Religious scholar: US evangelicals risk civil war

US religious scholar Bradley Onishi believes that the danger of civil war in the USA is realistic. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper, he sees the political striving for power by evangelicals, right-wing Catholics and other Christian movements as the reason for this. "In addition to the oligarchs, i.e. the ultra-rich such as Elon Musk or Peter Thiel, Christian nationalists also have an enormous influence on American politics," says Onishi. Trump had already specifically courted them in his first presidential campaign in 2016.

Onishi, who used to be an evangelical pastor himself but then turned away from the movement, even sees "the beginning of Christian fascism" in the USA. This has become a broad and powerful movement. "A movement that openly opposes democracy, pluralism and diversity. It is prepared to use violent and authoritarian means to create a fascist form of government and a corresponding political and cultural system in the United States."

Right-wing Christians at all levels of power

The influence of right-wing Christians is now noticeable in all areas of power: "Vice President J. D. Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, are Christian nationalists. And the Supreme Court is also dominated by Christian nationalists, all of whom are Catholic representatives of this movement."

Onishi cites the actions of the US immigration police ICE as an example of radicalised politics. "ICE's actions are inhumane and are not directed against violent or dangerous criminals. The agency is targeting anyone it can find - US citizens, green card holders, even children - creating a climate of fear." (KNA)