In colossally contradictory messages, Donald Trump recently ended one online post with “Praise be to Allah” while another image showed him as a heavenly, Christ-like figure capable of healing with a divine touch. To my mind, these are just a continuation of his fumbled attempts at describing his vague religious beliefs throughout his political career.
I’ve always been amazed that he draws political support from the “religious” right-wing when his actions consistently show his commitment to religious principles is about as deep as his tan, which appears to be sprayed on directly from a can. But regardless of his personal views, he’s turned loose a group of religious zealots whose mission is to move America towards a Christian theocracy willing to severely restrict citizens’ non-religious lives. (A theocracy is defined as “a form of government… ruled by religious leaders or officials believed to be divinely guided.”)
In a May 2025 executive order, Trump established a Religious Liberty Commission composed of about 15 members, most of whom are far-right fundamentalists. Their drive for “religious liberty” is sparked by a belief that Christians have somehow suffered discrimination from government policies. Their agenda supports programs which place Christian fundamentalism as the guiding philosophy for all government officials and decisions. I see it as a movement just as anti-American as RFK Jr. bringing back deadly diseases like measles.
Last month, commission members voiced their wish lists for “religious liberty: “a Presidential Medal of Freedom for the baker who refused to prepare a cake for a same-sex couple; DOJ support for Amish parents fighting vaccine requirements and Catholic nuns hoping to refuse care for hospice patients with controversial gender identities. But it was the chairman of the commission, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who trolled traditional religious freedom organizations with a stark suggestion. He would like to establish a national hotline with a standard recorded message: “There is no separation of church and state.”
Relying on the First Amendment, President Thomas Jefferson helped establish a firm concept of separation in an 1802 letter to a group of Connecticut Baptists who complained about the state using tax money to support a Congregational church. He stated that the amendment’s ban on establishing a state religion or interfering with the free exercise of religion built “a wall of separation between Church & State.” The Supreme Court (SC) relied on the primary author of the Declaration of Independence for guidance for almost 200 years, generally affirming separation through decisions like the one banning state-mandated Christian prayers in schools (1962).
But the John Roberts Supreme Court began returning decisions at odds with Jefferson’s interpretation. First, in 2014, they allowed a corporation (Hobby Lobby) to withhold one type of standard health care coverage (birth control) from employees because it conflicted with the owners’ religious beliefs. They also allowed a town (Greece, New York) to begin all its government meetings with a Christian prayer. Next came a decision allowing religious schools access to taxpayer funds for maintenance, just like public schools. Now, taxpayer funds are used in multiple states to help private religious schools get established and remain open.
Today, Supreme Court decisions effectively allow parents to choose what their children learn in public schools by “opting out” of classes or segments they oppose for religious reasons. Previously, if parents objected to a part of a curriculum, they were expected to pay for a private school that would meet their religious demands.
A government that has “no separation of church and state” is a theocracy. Two modern examples of theocracies stand out: Iran and Afghanistan. The U.S. has gone to war with both, while claiming that their oppressive theocracies deny basic human rights to women and religious minorities. America’s current move towards theocracy after attacking those in foreign countries is just as ironic as the Pilgrims and Puritans coming to America in pursuit of religious freedom, and then expelling and banishing any who questioned their religious direction or practice.
History is littered with failed theocracies, including the kings and queens of Europe and Asia who ruled by divine right. Although the recent No Kings rallies made little specific mention of religion, the idea that Trump would be a divine king and rule without the consent of the government or its people was at their heart. The Religious Liberty Commission is another Orwellian twist of words. Religious liberty is fine as long as it adheres to conservative Christian views. But, if that’s the case, it doesn’t actually qualify as “liberty” at all.
Allen Woods is a freelance writer, author of the Revolutionary-era historical fiction novel “The Sword and Scabbard,” and Greenfield resident. His column appears regularly on a Saturday. Comments are welcome here or at awoods2846@gmail.com.