For many years now, Christian right groups have been helping guide the agenda of conservative Republicans in hopes to reverse progressive achievements like gay rights, pro-environment legislation and Medicare support, among others. Trump’s win in November was also seen as a win for the religious right and a step toward actualizing their beliefs. As a result, the usually quite religious left his begun to take a more public stance against the political dogma of Christian conservatives.
Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III joined Boston Public Radio to discuss this growing movement, which the New York Times recently called the “religious resistance.”
“I think the children of those who were part of the evangelical movement back in the 60s and 70s have thrown their hands up and said this stuff that we preach on Sundays, we aren’t living it out,” said Price.
“The compassion, the hospitality, the welcoming, notions of health care, the notions of trying to eradicate poverty and the disparities of life, they don’t see their parents actually living and acting it out," he continued. "They have thrown their hands up and said if you aren’t going to do anything about it, we will.”
Monroe called this growing movement a “great change” and a way for people to see that just because you are religious, doesn’t mean you don’t believe in evolution and climate change. “It is quite wonderful,” she said.
Monroe also believes that the growing number of outspoken liberal Christian leaders like Rev. William Barber, who is the president of the North Carolina NAACP, are providing an entry point for Millennials who have felt disenfranchised by Christian conservative beliefs to reconnect with their religion.
“Young Millennials are looking to have their faith affirmed, and I think by doing this, we will get some folks not only to come back to the church, but we will develop a more progressive social justice theology and movement,” Monroe said. “This is such a great step."
