How Religion is Rewriting Texas Political Strategies

In recent years, Texas politics have become more close to religion than ever, and this could have a great impact on the next elections, according to different experts.

Kut News recently reported that in First Baptist Dallas church, Pastor Robert Jeffress gave a sermon about politics and religion.

“Government is God’s creation. Genesis Chapter 9. After the flood God gave to Noah the building block of government,” Jeffress told the congregation of around 16,000 members.

And with Texas politicians pushing to teach bible lessons at public schools and displaying the 10 Commandments in classrooms, it is clear that religion, and particularly Christianity is a top priority for officials.

This is a trend that began in the 70s and has continued to this day.

“The Christian right didn’t just happen organically,” Andrea Hatcher, a professor of political science at The University of the South, told Kut News. “It was a creation of religious elites and political elites that saw how religion could be leveraged by the Republican Party for political power to benefit them both.”

This relationship has had significant policy impacts, including the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a ruling that many critics argue was heavily influenced by religious convictions.

However, there are politicians who think that Chrisitanity is being misinterpreted and twisted by officials.

“When I open my Bible, I see 2,000 verses about economic justice and zero about abortion,” Rep. James Talarico, a seminary student and a Democrat, said. “I see hundreds of verses about welcoming the stranger, lifting up the poor. Treating your neighbors with respect, healing the sick.”

He also said that there is no “biblical evidence” to “use Christianity to hurt LGBTQ people.”

These divergent interpretations of Christianity have created tensions within both political and religious spheres.

“What’s happened is you’ve seen an increase in Christian fundamentalism, and the thing about fundamentalism is everything’s black and white,” UT-Austin government professor Eric McDaniel told Kut News. “There’s no discussion of gray areas.”