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The Christianizing of the American Right After the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

This fusion of political and religious rhetoric suggests a strategic substitution, where the seemingly stalled political arguments of American conservatism are being replaced by a more fundamental, unifying religious narrative centered on Christianit

The State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on a Sunday afternoon, was a canvas for a political and religious moment unlike any other. While the massive crowd of tens of thousands had gathered to mourn the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist, the speeches that filled the arena suggested a pivot from political deadlock to a new, religiously-infused direction for the American right. The presence of high-profile leaders such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Elon Musk underscored the weight of the occasion.

Yes
No
A policy deadlock occurs
Political logic fails?
Politicians try to maintain public enthusiasm
Offer a substitute
What kind of substitute?
A major event or huge grant
A modest military victory
Religion as a typical example
Emergence of religious arguments at a conservative's funeral
Suggests the end of conservative politics

The eulogies from figures like Vance and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, intertwined political and religious themes, framing Kirk not just as a political firebrand but as a “martyr for the Christian faith.” Erika Kirk’s public forgiveness of the man charged with her husband’s murder, delivered with a direct reference to Christ’s words on the cross, provided a powerful, personal example of this shift. This was a direct contrast to the calls for “combat and retribution” from other speakers, illustrating the two competing impulses present in the movement’s response to Kirk’s death. This fusion of political and religious rhetoric suggests a strategic substitution, where the seemingly stalled political arguments of American conservatism are being replaced by a more fundamental, unifying religious narrative centered on Christianity, family, and faith.

All names of people and organizations appearing in this story are pseudonyms


Charlie Kirk’s funeral serves as a conservative ‘revival,’ mixing calls for forgiveness and vengeance

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