Tuesday, October 29

Republican millennial’s faith-based presidential run mixes Hindu and Judeo-Christian values

Vivek Ramaswamy is working to be the nation’s first Hindu president and he’s working in a Republican Party steeped in — and demanding a return to — Judeo-Christian values.

Indeed, GOP main voters in early-voting states corresponding to Iowa have proven a penchant in presidential cycles for rallying behind candidates who put on their Christian religion on their sleeve.

But Ramaswamy doesn’t see his religion, handed right down to him from his Indian-born mother and father, as an obstacle. In truth, he says there may be vital overlap between the totally different religions.



“I’m a Hindu, and I raised my kids in the same tradition, but we share the same Judeo-Christian values that this nation was founded on,” Mr. Ramaswamy stated in an interview with editors and reporters at The Washington Times. “Part of the reason I’m able to stand for religious liberty and the revival of faith, as clearly and unapologetically as I have, is perhaps because I am a member of a younger generation.”

From his perspective, Mr. Ramaswamy sees a brand new concentrate on Judeo-Christian values filling a gaping void in folks’s lives and making them much less vulnerable to the liberal woke agenda that he stated is poisoning the nation.

Asked in regards to the overlap between Christianity and Hinduism, Mr. Ramaswamy stated his religion teaches him the significance of the nuclear household in addition to sacrifice and civil obligation.

“These are ideals that are deeply woven into my own faith-based tradition, my own family upbringing of sacrifice, doing your duty, the belief that God put us here for a reason,” he stated. “It is our job to carry out God’s plan, whatever that plan is that he has for us.”

Mr. Ramaswamy, a 37-year-old biotech millionaire, has been an early shock within the 2024 presidential race, delivering a message that has resonated nationwide with Republican voters.

His newfound reputation additionally offered him with a platform to reassure voters that his religion will not be a lot totally different than theirs. He stated they’ve a heck of loads in frequent.

The political actuality, nevertheless, is Americans traditionally choose presidential candidates grounded in Christianity.

Voters typically see a candidate’s worldview by way of their spiritual religion and discover solace in rallying behind candidates which are a part of their religious tribes.

Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion proved to be a sticking level within the 2012 GOP race for some voters in Iowa the place born-again and evangelical Christians have comprised greater than half of the Republican caucusgoers in nomination contests.

Mr. Romney completed second in Iowa to former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Mr. Santorum ran a shoestring marketing campaign that centered on the position his Roman Catholic religion performed in his public life.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz additionally rode their deep roots within the Christian communities to victories within the 2008 and 2016 caucuses, respectively.

Mr. Ramaswamy can also be working on his religion. On the marketing campaign path, he speaks about “hard truths.” The first of which, he stated, is “God is real.”

He is also making the case that there’s a deep craving throughout the nation, notably amongst youthful generations, to have one thing “bigger than themselves to believe it.”

Mr. Ramaswamy stated he’s optimistic he can win over members of faith-based communities as a result of he’s being sincere about his spirituality and he plans to set an ethical instance for the following technology of leaders.

“The standard I want to be held to is that I want to lead this country and even live my life, as a parent, as a father and as a president, [so] that parents, including Christian parents, across this country can look their kids in the eye and tell them in good conscience that I want you to grow up and be like him,” he stated. “It’s not a bargain.”

“Yes, we’ll get the good judicial appointments, right, we’ll stand for religious liberty, but it’s not a deal. Because it’s who I am, who we are,” he stated. “And so far, I think that people are incredibly open to that.”

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com