Talarico draws scrutiny for claiming all faiths are 'equal pathways' to God in resurfaced clip

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Friday, September 11, 2026

U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico prompted renewed scrutiny for a resurfaced viral clip in which he expressed his universalist theology by claiming all faiths are "equal pathways to truth."

"I'm always so thrilled when I get invited to the Diwali festival, and I think I've gone two years in a row now, and you know, also have gotten the chance to speak at some of our local mosques," Talarico said in the clip, which first went viral on X in July when it was circulated by Lone Star PAC, a pro-Ken Paxton super PAC. The clip circulated again earlier this week.

James talarico says Islam and Christianity are "equal pathways to truth."

"I always think of all the world's faith traditions as a circle, with that divine mystery of the universe in the middle. We all have different names for that mystery, whether it's God or Yahweh or Allah or… pic.twitter.com/esjcNOopm4

— Lone Star Liberty PAC (@LoneStar_PAC) July 8, 2026

"And I find such wisdom and comfort and inspiration from faith traditions all over the world, and I find that they're all kind of equal pathways to truth. That's how I think," Talarico continued.

"You know, I always think of all the world's faith traditions as like a circle, with that divine mystery of the universe in the middle, and we all have different names for that mystery, right? Whether it's God or Yahweh or Allah, or Nirvana, the Great Spirit, whatever you call it, this is all different pathways to the same kind of fundamental truth of reality," he added.

Talarico's assertion drew rebuke from many Christians on social media, with radio host and columnist Mark Davis calling it "theological idiocy."

"The God I worship sent His Son to die for me. Allah demands you send your sons to die for him," Davis said.

"If anyone knows a Muslim who believes Christianity has equivalent truth claims to Islam, please let me know," said Republican Texas state Rep. Mitch Little.

"When you believe everything is true, then you really believe nothing is True," said Colin J. Smothers, preaching pastor of First Baptist Church of Maize, Kansas.

"Ironically, this is insulting to both Muslims and Christians. This is picture proof that James not only doesn't know the Bible, but doesn't know Jesus at all (i.e. he's not a Christian). Jesus Christ quite literally says 'I am the ONLY way,'" said journalist and radio host Tony Kinnett.

Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, has repeatedly expressed universalist theology before, telling New York Times columnist Ezra Klein in January that all religions contain "the same truth" as Christianity, and that while he believes "Christianity points to the truth," he also believes "other religions of love point to the same truth."

Talarico's universalist views echo those of the Rev. Jim Rigby, his longtime pastor at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation near Austin, who prompted an uproar 20 years ago that led to a formal presbytery investigation when he allowed an avowed atheist to join the membership roll of his church.

Rigby said at the time that inviting an atheist to join his church was "an attempt to build connections," and he was dismissive of placing inordinate emphasis on creeds and confessions of faith. "If God had wanted us to simply recite creeds, Jesus would have come as a parrot," Rigby wrote.

First Baptist Dallas senior pastor Robert Jeffress delivered an address at the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas on Thursday that denounced Talarico's views as "evil" and "not Christian."

“James Talarico believes there is a spectrum of genders, but in Matthew 19, Jesus said there are only two genders, ‘male and female,’” Jeffress said. “James Talarico believes that all religions are equally valid and are simply different truths or different paths up the same mountain of truth.”

Talarico was the frequent target of attack from many speakers at the convention earlier this week, including Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, who accused him of wearing Christianity like a "skin suit."