Charlie Kirk: how the death of an activist is turned into a symbol of MAGA faith.

According to Vox: Charlie Kirk has become the first martyr of MAGA faith. This situation is important, as the veneration of martyrs helped Christianity and Islam become global religions. By releasing its martyrs, MAGA can grow from a movement centered around Donald Trump into something larger that can outlast him.

After Kirk’s death, MAGA commentators compared the reaction to his death with the reaction to the murder of Horst Wessel, a German Nazi killed by communists in 1930. In the hands of Joseph Goebbels, Wessel’s death became a symbol of the Nazis' struggle against communism. Goebbels created a cult around Wessel, which boosted support for the Nazi movement.

Comparing Kirk to Wessel has its grounds. His death allowed MAGA and the Trump administration to attack political opponents with renewed vigor. However, such comparisons overlook an important aspect—Goebbels relied on existing models, and whether consciously or not, MAGA also calls for cults of martyrs.

Lack of Martyr Veneration

Until now, the evangelical Christianity that Kirk embraced has had a complicated relationship with martyrdom. There have been powerful stories, such as those of Cassie Bernall or John Allen Chau, but these cases were perceived as isolated episodes rather than becoming part of a prolonged veneration, as evidenced by the official support for Kirk's memory.

This caution has become a weakness, as martyrs inspire the faithful, energize movements, and spread messages. There is no better testimony to truth than that thousands were willing to die for their truth.

As MAGA’s first martyr, the myth being crafted around Kirk both mirrors that of earlier religions’ martyrs while still bearing the unique marks of the MAGA faith.

Creating a Martyr

On September 9, Kirk was an active participant in the MAGA movement, arguing with college professors. As a co-founder of the conservative activist group Turning Point USA, he became known in national politics even as a teenager. However, at that time, he did not show much interest in religion. Yet after the establishment of TPUSA Faith in partnership with Pastor Rob McCoy, the religious component in his public statements began to grow.

After his death, the situation changed: alongside depictions of Kirk as a defender of free speech, religious veneration began to emerge. In MAGA circles, Kirk started to be portrayed as an evangelist, even as a modern-day John the Baptist, claiming that his death would mark the beginning of a revival.

In this movement, theology is bent to serve the nation, and churches exist to strengthen an America defined by nationalism, whiteness, and loyalty to Trump.

Defining Kirk as a common 'Christian', his true religious background is hidden or ignored. While his wife Erika is Catholic, Kirk himself appears to have been a Pentecostal Christian. This complicates his religious identity, making him more useful for MAGA politics.

Echoes of Medieval Traditions

The memory of Kirk indicates that MAGA is picking up medieval traditions, creating a martyr that could fit into any book or church of the sixth century. Kirk's memorial, which took place in Arizona, represented not only an evangelical infatuation but also elements drawn from ancient Christian traditions.

The complicated dynamic between the speeches of Eric Kirk and Donald Trump, where one called for forgiveness while the other called for vengeance, reflects a medieval model where Christian mercy coexists with the harsh realities of authoritarian rule.

Highlighting various elements, such as merchandise bearing Kirk's image, this tradition of martyr veneration embraced by MAGA evangelicals underscores the mixing of religion and politics in contemporary America.

Martyrs created Christianity, transforming it from a small sect into a religion. And MAGA, consciously or not, has adopted these important lessons from history.