this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2026
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Since becoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth has found no shortage of ways to bring his strand of conservative evangelicalism into the Pentagon.

He hosts monthly Christian worship services for employees. His department’s promotional videos have displayed Bible verses alongside military footage. In speeches and interviews, he often argues the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation and troops should embrace God, potentially risking the military’s secular mission and hard-won pluralism.

Now the defense secretary’s Christian rhetoric has taken on new meaning after the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran, an Islamic theocracy.

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[–] elbiter@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago

That guy is anything but christian...

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 points 14 hours ago

Whenever I hear some "leader" start extolling any religious nonsense, I immediately conclude that they are either a lying conman, or have a lukewarm IQ. There can't be any in between.

[–] kandoh@reddthat.com 1 points 14 hours ago

It's pretty incredible how the promise of eternal paradise after death turns people into utter shit lords.

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 1 points 14 hours ago

Religion is a mental illness and by far the greatest threat humanity is facing.

[–] Sonicdemon86@lemmy.world 35 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Just call it like it is. This is a crusade, just not sanctioned by the pope this time.

[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 3 points 15 hours ago

If I recall, the first crusade was called because the Byzantine empire wanted help getting some stuff back from the Turks. Alexius Comnenus just wanted some military assistance, I don't think there were crazy religious undertones at that point (at least not beyond what was normal for that time). Then the Pope got involved and some wackos in Western Europe took things WAY too far.

It's Ya'll-Qaeda's crusade.

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 5 points 1 day ago

Hopefully the crusaders go into the desert, and never return. Alas, the likes of Pete Hegseth wouldn't dare to set foot in any place where he could lose it.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Wait, is the "Secretary of War" admitting it's a war?

[–] Itdidnttrickledown@lemmy.world 60 points 1 day ago (3 children)

A fake christian who just uses it to manipulate. I'm not christian but I recognize a manipulator and the soft brained snowflakes who blindly follow anyone making the right grunts and hoots of their faith.

[–] Throbbing_banjo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 35 points 1 day ago (4 children)

My brother in Baphomet, they're all fake. Religion exists solely to manufacture consent for authority. That's it.

[–] waddle_dee@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Religion, government, business, a non profit, it doesn't matter what it is, people will assume a position of authority in whatever power structure that has space, and corrupt it. It's not unique to religion. It's only because religion has been corrupted by people desiring power, that people hate religion. But in that same vein, the fight should be about dismantling power structures and creating equality. Which, would be in line with some religions, ironically.

[–] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (10 children)

No, in your list only religious people told me I was going to hell when I was 12 because I wouldn’t disown my lesbian parents. The kind of corruption and evil entitlement that people get is indeed unique to religion.

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Nope, my MAGA coworker hates gay people and is staunchly Athiest.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ask him if he's also pro life? If he is he has to support gay people. They get less abortions than anyone!

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm sure he'd pivot away to something else, considering that he pivoted from talking about trans rights to try and say "I shouldn't have to worry about walking with my daughters down the street and walking into two dudes making out." Basically suggesting that gay and trans people are the source of moral decay in the U.S.

The guy is the literal poster child of boomer moral decay, by the way. Digustingly obese, entitled, racist, MAGA.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

To be fair, I wasn't being serious. That's a Cliff Cash joke

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Well, I'm an idiot and sometimes I need help 😂

[–] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Your coworker being the religious equivalent of a log cabin Republican doesn’t change anything as far as I can see, the MAGA movement is still fueled by Christian overtones.

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The kind of corruption and evil entitlement that people get is indeed unique to religion.

That sure as hell sounds like goalposts shifting to me.

[–] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I’m not goal post shifting. Nor am I interested in having a conversation about whose asshole opinion stinks worse. Have a good day.

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

You absolutely did, but let's take your statement to its logical conclusion.

Roughly 85% of the world is religious. By your definition, they are simply all evil. So why then would you care about Venezuela being bombed, Iran being bombed, literally anywhere being bombed — they're evil! Anywhere that has religious people is fair game, because religion is evil.

It's almost like making blanket generalizations about most of the world is just fucking stupid. Weird how that worked out.

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[–] Pricklesthemagicfish@reddthat.com 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] waddle_dee@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Can't miss out if you dedicate yourself to all the religions!

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Then you die and find Anubis weighing your heart and he's all "Surprise, Motherfucker!".

[–] waddle_dee@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

And I'm like, "Huh, I figured pirating was gonna weigh something but that seems a little much"

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

Weighs as much as the bits that are written to disk.

[–] HalfAFrisbee@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

No true Scotsman.

[–] thefluffiest@feddit.nl 31 points 1 day ago

So we have American Christian zealots and Israeli Jewish zealots together fight Iranian Muslim zealots.

Meanwhile the rest of the world just watches this circus of idiots and wonders how we ever ended up here

[–] leaky_shower_thought@feddit.nl 41 points 1 day ago (3 children)

“We’re fighting religious fanatics who seek a nuclear capability in order for some religious Armageddon,” Hegseth said of Iranian leaders. “But from my perspective, I mean, obviously I’m a man of faith who encourages our troops to lean into their faith, rely on God.”

i believe more that he is a man of spirits than faith.

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think he is projecting what he wants to do: Using American nukes to cause the rapture.

[–] leaky_shower_thought@feddit.nl 2 points 15 hours ago

playing the victim card, now in religion flavor

[–] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

As Johnnie Walker 2:5 says…

[–] resipsaloquitur@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] Vandals_handle@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

3:17, St Pats and all

[–] Tronn4@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Miller High Life 4:20

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Holy projection... Pretty sure Iran would only want nukes for the protection a country gets by simply having them. I've never heard anything about them wanting nukes for a religious Armageddon.

On the other hand, Hegseth and others have been very fucking clear that this shit is about stupid biblical prophecy.

[–] leaky_shower_thought@feddit.nl 3 points 15 hours ago

yeah, it's the pot calling the kettle black on the gospel of nuke.

[–] Soulphite@reddthat.com 10 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Pete Kegsbreath is as Christian as Kenneth Copeland... which is to say exactly nill. It's a facade. They're both exactly opposite of Christian.

Anti-Christ.

[–] CXORA@aussie.zone -1 points 1 day ago

All these millions of Christians who believe what they believe and support them must be fake christians too, huh? Sure is lucky youre here to tell us who is and isnt a real Christian.

[–] notsure@fedia.io 1 points 1 day ago

I would argue he is more so, but only due to popular demand.

[–] notsure@fedia.io 5 points 1 day ago

....and he sayeth unto them, "fight no more, you are brothers" was apparently lost on the lowly maggotty species of humanity...

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