Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    Is It Hateful To Believe In Hell? Bernie Sanders' Questions Prompt Backlash

    The senator challenged a Trump nominee over his belief that Muslims are condemned, calling his statements "Islamophobic" and "inflammatory." Evangelical Christians say that's a troubling argument.
    by Camila Domonoske Jun 09, 2017 6 minutes
    Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at a rally in Omaha, Neb., on April 20. Sanders has been criticized for a recent line of questioning toward a Trump administration nominee, which focused on the man's religious beliefs about damnation. / Charlie Neibergall / Shutterstock.com

    A low-profile confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill this week raised eyebrows when the questioning turned to theology — specifically, damnation.

    Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont pressed Russell Vought, nominated by President Trump to be deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, about his beliefs.

    "Do you think that people who are not Christians are condemned?" Sanders repeatedly asked, challenging that belief as Islamophobic.

    Christian organizations have denounced Sanders' questioning as amounting to a religious test for public office — one that would disqualify millions of people.

    Polls show about half of all Christians in the U.S. believe that some non-Christians can go to heaven. But particularly among evangelicals, the traditional view of damnation remains widespread.

    A confirmation showdown rooted in college dispute

    How did hellfire come up in a confirmation hearing in the first place?

    In 2015, an evangelical Christian college a tenured professor who said that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR4 min read
    Magic, Secrets, And Urban Legend: 3 New YA Fantasy Novels To Read This Spring
    A heist with a social conscience, a father using magic for questionable work, an urban legend turned sleepover dare: These new releases explore protagonists embracing the magic within themselves.
    NPR3 min readWorld
    The Eurovision Song Contest Kicked Off With Pop And Protests
    Performers representing countries across Europe and beyond took the stage in the first of two Eurovision semifinals in the Swedish city of Malmo, against a backdrop of both parties and protests.
    NPR4 min read
    A Lawmaker With A Brain Disease Used Voice Assist To Back Her Bill On The House Floor
    Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia was diagnosed last year with rare disease that makes it hard to speak. She still advocated for a bill renaming a post office in her district – and the House passed it.

    Related Books & Audiobooks