The growing visibility of religion in contemporary politics has brought renewed attention to the role of evangelical and fundamentalist movements in shaping public discourse, particularly in the United States and the Middle East. Yet terms such as “Protestant,” “evangelical,” and “fundamentalist” are often used interchangeably, obscuring important theological and political distinctions. In this interview, Paolo Naso unpacks these differences and examines the rise of Christian Zionism, the use of biblical narratives to interpret geopolitical conflicts, and the emergence of what he calls an “ecumenism of hate”.
Cover photo: Supporters pray as US President Donald Trump speaks during a ‘Evangelicals for Trump’ campaign event held at the King Jesus International Ministry on January 03, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jim Watson / AFP)
