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Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

As a ‘Seismic Shift’ Fractures Evangelicals, an Arkansas Pastor Leaves Home

Author:     Ruth Graham
Source:     The New York Times
Publication Date:     May 9, 2022
 Link: As a ‘Seismic Shift’ Fractures Evangelicals, an Arkansas Pastor Leaves Home
Stephan:   This story is an early report of an emerging trend that I see as quite important. White evangelicals are the core demographic of MAGAt world, and they are beginning to schism. Add this to the fact that educated younger people are dropping their involvement with evangelical churches, and often Christianity (at least the christofacist cult that has become Christianity in the U.S. altogether). This, I suspect will be reflected in how those falling away vote in November, and could significantly impact the Republican Party's success.
Kevin Thompson in an old cemetery where he spent a lot of time before leaving for California.
Credit: September Dawn Bottoms / The New York Times

FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS — In the fall of 2020, Kevin Thompson delivered a sermon about the gentleness of God. At one point, he drew a quick contrast between a loving, accessible God and remote, inaccessible celebrities. Speaking without notes, his Bible in his hand, he reached for a few easy examples: Oprah, Jay-Z, Tom Hanks.

Mr. Thompson could not tell how his sermon was received. The church he led had only recently returned to meeting in person. Attendance was sparse, and it was hard to appreciate if his jokes were landing, or if his congregation — with family groups spaced three seats apart, and others watching online — remained engaged.

So he was caught off guard when two church members expressed alarm about the passing reference to Mr. Hanks. A young woman texted him, concerned; another member suggested the reference to Mr. Hanks proved Mr. Thompson did not care about the issue of […]

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