
God Only Knows: #IfTrumpwereEvangelical And #MethodistHillary

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a Bible during a campaign stop in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Nati Harnik/AP hide caption
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a Bible during a campaign stop in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Nati Harnik/APAs much as Americans believe in the separation of church and state, they also seem to believe in electing presidents who go to church. But there are lurking questions in some voters' minds about the religious faith of both major parties' presumptive nominees – and the Internet has helpfully spawned a pair of hashtags – #methodisthillary and #iftrumpwereevangelical.
The tweets poke fun at the candidates, at religion, and often both. For example, this tweet expertly uses the Bible to take aim at Trump's famous locks:
#IfTrumpWereEvangelical - Favorite verse:https://t.co/89KiywmkO3
— Paul Wilkinson (@PaulW1lk1nson) June 28, 2016
There are lots of inside jokes that will be funnier if you're at least familiar with evangelicalism, like the practice of promising to save sex for marriage and wearing a "purity ring":
#iftrumpwereevangelical he would have three purity rings – one from each of the marriages he true-love-waited to consummate
— Jacob Lupfer (@jlupf) June 27, 2016
They're more popular among girls, and often gifts from their fathers...
#iftrumpwereevangelical Ivanka's purity ring would have been the hugest.
— Dying Sparrows (@DyingSparrows) June 27, 2016
This tweet skewers the advice young women are often given to dress modestly:
#Iftrumpwereevangelical all his Miss USA contestants would be wearing double tank tops and one-pieces to avoid being a "stumbling block"
— Kate Bowler (@KatecBowler) June 27, 2016
Then there's this joke that deftly weaves together religion and politics with a reference to the habit some conservative Christians have of naming a close friend to motivate them to read the Bible and avoid sin - kind of like a workout buddy for faith:
#iftrumpwereevangelical he’d name an accountability partner rather than a running mate
— Matt Hedstrom (@HedstromMatt) June 27, 2016

Hillary Clinton speaks during church services at Greater St. Paul Church in Oakland, Calif., on June 5. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
It all started with Donald Trump's closed-door meeting with hundreds of evangelicals in New York on June 21, where he questioned rival Hillary Clinton's faith during a private conversation with a few dozen select Christian leaders. According to a video posted to Twitter, Trump told the group they don't know "anything about Hillary in terms of religion. You know, she's been in the public eye for years and years, and yet there's no, there's nothing out there, there's, like, nothing out there."
Clinton has spoken publicly multiple times about her Methodist faith, which she says has guided her life.
Whatever is in Trump's – or Clinton's – heart, the #iftrumpwereevangelical hashtag helpfully gave birth to the #methodisthillary hashtag, which pokes fun at stereotypes of sturdy Midwestern mainline Protestants.
In the spirit of #iftrumpwereevangelical comes super #MethodistHillary. She wants your vote but also that casserole recipe.
— Kate Bowler (@KatecBowler) June 28, 2016
There are references to quirky church music...
#MethodistHillary still has mad handbell skills.
— Joe Creech (@joecreech1) June 28, 2016
...jabs at sometimes-endless church committee meetings:
#MethodistHillary's only regret about her time in the Senate is that she could have probably served on a few more committees.
— Brandon Bayne (@brandonbayne) June 28, 2016
...and this smart reference to the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, with a nod to Clinton's famous struggles to connect with voters on the campaign trail:
@JulieByrneHUCS NAILED IT!
— Kate Bowler (@KatecBowler) June 28, 2016
Trump was raised Presbyterian, but as of last year was described as an inactive member of his church. During his meeting with evangelicals, Trump referred to his church attendance in the past tense – a major faux pas in a crowd that sees going to church regularly as a critical component of a vibrant faith.
Dr. James Dobson endorses Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, says can't support Donald Trump.
Ted Cruz campaign YouTubeWithin days, Dr. James Dobson, the founder and erstwhile leader of the evangelical group Focus on the Family, was describing Trump as a "baby Christian." Dobson had previously endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and had said he "could not support" Trump.
Dobson told a Pennsylvania pastor that Trump had recently become a "born-again Christian."
The report of Trump's conversion prompted some skepticism in evangelical circles – as well as a few jokes.
It wasn't long before Dobson walked his comments back, issuing a statement saying that "only the Lord knows the condition of a person's heart," and adding that he'd heard televangelist Paula White "personally led [Trump] to Christ." That generally involves saying a prayer of repentance from sin and accepting Jesus Christ as one's Savior from eternal damnation.
If true, it would be a big shift for Trump, who last year astonished many conservative Christians by publicly telling a pollster that he has never asked God for forgiveness. Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks has not responded to a request from NPR to clarify how Trump currently describes his faith.