In his 2007 book "Heroic Conservatism: Why Republicans Need to Embrace America's Ideals (And Why They Deserve to Fail If They Don't),"
In his 2018 Washington Post Article Trump exposes the hypocrisy of Christian Republicans,
he pointed out the hypocrisy of many evangelical positions and Christianity.
e.g. Treatment of refugees conflicts with the bibles requirement to care for the vulnerable stranger.
Comments in a NY Times article after his death.:
Despite his Republican affiliation, Mr. Gerson was never much for partisan infighting, and his political views often mixed ideas from the left and the right.
"I think the reality here is that scrubbing public discourse of religion or religious ideas would remove one of the main sources of social justice in our history"
He says "Strangely, evangelicals have broadly chosen the company of Trump supporters who deny any role for character in politics and define any useful villainy as virtue."
"Christians seeking social influence should do so not by joining interest groups that fight for their narrow rights — and certainly not those animated by hatred, fear, phobias, vengeance or violence. Rather, they should seek to be ambassadors of a kingdom of hope, mercy, justice and grace. This is a high calling — and a test that most of us (myself included) are always finding new ways to fail. But it is the revolutionary ideal set by Jesus of Nazareth, who still speaks across the sea of years."
"Scrubbing public discourse of religion or religious ideas would remove one of the main sources of social justice in our history. Without an appeal to justice rooted in faith, there would have been no abolition movement, no civil rights movement, no pro-life movement."
"I come back to the evangelicals repeatedly, not only because I share an evangelical background and resent those who dishonor it, but because the overwhelming support of evangelicals is the single largest reason that Trump possesses power in the first place. It was their malignant approach to politics that forced our country into its current nightmare. As white nationalists, conspiracy theorists, misogynists, anarchists, criminals and terrorists took hold of the Republican Party, many evangelicals blessed it under the banner ‘Jesus Saves.’"
I am still finding it difficult to fully embrace the Democratic Party, which denies the American progression toward justice and inclusion in other ways. But I could not advise an idealistic and ambitious young person to join today’s GOP because her ambition would be likely to destroy her idealism. Most Republican leaders can no longer be trusted with the moral education of the young on the central moral challenge of our history. Elected Republicans who are not bigots are generally cowards in the face of bigotry. And that is a shocking, horrible thing."
I am still finding it difficult to fully embrace the Democratic Party, which denies the American progression toward justice and inclusion in other ways. But I could not advise an idealistic and ambitious young person to join today’s GOP because her ambition would be likely to destroy her idealism. Most Republican leaders can no longer be trusted with the moral education of the young on the central moral challenge of our history. Elected Republicans who are not bigots are generally cowards in the face of bigotry. And that is a shocking, horrible thing.”
"Many have claimed to feel Christ’s comfort in their suffering, his guidance in their confusion, his company in their loneliness and his welcome at the hour of their death. If this is not the work of God, it is among the strangest developments in the human story.
It is difficult for me to comprehend why so many American evangelicals have rejected the splendor and romance of their calling and settled for the cultural and political resentments of the hard right."
Read/Listen to Gerson's Washington Post Opinions Essay;
Gerson goes into detail about the inconsistency between Jesus and the conservative political movement.
Trump should fill Christians with rage. How come he doesn't? | Washington Post Sept 1, 2022.
was eloquent and incisive.
He opens this new essay by saying he's concerned by "the perverse and dangerous liberties" many American believers have taken with their faith. They're veering toward white authoritarian populism, an alliance that could threaten democracy.
"Jesus focused on the elements of Judaism that united all people: the love of God, the love of neighbors, enemies and strangers alike. Jesus welcomed social outcasts and praised religious and ethnic outsiders. He warned those who wanted to be bigshots that they'd be the least in his kingdom, and said the servants would be the greatest.
A summary of his August 2013 Washington Post Article Saying goodbye to my child, the youngster "Parenthood offers many lessons in patience and sacrifice," he wrote. "But ultimately, it is a lesson in humility. The very best thing about your life is a short stage in someone else's story. And it is enough."
the soft bigotry of low expectations" in education policy.
He admitted to bouts of depression.
One comment suggested one cause was he was not able to overcome Dick Chaney and Karl Rove's influence with Bush on the Iraq war and other issues.
"When Michael occasionally sat with the late Mark Shields on PBS Newshour, their civilized discourse was a model of mutual respect between good men with differing views.""
