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James Talarico's lesbian minister at his Texas church has cast doubt on some of Christianity's most fundamental beliefs, including whether Jesus ever existed.
Reverend Babs Miller, a minister at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, attended by the Texas Democratic Senate candidate, has made a series of provocative comments about core Christian beliefs.
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Miller → sign → beliefs
In undercover footage recorded by the Daily Wire, Miller questioned traditional Christian teachings about Jesus' death and the Virgin Birth.
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Miller → record → death
Miller dismissed the traditional Christian teaching that he died for our sins.
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he → dismiss → sins
Jesus was put on that cross not to save us, they killed him.
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they → put → him
He didn't die to save our sins,' she said matter-of-factly.
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she → die → sins
She likewise rejected the idea that God sacrificed Jesus for mankind, saying she found the traditional explanation difficult to accept.
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explanation → reject → mankind
Miller also questioned the biblical account of the Virgin Birth, suggesting that the story was influenced by ancient pagan traditions.
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story → question → traditions
More strikingly, she expressed uncertainty about whether Jesus even existed at all, comparing the question to debates over the historical existence of Buddha.
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Jesus → express → Buddha
Talarico's minister, Reverend Babs Miller at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church refers to herself as an 'out chaplain lesbian,' in the church's website bio.
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minister → refer → bio
She was ordained in the church in 2014 and is photographed in an unconventional rainbow pride stole
Talarico has frequently invoked the teachings of Jesus in speeches and sermons, particularly when discussing poverty, immigration, abortion, LGBTQ rights and the separation of church and state
In 2021 while arguing against restrictions on transgender students he said, 'Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes; in fact, there are six'
Miller has publicly stated she knows Talarico from his childhood and was influential in his development.
A Texas Tribune report said Miller served as one of Talarico's references for seminary.
Miller argued Jesus's historical existence was 'ultimately unimportant,' calling the vengeful God of parts of the Old Testament pure mythology - and went further, suggesting Christianity itself may have been invented outright.
She was ordained in 2014, lists herself as 'Minister to the Parish' on the church's site, and calls herself an 'out chaplain lesbian,' posing in a rainbow pride stole.
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She → ordain → stole
The controversy adds to scrutiny of Talarico, a professed Christian studying at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary who hopes to become a minister.
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who → add → Seminary
He regularly cites Jesus's teachings on poverty, immigration, abortion, LGBTQ rights and church-state separation, and has drawn conservative fire before, notably declaring 'God is nonbinary' on the House floor in 2021 while opposing restrictions on transgender students.
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God → cite → students
That same year while fighting for transgender students he said, 'Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes in fact, there are six.'
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science → fight → fact
Republicans have repeatedly highlighted the shorter quotes while arguing that Talarico rejects traditional Christian doctrine.
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Talarico → highlight → doctrine
Those remarks have now become a central weapon in Republican attacks against him.
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remarks → become → him
Talarico's opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton and other Republicans have repeatedly focused on Talarico's theology in speeches and campaign advertising, portraying his views as evidence that he is hostile to traditional Christianity.
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he → focus → Christianity
A spokesperson for Paxton's campaign told the Daily Mail, 'His own church has called our Lord and Savior a social justice warrior and can't even declare He existed.
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He → tell → Lord
What else would you expect from the man who bills himself as 'a Christian who hates Christianity'?'
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who → expect → Christianity
One recent Paxton advertisement went so far as to use AI-generated imagery and stitched-together excerpts of Talarico's past comments, including his 'God is nonbinary' remark.
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God → go → remark
Miller discussed Talarico's political evolution in separate footage.
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Miller → discuss → footage
'I can guarantee you that once he gets elected, he'll change his tune back to where he was.'
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he → guarantee → tune
Talarico's campaign did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.
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campaign → respond → comment
The Aporia
