Progressive evangelical group says ideas shared by pastors and amplified by defense secretary are ‘very disturbing

 

 

A video shared by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ignited widespread outrage, as it features several pastors advocating for the controversial idea that women should no longer have voting rights. This sentiment, part of a CNN segment, involves discussions by Christian nationalists including Pastor Doug Wilson.

Wilson, a co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) based in Idaho, expresses his desire for America and ideally the worl to be Christian-led. Another pastor, Toby Sumpter, envisions a voting structure where decisions are made at the household level, typically led by men after a family discussion. A woman in the segment supports this, recognizing her husband as the head of the household and agreeing to submit to him.

 

Hegseth's repost included the line: "All of Christ for All of Life." The video further details Wilson's belief that women should neither lead in the military nor take on prominent combat roles. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed Hegseth’s connection to the CREC and his appreciation for Wilson’s teachings. Reports indicate that Hegseth attended the church’s inaugural service in Washington.

 

The progressive evangelical group Vote Common Good voiced strong concerns. Doug Pagitt, their executive director, criticized Hegseth for promoting fringe Christian views. He found it particularly disturbing that such ideas, considered outdated by many, were being amplified by someone in Hegseth’s position.

This repost comes against the backdrop of the Trump administration's push for Christian nationalism. This initiative has included re-establishing ties with the Christian right and creating a federal taskforce to address alleged "anti-Christian bias." Earlier in the year, a White House faith office was established, aiming to influence policies related to religious biases.

 

Hegseth’s religious activities have extended into the Pentagon, where he invited his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to lead prayer services. Such events, held during work hours, have sparked debate about their appropriateness. Employees received invitations via government emails, highlighting the blurred lines between personal faith and state responsibilities.

 

The US Constitution’s first amendment ensures that there is no established state religion. However, interpretations of this have been contentious, leading to ongoing debates about the intersection of governance and religious practice.

 

As these discussions unfold, the backlash underscores the tension between advocating for religious beliefs and upholding democratic rights. The video shared by Hegseth serves as a catalyst for broader discourse on the role and influence of religion in public life and governance.

 

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Guardian 2025-08-10

 

Like who never saw this coming?!

These ignoramuses don't seem to understand that without women they wouldn't even be born, Some of them never should nave been born anyway and Hegseth is one prime example. A disaster on legs in power.

He knows he's on the same thought level as his boss.............

Most women should be allowed to vote.

11 hours ago, billd766 said:

These ignoramuses don't seem to understand that without women they wouldn't even be born, Some of them never should nave been born anyway and Hegseth is one prime example. A disaster on legs in power.

It is said that when Captain Cook began his Pacific islands exploration that the natives could not understand why there were no white women.  They suspected these whiteys were a homosexual race, but couldn't figure out how they reproduced.  

Maybe some dingbat on the far right will interpret Pete's ideas as part of a far-left gay agenda and run the guy out of town.  Actually he'd fit right in as a Congress member, that's a drunkard's job.  There is a vid clip out there of former House Speaker John Boehner entertaining his grandchildren in his office, he explains that he spends his days playing with the gee-gaws on his desk and drinking wine.  Tongue-in-cheek, of course, but "Grandpa, how come your breath smells weird?"  It would be interesting to know at what time of day each takes their first drink, maybe someone could put together a chart.  There was a state rep in California some years ago who let slip that his day begins with a cup of coffee.  With a shot of brandy in it.

Lindsey Graham?  Does anybody really think his eyes look like that naturally?

 

Barefoot and pregnant. Those were the days.

It's these kinds of controversial ideas that Trump should be implementing, removing the vote for women would relegate the Democratic party to second place for enternity most likely, as the party is currently propped up by 18 to 30 year old females. Without them, the Democrat vote tally would fall dramatically.

 

After that is accomplished Trump could then tackle the real issue, namely removing the vote for non-home owners and thus America could embody the true ideal of Greek democracy. Not this wholly perverted version we have to contend with today.

 

For even Nietzsche knew "The equal for the equal...and the unequal for the unequal".

25 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

It's these kinds of controversial ideas that Trump should be implementing, removign the vote for women would relegate the Democratic party to second place for enternity most likely, as the party is currently propped up by 18 to 30 year old females. Without them, the Democrat vote tally would fall dramatically.

 

After that is accomplished Trump could then tackle the real issue, namely removing the vote for non-home owners and thus America could embody the true ideal of Greek democracy. Not this wholly perverted version we have to contend with today.

 

For even Nietzsche knew "The equal for th equal...and the unequal for the unequal".

 "removing the vote for non-home owners "

 

Or maybe a minimum of net worth, set 50% above what yours is.

Would you like that?

 

 

1 minute ago, cdemundo said:

 "removing the vote for non-home owners "

 

Or maybe a minimum of net worth, set 50% above what yours is.

Would you like that?

 

Please let''s not be silly, this is a serious topic.

 

 

10 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Most women should be allowed to vote.

Which ones should not be allowed in your world?

Imagine how much the world would improve if the vote were removed for women. It would pave the way to withdraw women's driving privileges, which would solve traffic congestion and improve the environment.

 

It would pave the way to remove women from the work force, discrimination laws could be reversed, which would solve the unemployment problem.

 

TV quality would probably get worse though, as women would stay at home and dictate even more what programmes are on TV.

Fast forward to 2125. Assuming we haven't nuked everybody out of existence by then, historians will have to isolate the biggest single reason as to why the mighty imperial powers of Europe and America became failed nations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

 

No doubt there will be very nuanced opinions covering this period, but history tends to want a simple and precise all-encompassing answer to most things.

 

I have little doubt they will lay the blame ultimately on the femenization of society from circa 1960 - although they may hesitate to use that word for fear of being branded a misogynist. 

 

Before you throw me under the bus, consider the vast societal changes brought about by such things as: the birth control pill, equal pay, the demise of the nuclear family, a mother's absence from the home and drastic reduction in the number of women not even having one child, the replacement of men in government and business - and more recently, affirmative action, DEI and ESG.

 

Historians might take the easy out and just say that 20th century manhumankind got wealthy, soft and decadent a la the Romans - the brave ones will point out that the biggest societal change that brought about our demise was the changing role that women played in the decision making compared to earlier generations.

 

In every earlier society, women (and children) were most valuable and cherished, the very epicentre of the reason for societal success. That's why men fought wars to protect them. Nowadays, good luck with that. 

 

 

 

 

A clown president and a clown cabinet….never did I think my country would sink this fast.

26 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

I have little doubt they will lay the blame ultimately on the femenization of society from circa 1960

 

That's a serious problem of course, but it's not just that - In every country where women have been allowed to occupy the top ranking political position the situation for that country has invariably got worse.

 

Germany - Angela Merkel's period in office is basically the marker for modern Germany's decline.

 

UK - We can see today some of the most ineffective and perverse policies in the  office of Home Secretary, headed by  Yvette Cooper, and also  one of the worst stints any Chancellor of the Exchequer has ever inflicted on the UK people. It's not just her crying, all of the UK is crying. Arguably the ascent of Margaret Thatcher precipitated the UK's current economic decline.

 

Ukraine - Yulia Timoshenko paved the way for total corruption and total war with Russia.

 

Australia - Julia Gillard oversaw the beginnings of Australian decline, hung parliaments and general instabliity as even the Guardian conceded. Her main achievement? A lecturing speech on the misgony. of men.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/26/julia-gillard-where-go-wrong

 

Brazil - Delma Rousseff was forcibly removed from power and impeached, having been unable to adhere to budgetary laws in Brazil. One of the worst leaders Brazil ever had.

 

Thailand - Yingluck Shinawatra precipitated a war with Cambodia and was dsitinguished mostly by her attempt to cling to remnants of power by assuming a cultural minister position having achieved nothing.

 

Slovenia - Alena Bratusek of Slovenia was forced to resign after corruption investigations, but not before she nominated herself for a top post in the EU.

 

The list of truly catastrophic female political leaders is endless.

 

 

 

 

29 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Imagine how much the world would improve if the vote were removed for women. It would pave the way to withdraw women's driving privileges, which would solve traffic congestion and improve the environment.

 

It would pave the way to remove women from the work force, discrimination laws could be reversed, which would solve the unemployment problem.

 

TV quality would probably get worse though, as women would stay at home and dictate even more what programmes are on TV.

By your way of thinking, why stop at women? Blacks? Latinos?  Why not just remove the vote altogether?

6 minutes ago, phetphet said:

By your way of thinking, why stop at women? Blacks? Latinos?  Why not just remove the vote altogether?

 

No, I'm very much against that. Why remove the vote for blacks? They are not the ones causing the dangerous decline of the Democrat Party, congestion on the roads, or causing employment issues, the general decline of society by refusing to have children, causing divorce and other societal ills,  that's women.

 

Blacks are just a minority, why should they not have the vote? Makes no sense.

 

Many black men are homeowners too, so they should definitely have the vote. Black men who do not own property could, just as whites who do not own property, have a somewhat reduced voting right once those who own property have their voting rights amplified. Sure.

 

But a wholesale removal of the vote for blacks would be excessive and extreme. After all some of our best comedians, athletes and musicians are blacks.

 

 

USA is regressing fast into the medieval period where women did not have the right to vote in political elections and are considered legally subsumed under their husbands. Soon USA will have Kings and warlords. Citizens will then be known as subjects. The world is laughing at how the mighty USA has turned isolationist and backwards. 

 

3 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

USA is regressing fast into the medieval period where women did not have the right to vote in political elections and are considered legally subsumed under their husbands. Soon USA will have Kings and warlords. Citizens will then be known as subjects. The world is laughing at how the mighty USA has turned isolationist and backwards. 

 

 

Actually I think the whole world is wishing it had a Trump that could shape the global economy in their favour, make peace, and slap down the domestic forces of agitation and instability, not to mention reverse illegal immigration.

 

Almost super-human achievements by this president which are the envy of almost all citizens of the world who have the mifortunte of not being Americans.

Not a surprise to me. We've been seeing a steady reversal of progress made over the last 100 years. At this point, I would NOT be surprised to see Trump overturn the Emancipation Proclamation.
(You know... That's the one that freed the slaves.)

No words for people like you.

54 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

That's a serious problem of course, but it's not just that - In every country where women have been allowed to occupy the top ranking political position the situation for that country has invariably got worse.

 

Germany - Angela Merkel's period in office is basically the marker for modern Germany's decline.

 

UK - We can see today some of the most ineffective and perverse policies in the  office of Home Secretary, headed by  Yvette Cooper, and also  one of the worst stints any Chancellor of the Exchequer has ever inflicted on the UK people. It's not just her crying, all of the UK is crying. Arguably the ascent of Margaret Thatcher precipitated the UK's current economic decline.

 

Ukraine - Yulia Timoshenko paved the way for total corruption and total war with Russia.

 

Australia - Julia Gillard oversaw the beginnings of Australian decline, hung parliaments and general instabliity as even the Guardian conceded. Her main achievement? A lecturing speech on the misgony. of men.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/26/julia-gillard-where-go-wrong

 

Brazil - Delma Rousseff was forcibly removed from power and impeached, having been unable to adhere to budgetary laws in Brazil. One of the worst leaders Brazil ever had.

 

Thailand - Yingluck Shinawatra precipitated a war with Cambodia and was dsitinguished mostly by her attempt to cling to remnants of power by assuming a cultural minister position having achieved nothing.

 

Slovenia - Alena Bratusek of Slovenia was forced to resign after corruption investigations, but not before she nominated herself for a top post in the EU.

 

The list of truly catastrophic female political leaders is endless.

 

 

 

 

Julia Gillard was an OK PM - if any PM was bad it was the one she talked - but not necessarily for being sexist - Tony Abbott. But I can't think of anything noteworthily bad about Gillard except she backed away from a promise on not having a carbon tax that may have brought her down. 

So I think it's a long bow to pick her as a poor leader. 

But the fact that you bothered to research it shows continues a trend of yours to  rail against feminism and rights of women in the world and in relationships - partly in jest one senses at times but there seems to be some truth to it in your mind.

You had a successful career by your own advice and are still in your early 50's. Did a woman bring you down.

What happened. You can discuss it with us. We are all friends here.  

41 minutes ago, jvs said:

No words for people like you.

 

Let's not be emotional about this issue, that would not be a manly way to approach the problem, that's more of a womanly approach. If we look at it like men, ie, rationally, we need to ask: "Is it really such a bad thing if women lose the vote? Do the pros or cons prevail?"

 

Looking at it rationally removing the vote for women would solve many of the main issue afflicting the world today. For instance declining birth rates are a major risk for almost all industrial nations. Women refusing to have children is one of the key concerns of economic observ ers, as  it makes the budget deficit a real issue  If too few taxpayers are born to sustain older populations, if too few workers are born to sustain economic growth, the economic collapse of the nation is inevitable.

 

What would incentivize women more than anything to have children again? If by attaching themselves to a man their quality of life improves and women do not have the option to go to work outside the home. This would give birth rates an instant boost and safeguard the economic development of society.

 

Only removing the vote for women could achieve this.

 

One of the other ills of society, massive divorce rates, falling marriage figures and infidelity, all these are encouraged by lax family laws that favour women. What would incentivize women to not file for divorce, to marry and to stay faithful? A radical revamp of family law in favour of men. 

 

Only removing the vote for women could achieve this.

 

Then there is the environmental issue of countless millions of women driving on our roads, exacerbating traffic jams, pollution and environmental problems. A total ban on women drivers is not illusory, Saudia Arabia has shown for decades that it is perfectly possible to implement.

 

Only removign the vote for women could achieve this.

 

Sure, there would be protests to contend with, that would have to be ruthlessly put down by imprisoning the feminist agitators, however, would the benefits of this controversial policy not be worth the pain?

 

 

 

 

He's wrong.........they should be allowed to vote...... but only if they are married, with kids and vote exactly as their husband tells them to

 

JD Vance.....new age man

 

 

 

34 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Actually I think the whole world is wishing it had a Trump that could shape the global economy in their favour, make peace, and slap down the domestic forces of agitation and instability, not to mention reverse illegal immigration.

 

Almost super-human achievements by this president which are the envy of almost all citizens of the world who have the mifortunte of not being Americans.

Majority in Pew Research of 24 nations said just the opposite and have little confidence in Trump's leadership in world affairs, economic issues and climate change. The appeal of being Americans is being distorted by Trump's policies

 

History is full of declining big powers that think their military and strong economy allowed them to stand apart and isolated. Most will experience economic hardship, decrease innovation and increase vulnerability to external problems. World economy is highly globalized with greater interdepence between nations. Regressive policies by Trump will only hasten the decline of USA power.  

The Pentagon confirmed his CREC church membership and admiration for Wilson’s teachings. That’s the extent of it. Without Hegseth explicitly stating he backs Wilson’s views—like women not voting or not leading in the military—it’s speculative to say he fully supports them. 

The next is allowing slavery i guess.

7 minutes ago, norsurin said:

The next is allowing slavery i guess.

 

 

No....now the right wing swivel eyed loons will all pile in and start screaming only the Dem's want slavery back.

15 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Julia Gillard was an OK PM - if any PM was bad it was the one she talked - but not necessarily for being sexist - Tony Abbott. But I can't think of anything noteworthily bad about Gillard except she backed away from a promise on not having a carbon tax that may have brought her down. 

So I think it's a long bow to pick her as a poor leader. 

But the fact that you bothered to research it shows continues a trend of yours to  rail against feminism and rights of women in the world and in relationships - partly in jest one senses at times but there seems to be some truth to it in your mind.

You had a successful career by your own advice and are still in your early 50's. Did a woman bring you down.

What happened. You can discuss it with us. We are all friends here.  

 

Julia Gillard did not just fail to deliver on the carbon tax promise, she also promised a budget surplus and never delivered, her emission trading scheme was a failure too.

 

The mining tax was a failure. She pandered to populism but never solved the boat people issue. She opposed gay marriage but saw it implemented anyway.

 

As the Guardian said:

 

"An unsettling sort of contingency for Australians unused to their prime ministers living so obviously hand to mouth."

 

The only thing she excelled in was whining about "misogynists" "haters" and men. Achievements, not so many.

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/26/julia-gillard-where-go-wrong

 

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

That's a serious problem of course, but it's not just that - In every country where women have been allowed to occupy the top ranking political position the situation for that country has invariably got worse.

 

Germany - Angela Merkel's period in office is basically the marker for modern Germany's decline.

 

UK - We can see today some of the most ineffective and perverse policies in the  office of Home Secretary, headed by  Yvette Cooper, and also  one of the worst stints any Chancellor of the Exchequer has ever inflicted on the UK people. It's not just her crying, all of the UK is crying. Arguably the ascent of Margaret Thatcher precipitated the UK's current economic decline.

 

Ukraine - Yulia Timoshenko paved the way for total corruption and total war with Russia.

 

Australia - Julia Gillard oversaw the beginnings of Australian decline, hung parliaments and general instabliity as even the Guardian conceded. Her main achievement? A lecturing speech on the misgony. of men.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/26/julia-gillard-where-go-wrong

 

Brazil - Delma Rousseff was forcibly removed from power and impeached, having been unable to adhere to budgetary laws in Brazil. One of the worst leaders Brazil ever had.

 

Thailand - Yingluck Shinawatra precipitated a war with Cambodia and was dsitinguished mostly by her attempt to cling to remnants of power by assuming a cultural minister position having achieved nothing.

 

Slovenia - Alena Bratusek of Slovenia was forced to resign after corruption investigations, but not before she nominated herself for a top post in the EU.

 

The list of truly catastrophic female political leaders is endless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unlike the resounding successful leaderships offered by the likes of Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Mao, Hussain, Gaddafi, KimJong II........the leader list is endless.