“Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die.” – Elon Musk, addressing 150,000 British people via videolink at a Unite the Kingdom rally in London, September 2025.

“May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven.”

Jesus of Nazareth, praying to his Father and teaching his Galilean followers the Lord’s Prayer.

Competing worldviews

These quotes remind us that Christians, and people of faith and none, are faced with radical choices of alternative worldviews.

In our contemporary Western post-Christian world we are witnessing the rise of a new worldview: the extreme or far right.

Traits of the far right

This movement may include elements such as:

• Nationalism.
• Racism.
• Xenophobia.
• Anti-democratic attitudes.
• Populism.
• Christian fundamentalism.

Their leaders claim to embody the will of the people and aim to weaken, then dispense with, parliamentary restrictions to consolidate their power.

They scapegoat marginalised groups and immigrants, blaming them for social and economic ills.

A growing European trend

The far right’s increasing electoral force is now a transnational European trend.

Far-right parties lead governments in Hungary and Italy. They form coalitions in Finland, Sweden, Austria, and Slovakia, and until recently in the Netherlands. They are also the largest opposition in Belgium, Portugal, France, and Germany.

Global shifts

In Ireland, values of welcome and openness are being replaced with hostility and violence toward those perceived as “other.”

In Israel, the rise of the far right has led to not just rejection of Palestinians but to their genocide. “Never again” has become “yet again.”

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has shifted towards authoritarianism with a cult of personality around him.

In the U.S., the success of Trumpism has emboldened and united far-right parties worldwide through social media.

The gospel alternative

The question must be asked whether the ideology of these far-right movements is compatible with the Gospel proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth.

The Kingdom Jesus proclaimed is one where all are invited to the banquet of life, with a special welcome for those like Lazarus who are marginalised and excluded.

Jesus had a special affection for the socially excluded and was crucified for challenging the supremacist ideology of the Roman Empire. His Father vindicated his stand through his Resurrection.

Call to action

Christians cannot sit on the fence and despair as far-right ideology grows. They must challenge the values espoused by these movements.

The Spirit of the God of surprises is still active in our evolving world, inspiring new prophets and opening new horizons.

Meanwhile, Jesus assures us: “The kingdom of God is among you.” – Luke 17:21

• Brendan Butler is a former secondary school teacher who specialised in teaching Religious Education. His postgraduate degree was in theology from the Antonianum University in Rome. In 1979, he co-founded “The Irish El Salvador Support Committee” and later “The Ireland Algeria Solidarity Group”. He was the co-ordinator of “The N.G.O. Peace Alliance” which was active in the Irish peace movement. He helped to revive the Catholic Church reform movement “We are Church Ireland”, of which he was joint co-ordinator and spokesperson for several years.
• He published: My Story by Jesus of Nazareth, As narrated by Brendan Butler.
• Brendan is also active in contributing articles, letters to Irish Newspapers on Church and human rights issues.