Full Breakdown
Austin Pastor’s Denial of Core Christian Tenets Sparks Scrutiny of Senate Candidate James Talarico’s Church
By Drooid · · How we work
Rev. Babs Miller’s Public Rejection of Traditional Christian Beliefs
Rev. Babs Miller, an openly lesbian minister at St. She framed the crucifixion as a political act by Rome rather than a salvific sacrifice and described the virgin-birth story as “pagan.”
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Its Liberal Doctrine, and James Talarico’s Political Use
St. Andrew’s belongs to the Presbyterian Church (USA), a denomination noted for liberal positions on gender and sexuality. James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominee, has long been a member of the congregation. A 2015 Christmas-Day Facebook post by the church’s longtime pastor Rev. Miller’s recent comments have drawn renewed media attention as Talarico seeks to moderate his positions for a statewide electorate where evangelicals constitute the largest religious group.
Academic Consensus on the Historicity of Jesus
Despite Miller’s doubts, mainstream scholars overwhelmingly affirm that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical figure.
Official Reactions and Campaign Implications
The revelations have intensified scrutiny of Talarico’s theological affiliations and their potential impact on his Senate bid. Critics within the state’s evangelical community have highlighted the pastor’s statements as evidence of a broader liberal agenda at the candidate’s home church. Talarico’s campaign has not issued a formal response to Miller’s remarks, and church leadership has not publicly addressed the controversy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mary and the Virgin Birth comes out of the pagan belief that the gods came down and impregnated people,” — Wire. Rev. Babs Miller, minister to the parish at St
- “It could have all been made up, for all I know,” — Wire. Rev. Babs Miller, minister to the parish at St
- “I don’t know any mainstream scholar who doubts the historicity of Jesus.” — Eric Meyers, an archaeologist and emeritus professor of Judaic studies at Duke University
- “The details have been debated for centuries, but no one who is serious doubts that he’s a historical figure,” — Eric Meyers, an archaeologist and emeritus professor of Judaic studies at Duke University