My brother is a holy roller (and thus a trumplodyte) which makes family encounters very tricky

[Goodheart]

But I'm not holding back. He won't outwardly admit to being shamed, but I know that internally he very much is.

"The true shame of all this, Gary? Well, it's that you Republicans could have picked a decent person, instead... where now this country wouldn't be in such divisive turmoil...
and as a Christian you could have chosen somebody who represents Christianity well and embodies Christian principles... . but for racist purposes your party selected the rapist traitor pervert.

And the greatest sin, Gary, which is pride, comes before the fall. You can admit that you made a big mistake. You did."

[walkingman]

1. My entire family, with one exception, is exactly the same way. They were also very obnoxiously

critical of Obama. I've pretty much given up hope of things changing. This refutes my theory that it might really be a genetic issue. I've now think it might be more racial in nature. They also are totally consumed with Religion (evangelicals). I'm beginning to think the two are related. I think everyone is entitled to think what they wish and believe how they wish but please stop pushing it on me. It has totally turned me off on religion and our family is more distant now than ever before.

[Goodheart]

4. That's a point I've also made to him

If one of your goals is to bring more people into the flock well you're hurting yourselves.

Your hypocrisy coupled with support for indecency has disgusted most people.

[sagesnow]

2. My brother is a

Trumphumping thug, very much the narcissist that Cheetolini is. For me, the best thing to do is to have the No Contact rule as much as possible. "Do not negotiate with bullies".

Family reunions are getting fewer and missing them is preferable to WWIII.

[samnsara]

3. my sis is the same way and i did point out all the sexual assaults by trump..

…...and the women who are accusing him and she replied Who Said? like she had NEVER heard of that before. So the hole in the sand where they stick their heads is very deep and sound proof!

[sagesnow]

5. Yes and I find that engaging with them is

a futile waste of your time and sanity. It only drags you deeper into the muck that comprises their brain.

[appleannie1943]

6. My sister and her husband are both evangelicals.

They honestly believe that Trump was put in the White House by God and the whole thing we are experiencing is ordained by God. Nothing Trump does or says is wrong because it is from the Word of God. I honestly believe it is more of a cult than a religion. My sister even prays in 'tongues'. There are two subjects we never discuss. One is religion and the other is politics. We skirt them both like dancers.

[appleannie1943]

8. I no more than finished the previous post and went to facebook to see my sister had posted

I can't get it to copy and paste but this is what it says:

Everything happens for a reason
And reasons cause change
Sometimes it hurts
Sometimes it's hard
But in the end
It's all for the best
Never stop trusting GOD
And His plans

I have a feeling that post showed up on my wall for a reason since we both have our walls set so we don't see each other but can communicate only with each other.

[House of Roberts]

16. Never a thought to the possibility of his being a 'false prophet',

is there? Maybe Trump's candidacy was a test for them?

[Nay]

9. You've noticed that the "trust God" and "everything happens for a reason" and the "God has

got this" crowd never say such things about Democratic presidents in office. Big tipoff there.

[Duppers]

24. +100

Zactly.

[pnwmom]

10. You could ask them whether it's okay in their view to worship the Antichrist,

as the Bible says many did.

What if it's not a coincidence that his son-in-law's building in NYC has the address 666?

[Texin]

15. I would think Christian dominionists would be alarmed about the 666 address on tRump Tower.

I've long since quit believing in religions altogether, but the passage in the Revelations that describes the Antichrist says explicitly that his mark/identification is '666'. A lot of these folks who believe that tRump is God's man clearly missed the part about how so many so-called Christians would be taken into the delusion and will end up in the burning fires of hell because of their base apostasy. God's anointed one(s) cannot possibly be associated with Satan and do his bidding. If one is a true Christian, one could not possibly believe in principles that are so clearly and diametrically opposed to what Jesus of Nazareth taught and preached. The two cannot possibly be reconciled. One cannot align themselves with God and Jesus and then align themselves politically and fervently with someone who is the absolute opposite of that.

[House of Roberts]

17. 666 Fifth Avenue isn't a Trump Tower.

It belongs to Kushner Properties, who are deep underwater on the building due to overpaying for it right before the real estate bubble burst in 2008.
Trump Tower Manhattan is close by, at 721-725 Fifth Avenue.

[LakeSuperiorView]

26. I thought that Karl Rove's PAC "American Crossroads" should cause alarm with the talibangelists,

but they were just fine with it.

A Crossroad is where you go to make a deal with the devil or a demon.

One of the Republics got assigned 666 for his Bill and he whined until they gave him a new number.

[LiberalLovinLug]

20. That is what is scary about fundementalist evangelicals.

I was brought up in such a house so I know them well.

I think there were years, decades even, when there was a revolution of science and human rights battles and wins, where church numbers declined. Starting in the late sixties. Terms like "humanism", 'new age", were now given respectable attention other than religion as the only way to define the world. Throughout the next decades, even Hollywood and TV began to take liberties with ridiculing the overly indoctrinated Christian followers represented as characters in shows, (like Ned Flanders in the Simpsons) It didn't help that more and more TV Evangelists were caught with their hands in either the collection plate, or some prostitutes panties.

Anger about how they were being portrayed built through the years into full blown accusations that they were UNDER ATTACK. That there was a culture war against them. Rallying around isolated stories like big stores dropping the Merry Christmas for Happy Holidays, or Seasons Greetings. It was about that time that the more wealthy and influencial of them worked up a plan to enter politics and change it from within. To encourage religious people to run for local office.

Anyways, I'm rambling. What my point is is that the momentum of what has been quite a success for them, blinds them now with a lust for even more power. They are downright giddy with this victory for gawd. Its a moment of "IN YOUR FACE INFIDELS" They have the power now, through this corrupted vessel being used by gawd unbeknownst to the golden calf himself, to reverse Roe vs Wade, and appoint a gawd fearing SCOTUS, as well as judicial vacancies across the country. It makes no difference even if they know he's doing it just to pander for votes. Because they now get to feel like they are like the weakling that had sand kicked in his face and are finally able to get back at the meanies making fun of them for believing in their imaginary know-it-all deity sitting in a giant throne floating in the clouds.

[catbyte]

28. I think it all started when Ronald Reagan began kowtowing to the Religious Right.

Before Reagan, the Republican party thought of them as a useful yet insignificant constituency--nut jobs, but reliable votes. With Reagan's embrace of Jerry Falwell & The Moral Majority, they began to build political power and influence over Republican politicians. I place the rise of the Religious Right squarely at Reagan's feet, which is just about the most horrific, long range damage, along with income inequality & the destruction of the middle class, that he inflicted on this country. I'm old enough to have seen it for myself.

That's one of the biggest differences between now and the Watergate era. Now we have all of these evangelicals in Congress who think that Traitor Tot was ordained by God so they're deflecting blame as much as possible. That, combined with Russian money, will make it impossible for him to be impeached unless we take the House & Senate in historic numbers.

[LiberalLovinLug]

32. I agree. Reagan began it or at least recharged it.

G W Bush recharged their hopes again. A 'born again' Christian that, supposedly, overcame alcoholism through his faith. And someone that could prove they were NOT the weaklings, they could be warriors and invade 'bad' Muslim countries. God told Bush to do it.

Republicans realized that this was a reliable base of voters they could count on getting to the polls. There may not be lots of them but they are passionate about one or two issues that are easily supported, and very reliable voters. All they had to do is make sure they infused religiousosity more into their speeches, and promoted anti-abortion policies in their jobs. As long as it didn't conflict with their greater purpose.....using their offices to create wealth for themselves and their families. To please their wealthiest donors by dismantling regulations and reducing taxes on business. If they could still do that while paying lip service to the good Lord then why not?

[TlalocW]

35. Don't forget how the religious right started

It was as a protest to desegregation - not abortion. Churches who also had charities that could get various government grants were told that they would have to desegregate to keep any government funding. They mobilized against this but lost (they even blamed Jimmy Carter although the rulings the came down that put the kibosh on them remaining segregated came in 1975). They lost, but they liked the feeling of power of trying to influence the government so they decided to form their Christian Coalitions and Moral Majorities (or at least he precursors to such), and this time, the issue they picked was abortion and of course, all the more minor issues like feminism, homosexuality, sex-ed, communism, etc., but abortion was the big one. It took a few years to get some traction, but Reagan embraced them, and the rest is history.

TlalocW

[Initech]

11. It's a cult absolutely!

And it's scary trying to have even a basic discussion with those who have fallen under its' spell. I am very afraid of what these people would do if Trump is removed from office.

[ooky]

13. I doubt they would do anything but whine.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. It's my personal opinion that all organized religions are cults.

Some have so many members that their behavior is considered normal, and thus are no longer considered cults.

But in the end, every religion claims to have a monopoly on truth and salvation, although some are less overt about it than others.

[leftieNanner]

21. And remember that deep down they are praying for the Rapture

Whether The Idiot in Chief is the second coming of Christ, or Satan doesn't matter. If it brings about the End Times, they are all good with that. They believe that they will be the only ones taken into heaven and the rest of us will burn in the pits of Hell for all eternity. Definitely a cult.

[Fresh_Start]

27. I would like someone to answer....

how can you tell the difference between a person chosen by God and a person chosen by Satan?

Do they dare suggest that Satan would select a more Christian person than God would select?

So their proof is that since Trump is guilty of all the deadly sins proves he was chosen by God?

[TlalocW]

34. I tell evangelicals

That Trump was a test, and they failed. Pisses them off.

TlalocW

[TEB]

7. Totally understand your dilemma

My 45 year old brother remarried into a southern baptist Fox News watching cult of a family.

[polmaven]

12. Not all of us are with 45!!

I consider my self to be an avid Christian, and I could never in this world have voted for 45. He does not, in my opinion represent any kind of Christian values.

I was raised going to Sunday School and I still go to church regularly!

I have been registered to vote since the DAY I turned 21 (yes, I'm that old), and have always been a loyal liberal Democrat.

Please do not think of all of us being as anti-Christ as is that monster!

[Mariana]

19. Of course all of you aren't with 45.

The OP is very clearly talking about his or her Evangelical brother, and about Republicans in general. It was not about you.

[deurbano]

29. Jimmy Carter, too.

And Hillary Clinton, for that matter.

[polmaven]

37. Absolutely true!!

Jimmy Carter is one of the most avid Christians there is! And Hillary is right up there!

[Delarage]

38. Me, too!

I was raised by Republicans and was therefore originally registered a Republican....however, I can't recall my mom ever voting for a Republican and my first vote was for Bill Clinton (then Gore, then Kerry, then Obama, then Hillary). I think I became a Democrat DURING Clinton's term, briefly flirted with joining the Green Party, then realized that would help elect Repukes, so I've stayed a Democrat and will likely never change (unless we nominate some horrible A-hole like Trump). So I've always voted for winners, minus the interference in Florida, Ohio, and from Russia/Facebook.

Christianity, the New Testament in particular, is far from what the Repukes try to pass off. Flip open almost any page and you can find something about not focusing on accumulating wealth, not being greedy, not focusing on material crap, etc. The Repukes would have you believe every other word was a condemnation of LGBT folks. I think their rich masters find whatever they can to divide everyone--so we don't focus on them getting richer and richer. Such hypocritical Pharisees.

[Paladin]

18. No more moralistic critiques from your brother. Ever.

His siding with trump renders such comments from him dead on arrival. Forever. Same goes for all evangelicals who have made the mistake of siding with a degenerate scumbag like trump.

That's the one big upside of your situation. Best of luck.

[catbyte]

22. All of these people you are describing are perfect examples of my favorite quote re: religion:

“You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”

--Anne Lamott

[ooky]

23. Thank goodness I converted my family members before the Trump cult really got going.

I had a couple of close family members that were politically ignorant and voting Republican back in 2012, but I was able to get to them and educate them before they could fall into the Trump cult. Now I'm happy to say our complete family are all a unified, Trump despising family.

[Cha]

36. Good on you, ooky!

[ooky]

39. n/t

[RoBear]

25. actually,

it's "pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

Not that it matters much; both are apt, but I like the HAUGHTY SPIRIT, which dog knows is apt for the present AIC...

[Uncle Joe]

30. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for sharing Goodheart.

[dem4decades]

31. Saw George Lopez last night. Her said he didn't want tobe political but

Then said

"Fuck Trump"

"And Fuck You if you voted for him."


Nothing else needs to be said.

[CrispyQ]

33. I want to say this:

Your continued support of a man who has zero decency, zero integrity, is a bully & a predator, is leaving an indelible mark on you. I will never think of you the same.