In a recent article, Annie Holmquist maps out the twisting path leading eventually from liberalism to communism. She points to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s 1978 Harvard Address in which he declared, “Liberalism was inevitably pushed aside by radicalism, radicalism had to surrender to socialism, and socialism could not stand up to communism.”
To avoid this slide, she urges a return to America’s Christian heritage.
Some readers might agree with her conclusions, but then shake their heads and declare such a reversal impossible. It’s too late, these skeptics would contend, our laws have banished the Bible and prayer from classrooms, our culture has sneered at Christianity for decades, and many recently arrived immigrants from around the globe are non-Christians. Some doubters might further argue that America is doing just fine without getting tangled in old-time Christian roots, that we’ve hit some bumps in the road, but we’re still the most powerful and wealthiest country in the world.
If we’re doing just fine, then why do polls and elections increasingly indicate a turn toward socialism, which directly repudiates the intent of the founders? Men like John Adams, Ben Franklin, and George Washington all emphasized that without religion and morality our republic would perish. Meanwhile, New York and Seattle have democratic socialist mayors, others have deep connections to that ideology and its supporters, and the Democrat party increasingly supports socialism. Some would say that we’re seeing the warnings of the founders play out in real time.
As for those who deem a return to our Christian roots an impossible dream, contrary evidence suggests they may be wrong. The secular culture which has dominated the public arena since World War II is beginning to crack, allowing green shoots of Christianity to push through that concrete of conformity. Here are a few examples.
Religious Broadcasting
A 2025 study conducted by Pew Research found that nearly 98% of Americans live within range of at least one religious radio station, nearly all of which are Christian. Moreover, Christian radio accounts for 25% of today’s broadcasting market, outpacing even country music stations. This market continues to grow.
This same study showed “listeners responding most strongly to programming centered on encouragement, spiritual grounding, and everyday life relevance.”
Hollywood Sees the Light
In December 2025, the Associated Press reported a turn back toward religiously-themed movies and television shows, inspired both by successes like “The Chosen” and by a personal interest some directors had in making God-centered movies. These screen creations include “The Great Awakening” about the friendship between preacher George Whitefield and Ben Franklin, Martin Scorsese’s second season of “The Saints,” and Mel Gibson’s May 2027 “The Resurrection of the Christ,” the first part of his sequel to the 2007 blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ.”
It's a small shift, but may be significant.
Bibles & Pews
Sales of the Bible have increased dramatically, up 20% in 2024 over the previous year, and rising another 14% in 2025. This interest in the book that helped make both Western civilization and the United States of America is encouraging.
What’s more, a 2025 study found that for the first time in 25 years in-church attendance in the United States had taken an upward turn. Also encouraging is that many of these new churchgoers are millennials and Gen Zers. The data in these studies are complicated, but definitely indicate growth. Moreover, donations to churches are higher than the inflation rate, a healthy sign of support, and more members are volunteering in their religious communities.
Politics
More than at any time in the 21st century, politicians are sharing their religious views in public. In his new book, “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith,” for example, Vice President JD Vance not only describes his return to Christianity, but also how his faith influences his approach to government and public life. Other elected officials and candidates for office on both the left and right frequently bring their faith into their campaigns and their voting.
In his July 3rd speech at Mount Rushmore celebrating America’s 250th birthday, President Donald Trump reflected on both America’s Christian heritage and today’s communism. He minced no words in declaring communism a threat to the existence of the country, summarizing its horrible effects in the last century and how Americans should respond to those currently calling for “democratic socialism”:
Communism is the exact opposite of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It’s death, tyranny, and the pursuit of evil. The godless communist morality states that anything is justified to bring about inhuman visions and to really propose what’s good. They don’t want good. They don’t love God, and they don’t want God. They don’t love religion and they don’t want religion, and they won’t have it, but we will not let them win. They have no chance against us.
Those of us who hope for a return of our country to its Christian roots must resist looking through rose-colored glasses at this possibility, yet we must also avoid the other extreme, which is to give way to despair. Too much pessimism beats us before we even arrive on the battlefield.
And so, let’s look at the fissures in the concrete mentioned above as banners of hope calling us to join the fight for our country’s soul. We can do so by going to church and reading the Bible. No matter our station in life, we can lead lives of heroic Christian virtue. We can inform our family and friends about the very real threat of communism. We can vote. Perhaps most importantly, we can daily pray for our country and its return to the virtue and religion which the founders regarded as absolutely essential for a successful republic.
Do these things, and in the words of the president and with the help of our Creator, “We will not let them win.”
Jeff Minick is a father of four and grandfather to many. A former history, literature, and Latin teacher, Jeff now writes prolifically for The Epoch Times, American Essence Magazine, and his Substack.
This culture article was made possible by The Fred & Rheta Skelton Center for Cultural Renewal, a project of 1819 News. To comment on this article, please email [email protected]. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News.
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