BY VEENA RAO
A social media post by American author and journalist Megan Basham has gone viral, after she juxtaposed a photo of a Christian church with an image of a Ganesh idol immersion and suggested that Christians are “biblically allowed” to oppose such cultural shifts.
Basham wrote that Christians have the right to object when immigration policies change their country’s culture “from this to this” — referring to the contrast between a church and a Hindu festival ritual. She clarified that her objection was not directed at Indian people but specifically at Hinduism as a faith, writing: “The church is blessed by its many faithful Indian brothers and sisters. I object to Hinduism.”
Doubling down on her stance, Basham stated, “This is not about skin color or ethnicity. It’s about not wanting to encourage a culture of open pagan idolatry in your nation. Everything that is legal is not beneficial.”
She further argued that nations have the right to regulate religious culture and that societies that do not welcome Christians are “breaking God’s law.” Basham also questioned why the U.S. should allow large-scale Hindu immigration if India does not similarly accommodate Christian evangelism: “Not let us immigrate to India on work visas? … I hope you will let us do the same to the 28 million Christians in India!”
Doubling down on her stance, Basham stated, “This is not about skin color or ethnicity. It’s about not wanting to encourage a culture of open pagan idolatry in your nation. Everything that is legal is not beneficial.” She further argued that nations have the right to regulate religious culture and that societies that do not welcome Christians are “breaking God’s law.” Basham also questioned why the U.S. should allow large-scale Hindu immigration if India does not similarly accommodate Christian evangelism: “Not let us immigrate to India on work visas? … I hope you will let us do the same to the 28 million Christians in India!”
Her comments drew swift and widespread criticism, with many accusing her of religious intolerance and anti-Hindu bias. Critics said her framing reduces complex questions of immigration and pluralism into a simplistic “Christian vs. Hindu” narrative and undermines America’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom.
“Using religious imagery to frame immigrants and their traditions as threats is dangerous and divisive,” said one commentator on X. “Hindu festivals and public expressions of faith are protected under the same First Amendment that allows churches to flourish.”
Others noted that public religious observances — from church parades to Hindu processions — are a vital part of American pluralism, and that opposing them risks marginalizing minority communities. “The visibility of minority faiths is not an erosion of culture; it’s a reflection of who we are as a diverse nation,” one response read.
Still, Basham’s post found support among some conservative circles. Indian-American commentator Dinesh D’Souza publicly backed her, writing, “I agree wholeheartedly,” and praising her for sparking a necessary conversation about immigration and cultural change. Supporters argue that Basham is exercising her right to critique religious practices and raise concerns about preserving the nation’s Christian heritage.
Basham, who is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a culture reporter for The Daily Wire and a former film and television editor at WORLD magazine. A graduate of the World Journalism Institute, she has built a career writing about the intersections of faith, culture, and politics. Married and a mother of two daughters, Basham is known for her outspoken views on religion and society, often sparking debate with her commentaries on how cultural and demographic changes affect America’s Christian identity.
As the debate rages on, Basham has stood by her remarks, insisting that her comments are rooted in theology, not prejudice. “This is not about skin color or ethnicity,” she wrote. “It’s about what we as Christians are called to support — and what we are biblically allowed to oppose.”
But for many Hindu Americans and advocates of religious freedom, the issue goes beyond one post. It is about whether America will remain a place where all faiths — churches and temples, crosses and idols — can stand side by side without one being branded as alien or unwelcome.
You are biblically allowed to oppose immigration policies that change your country’s culture from this to this. pic.twitter.com/f1djTp8p60
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) October 9, 2025
Cover Photos credit: Megan Basham/X.
