just believe and keep

believing, and it doesn't matter what the media says, and it doesn't matter what the economists say,

and it doesn't matter what the economic indicators say, just lock in and believe, and it'll feel

good to believe, and people will doubt you, and the doubters, the fact that they doubt you is even

more reason to believe.

Like, all of that just feels like so important to that aspect of his movement.

But how about the other part of this question?

Is the conservative movement still Christian?

Were they ever Christian?

Like, there's a major part of me that just wants to say no.

Like, we worship as Christians, Jesus Christ, who were told, like, his power is made perfect in weakness.

Like, the striving for power is itself in some ways, at best, ambiguously Christian.

And, you know, using politics to demonize gay people, feminists, trans people, you know, go down the list.

Even if you're someone who thinks that traditional Christian teachings on homosexuality or, you know, gender relations or whatever, there's something to them.

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