Constitution of the United States into a Christian Fundamentalist manifesto that gives voting rights to Christians. A Christian woman who is a single person living alone would, he says, probably be allowed to vote. The interviewer asked if she, a Muslim single woman who lives alone, could vote and he said the same. Probably. Never mind that the Constitution makes it illegal to have a religious test to hold office – he would amend that so that only male Christians – and probably not Christians like me – could hold office.
Wilson assures us that he does not discuss his ideas with Pete Hegseth, but their relationship is a bit murky. While Hegseth is a member of Wilson’s church, he doesn’t seem to have ever attended it. Wilson said that he met with the Secretary of Defense on a couple of occasions, and Hegseth had Wilson come and preach at a monthly worship service Hegseth hosts. I find it highly unlikely that there isn’t any advice being given, and I have no problem with any person seeking spiritual help – I do that all that with people all the time. No – my concern is the kind of advice Wilson gives and the way Hegseth uses it. This toxic “christianity” can be seen in the way women – and people of color – are being treated in the military. It can also be seen in Hegseth’s history with women.
Mr. Wilson thinks he is doing God’s work; I don’t think he is at all. I see no Christianity in him and lots of toxicity and misogyny. I see a deeply disturbed man who wants to create God in his image, and that means male supremacy and female submission. That means punishing Jews and Muslims and any other flavor of religion – again, including my own – that does not conform to his ideology. That means the end of diversity and inclusion and equality; with a huge helping of equity for men who he believes are being abused by a system that doesn’t favor them anymore. He is the extreme of the anti-DEI movement that is afoot, but he is not alone. And he is committed to his false gospel of hate far more than most of us are to our belief in equality. He’s banking on that. He’s counting on those who oppose him being silent sheep while he and his fellow wolves feast on us. And he may not be wrong about us. Which is scary as hell.
Prayer – Holy God, inspire us to pursue Your equality of all your children, and to stand together against evil. Amen.
Today’s art is “Overcoming Misogyny” by Juliet Ezenwa.