The Crisis of White Evangelicalism and its Impact on Democracy

White evangelical Protestantism has been moving towards a MAGA mindset, abandoning core Christian values in favor of political interests. This shift, driven by grassroots members rather than leadership, poses a threat to both liberal democracy and the witness of Jesus Christ. By contrast, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah has embraced a conservative Christianity committed to Madisonian-style pluralism. This unexpected model provides hope for a conservative Christianity that can coexist with liberal democracy. While violence from extremist factions is concerning, the larger issue lies in the need for white evangelicals to rediscover and uphold the core values of Christianity.