After four years in power, Matt Bevin, the governor of Kentucky who never missed an opportunity to promote conservative Christianity while on the clock, has been defeated. A Republican with Donald Trump‘s full endorsement just lost the state of Kentucky.
Over the years, Bevin has been one disaster after another on matters of church/state separation (in addition to everything else). He has said that faith-based foster homes that receive taxpayer funding should be allowed to proselytize to children in their care, said prayer could prevent violence, responded to a mass shooting by declaring a day of prayer, proclaimed it the “Year of the Bible” in 2017, blamed the violence in Charlottesville on a lack of forced Christianity in public schools, repeatedly encouraged kids to bring bibles to school, gave away a state park to a church for free, and called county clerk Kim Davis an “inspiration” for violating the law.
He’s a fan of Ark Encounter and didn’t appeal a judge’s decision to give a tourism-related tax rebate worth around $18 million over ten years to Ken Ham‘s ministry even though they were discriminating in hiring.
Just a couple of weeks ago, he invited Christian leaders to his mansion for a prayer rally before the election.
Question:
Did Bevin’s hyper-religiosity play a role in his loss (in addition to other political factors)?
Do you think Bevin is really that hyper-devout or did he see this as playing to what he thought was his base?
As the number of religious people continues to decline in America, is Bevin’s defeat any kind of wake-up call for other politicians to stop using religion as a political football?
Bonus Question: Ever been to Ham’s Ark Experience? What did you think?
Socrates the Cat
Article URL : https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/11/05/kentucky-gop-governor-matt-bevin-a-christian-nationalist-loses-re-election-bid/