These two factors promote fear: when the order one has known begins to break down; and when one does not know what the future order will be. Donald Trump is playing people’s fears masterfully. His slogan, “Make America Great Again,” reminds his base that they used to have a certain order that they preferred over what is coming at them. 

Strangely enough, he has manipulated evangelical Christians into tolerating his many flaws in exchange for the appointment of “evangelical” Supreme Court justices. This is supposed to result in enacting their political/religious beliefs into laws or striking down laws that are against their rigid beliefs. Evangelicals would do well to ask themselves why today’s young people are increasingly expressing their preference for no religious affiliation. They would also be wise to remind themselves that America is a nation that has provided religious freedom in a way that few societies have ever done (the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States). 

Early Christians were persecuted for their beliefs. That is not happening in America. But, are evangelicals not getting dangerously close to persecuting those who believe differently from them? Are they not being intolerant of others’ beliefs? Could they continue toward persecution of others because of their beliefs? Or will the influence of those who prefer no particular religious doctrine offset their political/religious extremes? 

America is rapidly becoming the “melting pot” of the world. She has long been the bastion of individual rights and freedoms. A writer (currently unknown to this writer) once remarked that, “Tolerance of the intolerable may be wiser than meeting rage with rage.” This appears to be one of America’s great challenges — to promote acceptance of different races, mixed races and religions. That is referred to as tolerance. Donald Trump turns people against others with his “religion” of intolerance.

I am not an expert on the Bible, the Koran or the Torah. Neither do I profess to know the Wiccan belief or any other with great depth. But, I do know I will not follow a god that allows people to exclude others because of their race or their beliefs. 

Here are the lines of a great pop song titled Superman written by a famous singer from Mount Airy, North Carolina, named Donna Fargo: “Now, let’s go through this one more time. You do your thing and I’ll do mine. But, honey baby, we got to draw the line if your hang-up starts messin’ with mine. All I can do is the best I can to change the ways that you can’t stand. If it ain’t good enough for Superman he ain’t good enough for me.”

Our constitution provides religious freedom to all, much like Donna Fargo sings about in Superman. But, our Constitution does not, and should not, provide the room for one religious group to dominate another politically. Tolerance is necessary. Evangelicals might want to re-consider their legislative agenda. Evangelicals must be willing to bend rather than break. Young people are not migrating to their camp. Young people want tolerance. Change. Change. Change.

Dave Waldrop

Webster