Religion: Good for the Country?

Gerson may be right that many evangelicals lost their interest in decency by supporting Trump and that their religious tradition is now defined by resentment. But he is wrong in perpetuating the myth that this is bad for the country because religion “is essential to the country’s public life.” Religion might be essential to some people’s life, but not to everyone’s. Although religion has indeed motivated social justice and the common good throughout this country’s history, it has also motivated injustice, division, and harm. It is clear today that religion is required for neither the moral high ground nor high office. Any rescue from their leaders that evangelicals need, therefore, should be seen primarily as a private concern. What the American public might need rescue from, however, is a religious tradition that has an outsize voice in government.