2016 July 3^rd

Cal Thomas in his column this morning attempts to defend Donald Trump’s conversion to Christianity. That defense is a major challenge even for Cal Thomas who should surely have the authority to speak on the subject. He is past vice president of the Moral Majority. (Some have claimed that the Moral Majority was only moral by their own definition and was not a majority by anyone’s definition.)

The problem Trump presents to Thomas comes from some of his theologically incorrect comments. Being politically incorrect gives him the cover he needs to be nasty—witness his mocking of a handicapped reporter—but he might not be forgiven for being theologically incorrect by those on the right who worship orthodoxy, and the fundamentalists surely do worship orthodoxy.

 Some criticism of Trump’s remarks about religion are silly; he said two Corinthians instead of Second Corinthians. Oh dear! Other Trump comments are not so easily overlooked. This is from an interview: Moderator Frank Luntz asked Trump whether he has ever asked God for forgiveness for his actions.

“I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don’t think so,” he said. “I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don’t.” Trump said that while he hasn’t asked God for forgiveness, he does participate in Holy Communion. “When I drink my little wine — which is about the only wine I drink — and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed,” he said. “I think in terms of ‘let’s go on and let’s make it right.”

That won’t cut it! Neither will this comment from Thomas’ own interview with Trump where he says, “ (sic) Jesus is someone I can think about for security and confidence. Somebody I can revere in terms of bravery… because I consider the Christian religion so important someone I can totally rely on in my own mind.” Then Thomas writes, “…but this is not the language most evangelicals consider evidence of a religious conversion.” No it isn’t; it isn’t even close! It is close to gibberish.

Thomas then admits that, “(Evangelicals)  project their faith on many who do not share it and approve of that faith only in Republicans, never in Democrats some of whom demonstrate more knowledge of Scripture and practice its teachings better than some Republicans.” Some Democrats do indeed do that. But admitting that fact will lose Cal Thomas his membership card in the right wing fundamentalist establishment.

Thomas ends with this comment, “Think of it this way. If you are about to have surgery wouldn’t you want the most competent doctor you can find regardless of his faith? That should also be the standard for electing a President.” Well Cal you sure as hell  just eliminated Donald J. Trump!