Anyone want a thread of my thoughts on Obama and religion? No? Too bad, because he you go: https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1249346924102275072

To me, this is emblematic of the current state of the religion-partisanship divide. Obama's--and Democrats' in general--approach to religion is to provide anodyne, seemingly uncontroversial and inclusive messages about religion.

Obama's tweet contains language for fervent Christians and avowed secularists to respond positively to. Who could find such a sentiment offensive? It includes everybody! How unifying!

But I would imagine, based on *gestures broadly*, that religious Republicans and its media voices would see this as watered down secular nonsense. Where does he mention Jesus? The resurrection? Christians specifically?

By not centering Christians in the message, they would read this as exclusionary--catering to the sensibilities of secularists and Episcopalians (which is basically redundant)--while ignoring Evangelicals.

They might complain that Obama would mention Muslims specifically when acknowledging an Islamic holiday, while Easter gets the inclusive language treatment.

Which brings me to my point: for Evangelicals et al., a "unifying" message is one that puts their beliefs and culture at the center, tolerating at most other voices and traditions.

A broad appeal, one that puts Christians and secular Americans on equal footing, is seen as marginalizing, not inclusive. I've often wondered why Obama roused such antipathy for these kind of statements, and grievance/distrust/anger at change might help explain it.