JD Vance emphasized the importance of Christian values for America’s future during a Turning Point USA event at Ole Miss, warning against the perils of secular liberalism.
Vice President JD Vance addressed students at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) during a significant Turning Point USA (TPUSA) gathering honoring Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was recently slain. Vance articulated his belief that America’s future hinges on a robust Christian foundation and cautioned against the threats posed by secular liberalism.
After a heartfelt tribute from Kirk’s widow, Erika, Vance took the stage to share his thoughts on various topics, including immigration, National Guard deployments, and the Second Amendment. However, many questions from the audience centered on Vance’s faith and its influence on his role as Vice President. Attendees inquired about his stance on religious liberty and how he navigates raising a family in a dual-religion household, as his wife is Hindu.
“I make no apologies for thinking that Christian values are an important foundation of this country,” Vance stated in response to a question regarding the separation of church and state. He added, “Anybody who’s telling you their view is neutral likely has an agenda to sell you. And I’m at least honest about the fact that I think the Christian foundation of this country is a good thing.”
During his remarks, Vance criticized contemporary liberalism, describing it as a “perverted version of Christianity.” He acknowledged the importance of addressing the needs of disenfranchised individuals but warned against detaching such compassion from religious duty or civic virtue. “You can’t just have compassion for the criminal. You also have to have justice too,” he explained, reinforcing his belief that a properly rooted Christian moral order is essential for the nation’s future.
Vance further argued that God should not be excluded from the public square, asserting that this was not the intention of the nation’s founders. “Anybody who tells you it’s required by the Constitution is lying to you,” he contended. He criticized the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the phrase “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” which he believes has led to the exclusion of religious expression from public life at all levels. “I think it was a terrible mistake, and we’re still paying for the consequences of it today,” he added.
In addition to discussing policy and faith, Vance addressed the dynamics of living in an interfaith household. He shared that when he met his wife, Usha, he was not a Christian, but over time, they decided to raise their children in the Christian faith. Vance emphasized the importance of open communication and mutual respect in their marriage, noting that most Sundays, Usha accompanies him to church.
“As I’ve told her, and I’ve said publicly, and I’ll say now in front of 10,000 of my closest friends, ‘Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, I honestly, I do wish that,’” Vance remarked. He expressed his hope that his wife would come to embrace the Christian gospel, while also acknowledging her free will in the matter.
Reflecting on Charlie Kirk’s influence on his faith, Vance shared how Kirk inspired him to be more vocal about his beliefs. “This is another way in which Charlie has affected my life – I would say that I grew up again in a generation where even if people had very deep personal faith, they didn’t talk about their faith a whole lot,” he recalled. “But the reason why I try to be the best husband I can be, the best father I can be, the reason why I care so much about all the issues that we’re going to talk about, is because I believe I’ve been placed in this position for a brief period of time to do the most amount of good for God and for the country that I love so much. And that’s the most important way that my faith influences me.”
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