c/politics · by MicroWave@lemmy.world · 354d

Podcast of Hegseth church network airs far-right and Christian nationalist views

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/03/pete-hegseth-crec-church-podcast

CrossPolitic has in recent weeks hosted pastors who have opposed liberal democracy and pushed authoritarian ideas

The flagship podcast of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), the Christian denomination that claims US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, as a member, has functioned as a platform for the promotion of Christian nationalist and other far-right positions.

CrossPolitic, whose hosts are close associates of Idaho-based pastor Douglas Wilson, has in recent weeks hosted a theocratic Canadian pastor who has called for his country to be absorbed by the United States, and a self-styled “patriot professor” who has backed the rise of Russia and China and the decline of liberal democracies and endorsed the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda.

The podcast’s themes and guests, and the prestige of its hosts in CREC circles, raise further questions about the extent to which Hegseth’s views on US foreign and defense policy have been shaped by a religious movement that directly opposes liberal democracy and democratic principles including individual women’s suffrage.

177 points · 9 comments · view on lemmy.world

9 Comments

Zombiepirate@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 354d

Christian Nationalism: for when being a massive, fragile, quivering vampire asshole is your whole personality.

StinkyOnions@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 354d (1 reply)

If pastors want to get politcal tax the shit out of their churches.

SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 354d

It's no longer a law that churches can't be political, as of like last month...

Not that the IRS ever enforced it

homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 354d (1 reply)

Hegseth has several tattoos, including one across his right biceps reading Deus vult, a Christian phrase associated with divine providence and God's will,[186] as well as a tattoo of the Jerusalem cross on his right breast; the combination of Deus Vult and the cross has been associated with right-wing extremist groups.[f] Hegseth also has a tattoo near the Deus vult tattoo reading kafir (transl. unbeliever) in Arabic, garnering criticism from some Muslims, who accused him of Islamophobia.[189] In addition, he has a tattoo of the political cartoon Join, or Die, a cross and sword with Hebrew lettering reading Yeshua, and the words We the People on his right forearm, as well as the coat of arms of the 187th Infantry Regiment on his back, including its motto Ne Desit Virtus or "Let Valor Not Fail".[190] In 2024, Hegseth said that concerns over his Jerusalem cross tattoo caused the District of Columbia National Guard to pull him from a mission to guard the inauguration of President Joe Biden and helped spur him to retire from the military.[191] According to the fact checking website Snopes, at least three of Hegseth's tattoos depict symbols associated with Christian nationalist views, though Hegseth may not adhere to those views himself.[192]

Zombiepirate@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 354d

He knows what signals he's sending.

Well that was a poor choice of words, but the point stands.

Marshezezz@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 9 pts · 354d

[ removed ]

tired_n_bored@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 354d (1 reply)

No way 🤯🤯🤯

JasonDJ@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 354d

Talks like suck. Walks like duck. Is it a defense secretary?

xc2215x@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 354d

Knowing Pete, no shock here.

vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 354d

You know the saying "If you go for revenge dig two holes"? Well my want for bloody and perpetual retribution against these pathetic profligates is far more encompassing, I'd need at least 2 quarry mines to handle the sheer amount of bodies I wish I could create.

Seriously fuck these shit stains, if I found them on the side of the road I'd get a rock instead of my cars medkit.