religion & politics

From the chapter: The core tenets of Radical Political Theology (Draft Manuscript of the Book: "Towards the Radical Political Theology: From new to radical political theology. Selected works on intertwinings of theology, society, and politics.")

Radical political theology assumes that every human being bears the image of God as an inherent attribute. This foundational truth affirms the dignity of each person and demands that their right to exist, to pursue their destiny, and to freely express themselves be guaranteed by constitutional order. Differences of opinion, ideology, or political affiliation must never be grounds for violence. Political violence, in any form, represents a direct assault on both divine order and human dignity and therefore can never be tolerated or allowed.

Over the past eight years, the United States has witnessed a troubling trend: a steady increase in gun violence, particularly in the form of mass shootings. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of such incidents nearly doubled. This surge is not merely a statistical anomaly but a symptom of a deeper cultural and spiritual malaise. It reveals the extent to which nihilism, fragmentation, and ideological extremism have infiltrated society, producing not only division but also bloodshed. From the standpoint of radical political theology, this crisis underscores the urgency of reclaiming a moral vision rooted in the Christian tradition and the divine order.

Even more disturbing is the recent trend of radicalization manifesting in unexpected ways. While the majority of mass shootings are still perpetrated by cisgender males, in the last six years at least six shootings have been attributed to individuals identifying as transgender. These incidents cannot be dismissed as isolated aberrations; rather, they point to a convergence of factors—profound psychological struggle on the one hand, and ideological indoctrination on the other. Whether stemming from inner turmoil or from the destructive narratives of contemporary identity politics, such tragedies testify to a society adrift from its moral foundations. Since 2018, a small number of mass shootings have involved perpetrators identified as transgender or non-binary, yet these incidents have drawn considerable public attention. Among the most frequently cited cases are Audrey Hale, who in 2023 killed six people at The Covenant School in Nashville; Alec McKinney, a transgender teenager who in 2019 participated in a Denver school shooting that left one dead and eight injured; and Snochia Moseley, reported to be transgender, who in 2018 killed three at a Rite Aid facility in Aberdeen, Maryland. In 2022, Anderson Lee Aldrich carried out an attack at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, killing five, though the later claim of non-binary identity by defense attorneys has been disputed. More recently and probably most shocking, in 2025, Robin Westman, identified as transgender, killed two children and injured 17 others at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. The case of Robert Westman illustrates the deeply disturbing convergence of psychological turmoil, ideological radicalization, and the pursuit of notoriety. A 23-year-old transgender individual left behind hundreds of pages of writings and scheduled videos in which they expressed admiration for past mass shooters and articulated intense hatred toward multiple groups. Investigators discovered weapons and magazines inscribed with the names of infamous killers such as Adam Lanza and Anders Breivik, alongside racist, antisemitic, anti-Catholic, and anti-political slogans, including “Kill Donald Trump.” Particularly chilling was a drawing discovered among the materials: Westman depicted themselves standing together with the devil. From the perspective of radical political theology, this image is more than morbid self-expression—it is a symbolic confession of allegiance to chaos and disorder, a direct inversion of the imago Dei. To identify with the devil is to reject the divine image within oneself and to embrace nihilism as identity. Another inscription: “Where is your God?”, is postulating exactly that, a most profound cry of a tormented soul, excruciating pain, and ultimate denial from the pit of despair.  There is no question that this deeply disturbed individual was tormented by both demonic influence and a severe identity crisis, which together produced a spectrum of political and religious grievances.

The most recent and perhaps most disturbing event that has shocked the nation is the political assassination of conservative pundit and activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was shot during a debate at Utah Valley University, the opening event of a planned debate cycle across American campuses in which he engaged students on religious, economic, and political issues. While addressing the pressing topic of transgender violence, he was struck down by a single sniper’s bullet fired from 200 yards away. The perpetrator, Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old student from Utah, has since been apprehended. Robinson, however, did not act in a vacuum. He was radicalized through exposure to far-left ideology and emboldened by defamatory narratives in the “progressive” ideology, which repeatedly portrayed Kirk as a Nazi, racist, and bigot. Significantly, Robinson’s path toward extremism unfolded despite his conservative upbringing—a fact that underscores the pervasive and corrosive power of ideological indoctrination. The inscriptions on his bullet casings contained lines from Bella Ciao, an old Italian folk song later adopted as an anthem of the anti-fascist movement, and three arrows, well-known identifiers of Antifa, among other slang terms, pertained to online communities. Robinson’s crime represents more than the choice of a single disturbed individual; it reveals the destructive power of systematic indoctrination. Federal investigators confirmed that Tyler Robinson, 22, was in a romantic relationship with a male partner transitioning to female, with whom he shared an apartment. This raises the possibility that Robinson may have harbored grievances similar to those expressed by Westman and suggests a deeper identity crisis, given that he was raised in a conservative home with a religious upbringing.

At just 22 years of age, this young man committed a crime of staggering gravity, yet the deeper responsibility rests with the cultural and ideological forces that nurtured his hatred. Unless decisive steps are taken to resist these currents, we will see further tragedies of this kind. Radical political theology recognizes such acts not only as political crimes but also as manifestations of a spiritual struggle, in which demonic forces exploit ideological indoctrination to wage war against divine order and Christianity. Therefore, society must act with clarity and resolve. Laws must be enacted to confront the radicalization in universities, media, and political circles. Organizations such as Antifa and the Southern Poverty Law Center—which inflame division and vilify traditional Christian and conservative voices—must be scrutinized, exposed, and held accountable. Our nation cannot allow poisonous ideologies to masquerade as activism while leading impressionable youth down a path of hatred, chaos, and destruction. Tragically, this unveils a much darker reality: the deep polarization of our nation and our growing inability to reconcile ideological and political differences through dialogue and genuine debate.

Though I don’t necessarily agree with all of his statements, Charlie Kirk’s assassination has to be understood as a form of modern martyrdom. Like Christians who were hunted under Nero, Stalin, or Mao, Kirk was targeted not merely for who he was, but for what he represented: a public witness to one true God and a refusal to bow to the ideological idols of the age. His death bears the mark of martyrdom because it was the price of proclaiming convictions rooted in Christian faith, conservative values, and moral clarity in a culture increasingly hostile to them. Perhaps one of the most profound analogies illustrating the staggering rift between Christian non-violence and nihilistic, ideologically driven movements is found in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death. When George Floyd, a troubled soul and a person with a significant criminal record, died, the entire country was engulfed in violence and flames. By contrast, in Charlie Kirk’s case, a somber atmosphere of vigils and worship resonated through our capitals. The spirit does not lie: one bears the fruits of faith and resilience, while the other reaps only chaos and turmoil. This tragedy serves as both a warning and a summons for radical political theology. It warns of the danger of allowing nihilistic ideologies to grow unchecked, while at the same time summoning believers to remain steadfast in their witness, to act with courage, and to embrace non-violent resistance even when confronted with violence. Ultimately, the message is clear: no one should die because of their political convictions or affiliations.