evangelical Christian
What to know
The word “evangelical” is derived from the Greek word euangelion, meaning “gospel” or “good news.” Evangelical Christian refers to a diverse group of Protestant Christians who share theological views and often conservative political views as well as a subculture. Some characteristic evangelical theological beliefs and practices: experiencing a born-again conversion in which one turns from a life of sin to a life of faith through Jesus Christ’s salvation, having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, actively evangelizing (spreading the message of salvation through Jesus Christ), believing in the authority of the Bible, and defending a traditional patriarchal family structure as well as “family values.” A Pew Research Center study found that in 2023-2024, 23 percent of US adults identified as evangelical Protestants.
Evangelicals have significant influence in US politics. Jimmy Carter gave evangelicalism a prominent platform during his administration, speaking openly about his faith and how it influenced his policymaking. White evangelicals in particular joined a conservative, right-wing political platform in the late 1970s and early 1980s and were mobilized by the Republican Party under Ronald Reagan and by televangelist Jerry Falwell’s political coalition, the Moral Majority. This fusion of evangelicals with the Republican Party created the religious right, a voting bloc that organized around fears about desegregation, the absence of Christian prayer and Bibles in public schools, increased ethnic and racial diversity in the US, and the legalization of abortion.
The religious right gained power through politically conservative colorblind policies in reaction to Brown v.Board of Education, the desegregation of public schools, and subsequent removal of tax exemptions from institutions that refused to integrate. Interracial alliances were in part complicated for white evangelicals due to their commonly shared belief that racism is a “sin of the heart” for which individuals are responsible, not a systemic and collective problem. This theological orientation is in part responsible for characterizing the white and middle-class makeup of the majority of the evangelical voting bloc.
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, evangelicals organized around issues such as limiting trans rights, eliminating abortion access, and opposing antiracist teachings in public schools.
Most surveys and polls use the term “evangelical” to refer to white evangelical Christians and classify people who share similar theological beliefs into various racial/ethnic categories (e.g., “Black Protestant,” “Latino Protestant”). These evangelicals are often less likely than their white counterparts to back conservative issues and are more likely to support same-sex marriage, abortion rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. In the 2020 presidential election, for example, Donald Trump received strong support from white evangelical Protestants and some Hispanic evangelicals, while Black evangelicals tended to support Joe Biden.
It’s important to keep in mind that diversity exists within evangelical Christianity in terms of race, class, generation, belief, and other aspects of identity, and that someone’s religion cannot be assumed to be the sole or main motivating factor for ideological stances or decisions such as voting behaviors. Even if they share some theological beliefs, some individuals and groups will not identify with or may be unaware of the “evangelical” label. Taking into account individual self-identification while also being appropriately descriptive may help acknowledge these nuances. It’s also important for clarity to use precise language (e.g., “white evangelical Christian”) when describing particular evangelical groups. Using specific terminology that matches relevant polls and sources when distinguishing between evangelicals and related groups (for instance, conservatives, the religious right, fundamentalists) ensures that these distinct terms are not mistaken as interchangeable.
Additional resources
- The Thorny Challenge of Defining Evangelicals (Gallup)
- Religion and Right-Wing Politics: How Evangelicals Reshaped Elections (New York Times)
- Is evangelical support for Trump a contradiction? (Vox)
- PRRI 2022 Census of American Religion: Religious Affiliation Updates and Trends (Public Religion Research Institute)
- Evangelical Protestants (Pew Research Center)
- Racial and ethnic composition among Evangelical Protestants (Pew Research Center)
- For White Evangelicals, the Identity Is About More Than Religious Faith (NPR)
Summary
Evangelical Christian refers to a diverse group of Protestant Christians who share theological views and often conservative political views as well as a subculture. It’s important to keep in mind that diversity exists within evangelical Christianity in many aspects of identity, and that someone’s religion cannot be assumed to be the sole or main motivating factor for ideological stances or decisions such as voting behaviors. Taking into account individual self-identification while also being appropriately descriptive may help acknowledge these nuances. It’s also important for clarity to use precise language (e.g., “white evangelical Christian”) when describing particular evangelical groups. Using specific terminology that matches relevant polls and sources when distinguishing between evangelicals and related groups (for instance, conservatives, the religious right, fundamentalists) ensures that these distinct terms are not mistaken as interchangeable.