“Would it be correct to say that they (MAGA Republicans) are not religious simply because they do not attend church?”

You answered no to this question. I would answer yes. This is the debate I frequently get into with fundamentalist Christians, who I believe do not authentically represent the faith. As I have said elsewhere, there is a difference between being a Christian and being Christian. Being a Christian is merely a label. Being Christian is a lifestyle based upon love and acceptance, tolerance, compassion, concern for the needy, poor and disadvantaged and all the other things that we admire in the example of the life of Christ.

I am a transgender woman and highly progressive. I also consider myself Christian, which to me is a commitment to a lifestyle, caring for and helping all the marginalized members of society. I am not a member because of identity politics, or because it provides a sense of comfort in the face of death. I am a Christian because it is the right way to live. People who live the lifestyle exemplify the highest standards of human morals and behavior.

Are the statistics you cite correct? I have no doubt that they are in spite of the fact that I am one of those regular church attendees who also voted (though not for Trump and his ilk). I also believe that the phenomenon you describe is in fact going on. I am disgusted (perhaps saddened and disappointed is a better term, because forgiveness is also one of the anchors of true Christianity) by the attitude of many “good“ people in the church who merely give lip service to the highest ideals of Christianity. Their actions are frequently in conflict with the standards of the faith they profess. But that does not mean that the core values are irrelevant, harmful, or arbitrary. Authentic Christianity is life-affirming.

We may be a minority and often invisible in the current discourse, but those of us who quietly live an authentically Christian lifestyle are some of the most progressive humanitarian people you would ever meet. We walk the talk, not just give it lip service. We reject the prosperity gospel, the claim to exclusivity by the faith in understanding the divine, the intolerant literal fundamentalists and all the rest who view the Bible as somehow the inerrant word of God, dictated by Him to man and therefore an unassailable absolute authority. We understand that much of it is culturally dependent, archaic, ignorant and misogynistic, written by very human men trying their best to understand and explain the world and it’s relationship to the divine. They got a lot wrong and much of what they recorded is misguided at best and cruel at worst, having no applicability or relevance for today’s society. Rather, we look to the higher principles that motivate us to lead sacrificial, life-affirming lives in the service of others.

I have shared in other forums the story of my good friend, the Catholic priest with whom I served many years in prison. When people were engaged in theological debates about the meaning of the Bible, they would often approach him looking for resolution of the dispute. After politely listening to them for awhile, he would say, “I have summarized the Bible on my business card in three words. It is 99.9% of what you need to know. Get that right and then we can discuss the incidental details.“ What did it say? “Love. No buts…“ invariably one of the people to whom he was talking would say something like, “But he is wrong about his interpretation of this verse.“ My friend would just smile and say, “What part of no buts do you not understand?” This would go on for awhile until a light bulb went on and the people would slink away to think about what absolute love without condition, judgment, intolerance, sanctimoniousness, and self-righteousness would really look like. Love. No buts. It is that hard and that easy.

If those who claim to be Christian would stop using it as a self identifying label to indicate the tribe to which they belong, wallowing in a smug sense of superiority and self-righteousness, and started actually practicing its principles, the world would be a far better place and we would not be having this discussion. I think you go too far, however, when you use a broad brush to dismiss the Christian faith in its purest sense as a comforting mythology, rather than acknowledging that it is here to stay and that many find a deep, abiding truth in its principles.

What needs to happen is for those who are truly Christian to reassert themselves and call out and condemn the hypocrites for what they truly are, emphasizing the purest principles to which we are all called, regardless of our personal beliefs.

You can push back against the MAGA movement without dismissing the principles of faith embedded in the Constitution. Christianity is not going anywhere. A reinvention (or to use a Christian term, revival) is what is required, not summary dismissal of the foundation (no matter how distorted it has become) of the belief of millions.

This is one of the reasons the current political and culture wars are so intense. Progressive Americans consider Christians to be unthinking, narrow minded bigots, who reject science and logic. Many Christians view liberals as godless heathens trying to destroy the family, decency and the fabric of society. Neither group is correct. Making Christianity the center of the debate distracts from the real issues which have nothing to do with the foundation of the faith exemplified in the life of a humble prophet 2000 years ago. Indeed, even those who view Christianity as a quaint mythology that has outlived its usefulness cannot argue with the standards exhibited in the ministry of Jesus. Would that the rest of us could be half as thoughtful and loving.

I rarely cite Bible verses because often they are used by fundamentalists to cut off debate by claiming they are absolute standards that cannot be questioned no matter how absurd the principle. However, there are timeless truths contained within the Bible. I believe it is appropriate to consider what they have to teach us. Galatians 5:22-23 describes a lifestyle which I think we can all embrace. If as a society we actually tried to practice these principles, life would be so much fuller for all of us.. What does this verse say?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”

I think we can all agree on this as a reasonable guide for our conduct regardless of our faith or lack thereof. Now if we could just put the principles into effect in the public arena and stop making the discussion about Christianity per se. It is the lives of real people that are important, not a misleading and often misunderstood label that has become so divisive.