Readers React: It isn’t very Christ-like for Christians to support Donald Trump

To the editor: Identity crisis? Evangelical Christians certainly have one. (“Why evangelicals are splintering and what it means for the GOP,” Feb. 14)

Ever since the beginning of the eternal presidential campaign, I have been appalled at the support Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) get from supposedly Christian people. Cruz sees nohting wrong in shutting down the government and restricting equal rights for groups like gay people. Trump has demeaned women in the most vile terms, insulted minorities and uses profanity.

How Christians can support people who so overtly contradict many of their core beliefs of loving your fellow man and emulating Christ is way beyond an identity crisis. It is a denial of all that they claim to believe.

Darrell Waterman, San Bernardino

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To the editor: This article explained well the dilemma facing evangelicals, who are torn over whom to back in the presidential election.

Here’s what I’m torn about: How come God and the Internal Revenue Service allow these organizations to consider themselves tax exempt? After all, one of the two voices of authority (the IRS) wrote that a 501(c)(3) organization “may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.”

Those are the exact words, I swear to God.

Russ Woody, Studio City

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To the editor: Evangelicals’ outsized role in deciding elections over the past four decades evokes the timeless take of ancient Rome‘s Seneca the Younger: “Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.”

Where Cruz and Rubio so compulsively wear religion on their sleeves yet trail the unquestionably brilliant candidate many suspect of privately disregarding religion, perhaps little has changed in 20 centuries. The world-wise Trump may merely be paying lip service to religion, but he appreciates its utility.

Aaron Mills, Solana Beach, Calif.

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