Pete Hegseth’s Militant Theology and the US Attack on Iran
This article analyzes the influence of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s militant Christian theology on the US military campaign against Iran. It highlights how Hegseth and his spiritual adviser, Brooks Potteiger, frame the conflict as divinely sanctioned, citing predestination and God’s sovereignty over warfare outcomes. The report connects this theological stance to the February 28 Tomahawk missile strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Iran, which killed over 175 people, mostly children. Despite evidence implicating the US, neither Hegseth nor President Trump has accepted responsibility. Instead, Hegseth has called for overwhelming violence and prayed for victory in Jesus’ name, drawing sharp rebuke from Pope Leo. The piece argues that Hegseth’s obscure Calvinist beliefs, which reject papal authority and emphasize divine control, are driving a strategic disaster in the Middle East, blurring the lines between modern warfare and religious crusade.
Wire timeline
Pete Hegseth’s Militant Theology and the US Attack on Iran
This article analyzes the influence of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s militant Christian theology on the US military campaign against Iran. It highlights how Hegseth and his spiritual adviser, Brooks Potteiger, frame the conflict as divinely sanctioned, citing predestination and God’s sovereignty over warfare outcomes. The report connects this theological stance to the February 28 Tomahawk missile strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Iran, which killed over 175 people, mostly children. Despite evidence implicating the US, neither Hegseth nor President Trump has accepted responsibility. Instead, Hegseth has called for overwhelming violence and prayed for victory in Jesus’ name, drawing sharp rebuke from Pope Leo. The piece argues that Hegseth’s obscure Calvinist beliefs, which reject papal authority and emphasize divine control, are driving a strategic disaster in the Middle East, blurring the lines between modern warfare and religious crusade.
The Guardian