Opening day is in the books.
Opening day is in the books!
Here are the key takeaways from the day for those who are tracking the intersection of religion and politics in Wyoming right now:
Abortion stance spurs leadership dustup in the Wyoming Senate. We flagged this one because it was one member of the body invoking his own Christian faith to declare another member of the body “not Christian enough.” We wanted to remind the bringer of the motion (legislative decorum dictates that members not use proper names on the floor so we are replicating that process here) that there are more commandments in the Ten Commandments than just the one he cited. In this case, we would all do well to remember, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
‘God led us here’: Religious, emotional first day of Wyoming legislative session. Because the whole world seems to have turned to sports betting, we wonder what the odds are that this session in the House might see an altar call. Prior to today, all seasoned legislative watchers would have given long odds for such a thing ever to take place in a chamber of the Wyoming Legislature. Austere, august, and traditional body that it is, its members have long believed in small government and the separation of church and state. But no more! Which is why you might want to check out the Andrew Whitehead explainer on Christian nationalism we shared earlier.
We’re also recommending some books and research and resources in case you’re interested in understanding more:
One Leader Under God: The Connection Between Authoritarianism and Christian Nationalism in America
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
Also check out the interview with du Mez this week: White Christian nationalists are poised to remake America in their image during Trump’s second term, author says
We’ll be back as often as we can to highlight what’s happening, what bills you might want to watch, and how you can speak out. Christian nationalists are poised to remake not just America, but also Wyoming. Our Founding Fathers called for the separation of church and state for good reason. It is time for Wyoming people of faith reclaim that separation.