can it get any more fucked up than this - Slate "Why Trump-Friendly Christian Leaders Are Feeling

[NRaleighLiberal]

Why Trump-Friendly Christian Leaders Are Feeling Totally Fine About the Coronavirus

https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/03/why-trump-friendly-christian-leaders-are-feeling-totally-fine-about-the-coronavirus.html

In the 2015 book Countdown to the Apocalypse: Why ISIS and Ebola Are Only the Beginning, Robert Jeffress described a world on the brink of chaos. “Never in my lifetime have I sensed so much unrest in the air,” the Dallas pastor wrote. “Will an Ebola epidemic or an outbreak of some other super virus spread across America?” But today, as an actual “super virus” advances across the United States, Jeffress seems to be feeling much more sanguine. “I do predict this will be under control in the not too distant future,” Jeffress told me on Thursday. “I would encourage any Christian to take sensible precautions without being overrun with anxiety.”

Jeffress, one of Donald Trump’s most full-throated evangelical supporters, plans to preach a sermon on the coronavirus this Sunday at his church, First Baptist Dallas. Its title is “Is the Coronavirus a Judgment From God?” Jeffress strongly suggested to me that the answer is no: “Many times illness is just a consequence of living in the fallen world.” In other words, the virus is nothing to fear nor anything to draw theological or political conclusions from.

Publicity-savvy megachurch pastors and televangelists are often known—fairly or not—for both stoking fear and divining theological messages from current events. Think of Texas televangelist John Hagee warning that the 2014 Ebola outbreak was God’s punishment for President Barack Obama’s Israel policy. But Jeffress is far from the only high-profile conservative Christian to be emphasizing calm in the face of the coronavirus. “The Lord showed me the end of the Coronavirus,” Shawn Bolz, a prominent self-declared prophet in Los Angeles, announced last week. “The tide is turning now!” His Facebook post drew more than 1,000 comments, which were overwhelmingly optimistic, with many saying they had similar visions. Bolz had previously prophesied that Trump will serve two terms in office, and that there will be “more boldness in the second term.” Bolz told me he believes in making reasonable preparations, but sees much of the news coverage of the new virus as a distraction. “Theologically and philosophically, I don’t believe this is God’s story, for 60 million to die,” he said. “The world is moving forward, not backward.”


Several media figures and ministry leaders in the charismatic tradition have expressed similar optimism. Evangelist Jonathan Shuttlesworth announced last week that the United States would be minimally affected because “Trump honors Israel.” Jon and Jolene Hamill of Lamplighter Ministries, who hosted a prayer event at the Trump International Hotel in 2018, issued a report to their followers in which they said several participants at a Florida gathering received messages from God that suggested he would “mitigate” the outbreak. (Bolz and the Hamills were among many charismatic leaders who participated in a “global conference call” of prayers to stop the coronavirus on Tuesday.) In a conversation with a health correspondent on the Christian newsmagazine show The 700 Club, 89-year-old Pat Robertson reported reassuringly that “the people who have died so far are those who are already sick with something else.” He then introduced a segment on probiotics, holding up a jar of sauerkraut and assuring his viewers that “if your gut is healthy, you don’t have to worry about corona.”


snip - read the rest if you dare.

Seriously - in my 64 years, I don't remember the crazy - the bat shit crazy - the fucking unreal bat shit gold plated crazy - being so far off the charts. I am far more fearful of the right wing and it's willful ignorance (or breathtaking stupidity) than the virus.

[keithbvadu2]

1. If they go to Trump rallies, they are pretty much immune as long as they worship the Donald.

If they go to Trump rallies, they are pretty much immune as long as they worship the Donald.

[walkingman]

2. This is crazier than Scientology and that is saying a lot.

[at140]

3. I am still seeing people not washing hands in rest rooms and

shaking hands with others, 2 of the worst habits to catch the virus.

[LakeArenal]

4. Not enough smiting anymore.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

5. We'll see what happens after this virus hits the first megachurch.

Many tunes will be changed and they will run for the exits.

The crazy has always been with us since I can recall tent revivals, faith healers and snake handlers from back to the 50s and 60s but as you said, it has exploded with super-crazy.

Like the corporate world, many evangelicals found that big money can be made off our gullible population if they just stick with their lies and justify anything from their Bible. Then, insist they all tithe 20% of their income to keep fuel in that private jet.

KY.........

[TlalocW]

6. Not surprised he's saying no

First off, the Coronavirus is not going to discriminate, and if anything, because of the various snake-oil salespeople out there on the evangelical side, the phony miracle cures and leaving it in God's hands messages could very well cause an explosion in their little world. Hell, there was a measles outbreak in some Texas megachurch who discouraged members from getting vaccines. Their rejection of science makes them prime candidates so their pastors can't be preaching this is God's punishment on people/society if the rubes they con out of money are getting sick thus being punished by God.

Second, unlike blaming natural disasters on gays, abortion, etc. since you can't really prevent them, presidential administrations can be proactive about viral outbreaks, and if they're competent they can have a positive effect. This is not the case with Trump who because of his position must fight it or at least put on a show, but unless he can really turn shit around, things are going to get worse. If the religious rubes start getting sick, it's not just God's punishment against them as an individual but against the country which means against Trump as country and Trump are one and the same. God will have removed Trump's special chosen status in their eyes.

So, no, for once something that harms the citizens of America will not be God's punishment because the outbreak will affect the religious rubes just as much as anyone else, and it will look like God has rebuked Trump.

TlalocW

[Buzz cook]

7. Send the people who tested positive

To the mega churches for divine healing.

[TheBlackAdder]

8. Modern day batshit crazy started by William J. Seymore at the Azusa Street Revival in 1906.

.

That's the origin of the modern virus plaguing society.

.