Evangelicals: Who They Are and Why They Support Trump

Evangelicals are a diverse group of Protestant Christians characterized by several key beliefs and practices:

1. Conversionism: Evangelicals believe in the necessity of being "born again" through a personal conversion experience and developing a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. Biblicism: They have a high regard for the Bible as the ultimate authority for their faith and conduct.

3. Crucicentrism: Evangelicals emphasize the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as central to human redemption.

4. Activism: They believe in expressing and demonstrating their faith through missionary work, evangelism, and social reform efforts.

5. Interdenominational: Evangelicals can be found across various Protestant denominations and churches worldwide.

Some other important characteristics of evangelicals include:

• They emphasize the importance of sharing their faith (the "good news" or gospel) with others.

• Evangelicals believe in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

• They often engage in regular Bible reading and participate in church activities.

• In many countries, especially in Latin America, the term "evangelical" is often used synonymously with "Protestant".
  

Politically, white evangelicals in the United States have become a significant voting bloc, often associated with conservative values and the Republican Party since the late 1970s. However, it's important to note that evangelical beliefs are primarily theological rather than political. Evangelicals are a global movement, with significant presence in North America, Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia. The movement has its roots in 18th-century revivals in Britain and North America, with figures like John Wesley and George Whitefield playing important roles in its development.

Evangelicals have consistently made up around 25-30% of Trump's base and mainly consist of white Protestants. Black evangelicals likely make up less than 5% of his base, and possibly significantly less. It's important to note that while Black evangelicals often share similar theological positions with white evangelicals, their political affiliations and voting patterns tend to be very different.

While exact percentages can vary depending on the specific poll and how "evangelical" is defined, here are some key reasons why evangelicals are supporting him:

1. Supreme Court appointments: Trump's appointments of conservative justices, particularly to the Supreme Court, have been highly valued by evangelicals who hope these justices will support their positions on issues like abortion and religious liberty.

2. Abortion stance: Trump's strong anti-abortion position and policies align with many evangelicals' views.

3. Israel policy: Trump's strong support for Israel, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, resonates with many evangelicals.

4. Religious liberty: Many evangelicals believe Trump protects their religious freedoms, particularly in areas where they feel these freedoms conflict with LGBTQ+ rights or healthcare mandates.

5. Cultural conservatism: Trump's rhetoric often aligns with evangelical concerns about perceived threats to traditional values.

6. Opposition to progressive policies: Many evangelicals see Trump as a bulwark against liberal or progressive policies they oppose.

7. Perception of authenticity: Some evangelicals appreciate what they see as Trump's straightforward communication style, even if they don't always agree with his personal behavior.

8. Pragmatism: Some evangelical leaders argue that while Trump may not personify their values, he advances their policy goals effectively.

It's important to note that evangelical support for Trump is not universal. There are evangelicals who oppose him based on character issues, concerns about his policies, or other factors. Additionally, support can vary based on factors like age, education level, and specific denominational affiliation.

The vast majority of evangelical leaders and organizations explicitly reject white supremacy as incompatible with Christian teachings. However, the relationship between some evangelical Trump supporters and issues of race is complicated:

1. Most evangelicals supporting Trump would strongly deny believing in white supremacy. Their support is typically based on policy alignments related to abortion, religious liberty, judicial appointments, etc.

2. Some studies have shown correlations between racial attitudes and support for Trump among white evangelicals, but correlation does not imply causation or universal applicability.

3. Critics argue that some of Trump's rhetoric and policies have appealed to or emboldened white nationalists, creating a dilemma for evangelical supporters.

4. There's ongoing debate within evangelical circles about the intersection of faith, politics, and racial justice.

5. Some evangelical leaders have called for their community to more actively confront racism and promote racial reconciliation.

6. Younger evangelicals tend to be more concerned about racial justice issues than older generations.

7. Black evangelicals, who make up a significant portion of the evangelical population, generally have very different political leanings and views on these issues compared to white evangelicals.

It's crucial to avoid overgeneralization. Evangelical Trump supporters have diverse views on race, and many actively work against racism. At the same time, some scholars and critics argue that certain evangelical political alignments have inadvertently supported policies with racially disparate impacts.