JD Vance stated that he is a '7 or an 8' out of ten regarding his confidence in going to heaven during an interview with Christian influencer Bryce Crawford. Vance, who converted to Catholicism, discussed his faith and mentioned that he would not be surprised if we were living in the 'end times.' When asked about his confidence level, he said, 'Oh man that is a tough question. It's high but it's not 10. It's a 7 or an 8. I'm always one of these people who is going to have little doubts and if you'd asked me that question a year ago it was probably a 5 or a 6.' Vance attributed his increased confidence to a change in perspective, though he acknowledged that he still has doubts about the reality of faith.
His comments have sparked a theological debate among Christians, with some arguing that faith should be absolute rather than on a scale. Pro-life activist Steven Ertelt stated, 'If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, your confidence should be a 10.' In contrast, some users on social media noted that Vance's views align with Catholic teachings, which emphasize hope for salvation rather than certainty. The Council of Trent, convened in 1547, condemned the belief that a believer can know with certainty that they are saved, and the Catechism warns against presumption regarding salvation.
Vance also discussed the concept of end times, stating, 'Do I think that we're in the end times? I don't know. And I think that it's probably bad for me spiritually to focus too much on it because there are, like, things that you gotta do.' He emphasized the importance of focusing on doing God's work rather than fixating on apocalyptic predictions.
Additionally, Vance addressed a recent controversy involving former President Trump, who posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus. Vance explained that Trump believed the image portrayed him as a doctor and removed it after receiving criticism. He described Trump as someone who enjoys humor and does not intend to offend others.