Some US service members say they were told a war with Iran wouldn’t just be strategic—it would be biblical.
According to complaints gathered by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, certain US commanders allegedly framed the conflict as part of God’s plan: a step toward Armageddon and the return of Jesus.
If true, that raises urgent questions about how religious ideology may be shaping military culture—and potentially influencing decisions with global consequences.
In this episode of Breaking Green, we speak with journalist Jonathan Larsen about what troops are reporting, why the Pentagon’s silence matters, and what this reveals about the growing influence of religious nationalism in US policy.
On this episode:
Why the Pentagon didn’t deny this
What the Armageddon messaging looked like in a combat preparation context
How religious framing of war can amplify danger and widen perceived enemies
How end-times beliefs can influence real-world military and foreign policy decisions
Why corporate media rarely investigates religion’s influence on geopolitics
Who The Family is, how the National Prayer Breakfast fits in, and what “ministering to power” means
Why we should avoid conspiratorial thinking and focus on systems and incentives
Jonathan Larsen is a veteran reporter and former executive producer at MSNBC, where he worked on shows including Up with Chris Hayes and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. He has also reported for United Press International and Al Jazeera America.
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