Top 6 theological takes from Senate candidate James Talarico: 'Dumb and blasphemous'

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, March 07, 2026

5. Claimed atheists 'more Christ-like' than Christians

In February, Talarico claimed on a podcast with journalist Al Hunt and Democratic strategist James Carville that some of his atheist and other non-Christian colleagues in the Texas Legislature are more "Christ-like" than some of his fellow legislators who claim to be Christian.

"Instead of putting the 10 Commandments in every classroom, instead of forcing school children to read the Bible against their wills, why don't we, all of us, look inward and figure out how we can be more Christ-like, even when it's uncomfortable?" asked Talarico, who spearheaded an abortive legislative effort in 2023 against a bill to display the Ten Commandments in Texas public schools, which he called "idolatrous" at the time.

When Hunt noted that Muslims and Hindus can also "learn a lot from Jesus," Talarico said, "I have met so many Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, atheists, agnostics who are more Christ-like than some of the Christians I serve with in the Texas Legislature. It is about how you treat other people."

James Talarico: “These Christians in Congress, these Christian Nationalists, they want a Christian nation unless it means providing healthcare to the sick. Unless it means funding food assistance for the hungry. Or raising the minimum wage for the poor. None of their policies… pic.twitter.com/IDRCygr47k

— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) January 30, 2026

Talarico has repeatedly expressed universalist theology, 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 align with that of his pastor in 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.

In response to backlash, Jim Rigby was dismissive of placing inordinate emphasis on creeds and confessions of faith, writing, "If God had wanted us to simply recite creeds, Jesus would have come as a parrot."

Al Mohler, longtime president of The Southern Baptist Seminary, warned at the time that Rigby's church was evidently "proud of its own spiritual rebellion" and likely beyond hope.

In a Feb. 24 Facebook post, Rigby dismissed an online critic who accused him of preaching a false gospel as "a Christian Nationalist," and said the Sermon on the Mount tells him "that our true 'church' is with all those who live in love regardless of their nation, gender, race, or religious affiliation."