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The American Evangelical Right

Nearly a quarter of the US are evangelical Christians, and their political influence has never been greater. As the Presidential election approaches, Jonathan Thomas investigates.

It's said that perhaps a quarter of the US population could claim in some ways to be evangelical. Among white evangelicals, the overwhelming majority vote Republican. The influence of evangelical Christians on the country's government and policies has arguably never been greater, and so as the Presidential election approaches Jonathan Thomas speaks to some key religious leaders to understand their beliefs and hopes for the future. Pastor Mark Burns is a black televangelist with a direct line to the Oval Office; Dr Russell Moore maintains a somewhat more sceptical view about the involvement of evangelicals in politics. He is a key figure in the Southern Baptist Convention and was once described by President Trump as "a nasty guy with no heart". Journalist Sarah Posner, author of a recent book on the evangelical right, 'Unholy', comments on the recent rise of evangelicals within the Republican party, whilst Welsh historian David Ceri Jones offers an historical perspective on the various strands of evavangelicism within the USA.

28 minutes

Last on

Tue 11 Aug 2020 05:30

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  • Sun 9 Aug 2020 09:00
  • Tue 11 Aug 2020 05:30

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