Thomas Edsall writes that Donald Trump has uncorked lots of nastiness in the United States:
The chilling amalgam of Christian Nationalism, white replacement theory and conspiratorial zeal — from QAnon to the “stolen” 2020 election — has attracted a substantial constituency in the United States, thanks in large part to the efforts of Donald Trump and his advisers. By some estimates, adherents of these overlapping movements make up as much as a quarter or even a third of the electorate. Whatever the scale, they are determined to restore what they see as the original racial and religious foundation of America.
“While these elements are not new,” Robert Jones, chief executive of P.R.R.I., wrote by email, “Donald Trump wove them together and brought them out into the open. Indeed, the MAGA formula — the stoking of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment while making nativist appeals to the Christian right — could accurately be described as a white Christian nationalist strategy from the beginning.”
White Nationalism was on display yet again over the weekend in Buffalo. Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshipers, prefers the term "religious nationalism," which she describes as:
a reactionary, authoritarian ideology that centers its grievances on a narrative of lost national greatness and believes in the indispensability of the “right” religion in recovering that lost greatness. This mind-set always involves a narrative of unjust persecution at the hands of alien or “un-American” groups. The specific targets may shift. Some focus their fears on the “homosexual agenda”; others target Americans of color or nonwhite immigrant groups; still others identify the menace with religious minorities such as Muslims, Jews and secular “elites,” or perceived threats against gender hierarchy and sexual order. And of course, many take an all-of-the-above approach.
They call themselves Christians. But they obviously are not who they claim to be. Like their Orange Idol, they call Truth a Lie, a Lie the Truth, Good Evil, and Evil Good. They are like the witches in Macbeth, gathered around their cauldron. Something wicked this way comes.
Image: The Council On Foreign Relations
10 comments:
"They call themselves Christians."
We should call them 'Christianists'
Christianist - Urban Dictionaryhttps://www.urbandictionary.com
One who claims to be a follower of Christ and His teachings but who actively engages in acts and deeds that are contrary to His teachings
Thanks for that clarification, PoV. They deserve their own name.
The suckers who go all in on this bunk are often less educated, if at all. They fall for this stuff as it seems to make sense of things they see around them or is happening to their communities. However, as noted in the article you highlighted, the bunk blames the wrong people. People who are just like them but look different. Or the theories blame some conspiracy of shadowy figures, elites, who dream up and carry out their schemes on a worldwide level.
In a vacuum I can see the best of us going to some cockamamie ideas to explain something but usually that doesn’t happen because information is available. Good, sound, logical information from trusted sources. Most of us don’t look for information from weirdo websites, online evangelicals, desperate politicians or television news/entertainment/political propaganda shows.
I can have some sympathy for those taken advantage of by those who wilfully and expertly and continually spread this bunk and foment these emotions and actions.
Those that wilfully spread this garbage should be held liable for the actions of those they are convincing of their narratives.
As is becoming more clear and relevant lately free speech is important but it has great response. It does NOT mean you get to say anything you want anywhere and anytime you want. It should not mean the right to spread misinformation, especially willfully.
As Oliver Wendall Holmes famously wrote, Graham, freedom of speech does not give you the right to yell "Fire" in a crowded theatre.
Lest we fall into the "no true Scotsman" fallacy, I think we should take them at their word when they say they're Christian. While they may not recognize the Sermon on the Mount if it bit them on the butt, they do put great stock in the Old Testament, John's Revelation and the scribblings of Paul.
Also, let's not forget that evangelicals, especially Southern Baptists, were the bedrock of slavery, later segregation and opposition to gay marriage. No, the founding fathers knew the nastiness they were dealing with when they tried to separate church and state. Christianity has a lot to account for in US politics.
Cap
As a Canadian temporarily leaving in "Possum Holler" Illinois, freedom of speech in no way gives me the right to ask simple questions like "what has Trump done for you" . It's too dangerous and they have a lot of guns. Politics is a Canadian passion but no one in America wants to discuss it. From what I can gather they are in a truly precarious situation.
They do indeed account for a lot in American politics, Cap. Unfortunately, the spirit that drives them is less than divine.
From where I sit, zoombats, it looks like they're on The Eve of Destruction.
Toby wrote:
Here's another link, this one from Idaho. Living With The Far-Right Insurgency In Idaho https://www.huffpost.com/entry/far-right-idaho_n_628277e2e4b0c84db7282bd6
“We are going to take over this state,” Foxx declared. “We have a great large group of people, and that group is growing. A true, actual right-wing takeover is happening right now in the state of Idaho. And there’s nothing that these people can do about it. So if you’re a legislator here, either get in line, or get out of the way.”
That's chilling stuff, Toby.
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