Updated
Updated · NPR · Jul 6
Pastor Doug Wilson Gains Pentagon Platform in 2026 as Hegseth Elevates Christian Nationalist
Updated
Updated · NPR · Jul 6

Pastor Doug Wilson Gains Pentagon Platform in 2026 as Hegseth Elevates Christian Nationalist

3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jul 6

Summary

  • Doug Wilson said a 2026 Pentagon speaking invitation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reflects his rising reach inside Republican and Trump-administration circles.
  • Wilson, who leads Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, said he opened a Washington church service because enough administration Christians already follow his teachings; Hegseth is among the most prominent attendees.
  • In an NPR interview, Wilson argued the U.S. should become a Christian theocracy and said women should not vote while homosexuality should be treated as a crime.
  • The Pentagon invitation has become a flashpoint because it places a self-described Christian nationalist with hard-line views on women and non-Christians closer to the center of Republican power.

Insights

What societal shifts make a Christian theocracy an appealing vision for a growing number of Americans?
Beyond voting, what everyday freedoms could be at risk under a proposed Christian theocracy?
How does this new ideology in the Pentagon challenge the military's long-held code of conduct?