Religious scholar speaks out against religious narrative during Trump's inauguration ceremony
In the United States' 2025 inauguration, prayers were led predominantly by Christian faith leaders, with little evidence of broader interfaith inclusion.
Professor Dahlke, an expert in dogmatics and dogmatic history at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, was not directly involved in the inauguration events. However, the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt is where Dahlke serves as a professor.
The occasion was Trump's inauguration, and the location was the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a Catholic leader from New York, delivered a prayer at the event.
The religious expressions during the inauguration focused heavily on Christian rhetoric and leaders, aligning with President Trump’s known affinity for evangelical Christian support. Notable Christian pastors like Pastor Lorenzo Sewell were among those who led prayers, describing President Trump's political survival in religious terms.
Despite the public association with Christian symbolism during the inauguration and related events, there is no clear mention in the search results of prayers or representations from non-Christian faiths or of an interfaith prayer format at the 2025 inauguration.
This predominantly Christian focus during the inauguration prayers reflects the president’s own public religious affiliations and the cultural-religious landscape of such events in the United States, without notable inclusion of other religious traditions in the inauguration prayer services.
Professor Dahlke, being an expert in dogmatics and dogmatic history, found it concerning that the 2025 inauguration in the United States featured primarily Christian prayers, with little evidence of general-news or interfaith inclusion, especially in contrast to the diverse religious landscape of the country. Despite not being directly involved in the inauguration events, he noted that this predominantly Christian focus during the inauguration prayers aligns with the president's public religious affiliations and the culture-religious landscape of such events in the United States.
