The case for holy war

神圣战争的论据

Today, Explained

2026-04-21

23 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

The Secretary of Defense suggests the Iran war is blessed by God. The head of his church, Pastor Doug Wilson, agrees. Some call Wilson an extremist. He prefers Christian nationalist. Either way, he's no longer a fringe figure. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been talking about the war in Iran in distinctly biblical terms,

  • citing Psalms, the resurrection of Jesus, and the Book of Quentin.

  • And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger

  • those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother.

  • President Trump is comparing himself to Christ.

  • Vice President Vance is fighting with the Pope.

  • Watching all of this is the increasingly influential pastor Doug Wilson.

  • He co-founded the church that Hegseth attends.

  • Wilson's a Christian nationalist who would like the USA to be a theocracy.

  • He'd also like to help us get there, though he doesn't think it's going to happen anytime soon.

  • I believe that it is accelerating.

  • I believe that we're making significant gains.

  • I see assembling resources, and I'm encouraged in that labor.

  • But I don't expect to see what we're praying for in my lifetime.

  • Pastor Doug Wilson and how much you should worry about his plans, coming up on Today Explained from Vox.

  • This is Today Explained.

  • My name is Douglas James Wilson.

  • I'm the senior pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho.

  • So I'm a pastor and I'm a writer.

  • Pastor Wilson, I've heard you say that you are okay being called a Christian nationalist.