Op-Ed: White evangelicals think Trump is divinely ordained.
He'll do almost anything to keep it that wayDonald Trumps reelection chances are quite dim without the robust support of his white evangelical base. His electoral college win in 2016 was fueled by white evangelical turnout and the overwhelming number of white evangelicals 81% who pulled the lever for him. He cannot afford for the religious right, made up of white evangelicals along with conservative white mainline Protestants and Catholics, to let up on the rapt support they have shown throughout his presidency.
That helps explain why, in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic and a historic uprising against racism, the president and his allied power brokers on the religious right are focused not on addressing either crisis, but rather on stagecraft that will reinforce the bases belief that Trump is a divinely anointed president who is saving white Christian America from ruin.
Trumps photo op last week in front of the historic St. Johns Church, which looked farcical, sacrilegious and even fascistic to many Americans, was spun and received as tough and heroic to his defenders. In the pro-Trump media bubble, America is under siege by leftist terrorists, and Trump is the valorous protector of a Christian nation. That the president and his attorney general, William Barr, had protesters tear gassed so Trump could walk to the church was a vibrant symbol of his willingness to fight for the soul of the nation.
It was strong and powerful for the president to go there and say, we will not be cowed, Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican, told Fox News. And Robert Jeffress, a mega-church pastor who is one of Trumps closest evangelical advisors, told the network the purpose of the presidents visit was demonstrating his intent to protect churches from those who would try to destroy them.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/op-ed-white-evangelicals-think-100025597.html
Freethinker65
(10,064 posts)empedocles
(15,751 posts)Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)In fact, they can't understand why I don't feel the same way. The chasm is deep and wide between us and I see no way they will ever change...no matter who tries to convince them they are wrong.
Of course, they both anticipate (with delight) the second coming and end of the world as we know it.
I just say, "Wherever you're going, I don't wanna be there."
Timewas
(2,196 posts)Would hurry up I am getting tired of these asshats,they would be gone and th erest of us could get on with our lives
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)It is not religion in itself that is a problem, it is fundamentalism and we are seeing why in many examples.
Fundamentalism is just extreme and becomes a pox on any culture where it gains a foothold. Some cultures have many religions functioning within them under an umbrella.
It should be clear that, along with their delusional and power hungry misrepresentations of their own religion, Evangelicals are taking fundamentalism to a politically dangerous extreme. Their theocratic notions are clearly and demonstrably antagonistic to freedom and democracy. In fact, they are its antithesis. It is not enough for them to have the freedom to worship and believe what they choose to, they tend to push the line and try to spill over on the rest of the society which then leads to a trip to Gilead, as per that great example, The Handmaid's Tale.
Oligarchy and Theocracy are, along with any form of Fascism real threats to liberty and enemies of democracy, no matter how flawed ours is. We are facing clear and present dangers from within, make no mistake about it.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,024 posts)nakocal
(557 posts)Their bots on social media attacking Clinton with lies, their bots encouraging Sander supporters to not vote, their money to help Jill Stein attract any votes, and their hacking of some of the election machines and altering votes.
onecaliberal
(32,913 posts)stopbush
(24,397 posts)The biblical model of governance is the KINGDOM, be it on Earth or in the imaginary heaven.
Why would anyone expect Christians to be invested in democracy? Their entire belief system is that they are CHOSEN to spend eternity in a KINGDOM, ruled by a benevolent dictator known as Jeebuz. But they are still serfs in that kingdom. THERE ARE NO VOTES IN HEAVEN.
And so it is easy to see how the most radical Xians fall prey to the idea that tRump is a messenger from their god. He is anti-democratic, elitist and unlearned, just like they are deep in their souls. The fact that tRump hates the same people as do they puts a smile on their face, just as it brought a smile to the face of Acquinas when he averred that one of the joys of heaven was looking down on the suffering of the damned.
Christianity is a sick, perverted conceit that our species needs to trash ASAP.
Zambero
(8,974 posts)Just what is that supposed to mean? Is Ted having a spat with Devin Nunes? Or just Devin's cow???
SWBTATTReg
(22,174 posts)and believe such nonsense.
Such a disgusting misuse of this term. I guess that I shouldn't be surprised being that rump can grab p*&&y, and gutter talk all of the time, and these fakers still claim that they are holier than thou, and know all. No wonder church membership numbers are sinking rapidly.
Docreed2003
(16,878 posts)Typical evangelical bullshit...always have to suggest they are being oppressed. How in any shape, form, or fashion do these protests suggest a "cowing" of evangelicals?
Jersey Devlin
(85 posts)Maybe. As the Antichrist!
elleng
(131,174 posts)IGNORE
Skittles
(153,209 posts)they are CULT MEMBERS
Kid Berwyn
(14,980 posts)People who like to make out theyre divine usually end up like Danny Dravot in The Man Who Would Be King, or end up like Peachy Carnehan, if they arent so lucky.
Amy-Strange
(854 posts)-
God damn that low-life, piece of wiggly, snot-coated, squirmy little puddle of dog poo.
Of course, I realize that's an insult to dog poo, but it still fits.
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