Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Reuters

The leader of the United States military, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has ignited a wave of controversy after sharing a video online that many are calling a direct promotion of Christian nationalist ideas — including the removal of women’s right to vote.

The video, nearly seven minutes long, focused on a Christian nationalist church network and its senior pastors, who openly discussed reshaping American democracy to match their religious beliefs. Hegseth reposted the video late Thursday night on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), adding the words: “All of Christ for All of Life.”

Within hours, his post began circulating rapidly. It gained over 12,000 likes and was reshared more than 2,000 times, sparking intense discussions across political, religious, and military circles. Some praised his message and agreed with the ideas expressed in the video, but many others — including religious leaders from different denominations — reacted with alarm, calling it an endorsement of extreme views that undermine equality and democratic freedoms.

What Was in the Video?

The footage explored the teachings of Doug Wilson, co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a network of churches known for its strict interpretation of Christianity and outspoken political positions.

The report featured two key moments that shocked viewers:

Repealing Women’s Voting Rights – One pastor argued that the U.S. Constitution should be changed so women could no longer vote. He claimed this would return America to what he called “biblical order.”

Household Voting System – Another pastor said his ideal vision was for voting to be done by households rather than individuals. In such a system, a single vote would represent the entire household, often decided by the husband or the male head of the family.

The video also featured interviews with members of Wilson’s congregation. One female congregant said she believes it is her duty to submit to her husband in all decisions — from family matters to civic responsibilities — because this is how she interprets the Bible’s guidance.

Doug Wilson’s Bigger Goal

Doug Wilson himself appeared in the video and spoke about his long-term vision:

• “I’d like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I’d like to see the world be a Christian world.”
• This statement reflects the broader aim of Christian nationalism — the belief that national laws and policies should be based on a specific interpretation of Christian scripture, and that the separation of church and state should be weakened or removed entirely.

Reactions to Hegseth’s Post

The reaction to Hegseth’s repost was swift and divided. Supporters applauded him for being open about his faith and values. Critics, however, said it is deeply troubling for the head of the U.S. military to promote ideas that could strip away fundamental rights, especially when those ideas come from a movement tied to political religion.

Doug Pagitt, a pastor and director of a progressive Christian advocacy group, called the video’s ideas “fringe beliefs” that only a small portion of Christians hold. He said it was “disturbing” that someone in Hegseth’s powerful position would amplify them.

Links Between Hegseth and CREC

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that Hegseth is a member of a church affiliated with the CREC and that he respects many of Doug Wilson’s teachings and writings. This connection adds weight to the debate, as it shows that his post was not a random share but is linked to his personal religious community.

This is not the first time Hegseth’s faith has entered the public spotlight. In May of this year, he invited his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead a Christian prayer service — the first of several that he has hosted inside the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters. Invitations for these prayer events were reportedly sent to military service members and Pentagon employees via official government email accounts, raising questions about the line between personal faith and official government duties.

Why This Matters

The controversy touches on several sensitive issues in American society:

Women’s Rights: The idea of removing women’s voting rights directly challenges more than 100 years of progress since the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920.

Church and State Separation: The United States has a constitutional principle separating religion from government. Critics say this principle is threatened when top officials openly support religious ideas that could shape law and policy.

Military Neutrality: As the head of the U.S. military, Hegseth is expected to remain politically neutral. Some fear his promotion of Christian nationalist views could give the impression that the military supports a specific religious-political agenda.

Supporters vs. Critics

Supporters argue that Hegseth is simply exercising his right to free speech and religious freedom. They say leaders should be allowed to share their personal beliefs without being accused of undermining democracy.

Critics, however, warn that this is not just a matter of private opinion. When a top defense official publicly supports a movement that wants to rewrite voting laws based on religion, it can influence political culture and weaken protections for minority rights.