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Lecture ‘From Prophecy to Political Power’ by André Gagné

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Lecture ‘From Prophecy to Political Power’ by André Gagné

Datum evenement: 21 November 2025
Locatie: Hybrid: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Zoom

Description

When: Friday 21 November, 15.30–17.00 CET
Registration: send an e-mail to extremebeliefs.fgw@vu.nl, to receive the location and/or zoomlink.

“From Prophecy to Political Power: Spiritual Warriors, End-Times Beliefs, and the Battle for America”

Abstract: A movement of Pentecostal and Neocharismatic Christians has drastically changed American politics in recent years by portraying it as a spiritual struggle for the soul of the country. Prophets, pastors, and self-identified “spiritual warriors” claim divine revelation concerning contemporary events, interpreting political successes as evidence of God’s favor in the final days preceding Christ’s return. This talk examines how the theology of “dominion,” prophetic authority, and apocalyptic expectation have come together to create a powerful religious-political movement that is progressively erasing the traditional boundaries separating church and state. It explores how these eschatological visions have galvanized networks of activism, extending from congregational life to media platforms and the corridors of Washington, D.C. This presentation explores how prophecy acts as a tool for political legitimacy and shows how spiritual warfare narratives can undermine democratic norms and institutions in the United States. Finally, it considers how this fusion of faith and politics has intersected with forms of right-wing extremism, intensifying nationalist and exclusionary impulses under a sacred mandate for cultural renewal.
André Gagné, Concordia University

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