There is a story we tell about America ― one that twists together the conflicting narratives of patriotism, guns and God. But it’s also worth noting that the toxic brand of evangelicalism that has kneecapped American politics, the full merging of patriotism and Christianity, would not have been possible without Graham’s relentless pursuit of civil religion. And in Graham, political power and spiritual power became one. That plus his penchant for political power meant that Graham tied a slipknot of faith and politics that is now strangling American society. In conflating faith with patriotism, Graham created a perniciously political civil religion that is more about virtue-signaling than any actual service to God or country.

Source: Huffington Post February 22, 2018 18:11 UTC