I have thought a lot about this issue. And the counter might be, should one choose to challenge them, that God sent sinner Trump...but not as savior. He sent an obvious criminal, cheater, liar, sex abuser, thief as a test. Who worships such evil...will answer to God, sooner than later.
Sure Jesus is up there pulling his hair out. "After all I taught and lived, to now be so distorted. To use the 'power' of my name to push perversity...if they believe, do they not think I am ignoring this? Trump is the test, and some are getting failing grade. Biggly."
Thanks Camila! Very interesting piece. And if it had been published before I published my stack, I would have had more to quote from and reference! Makes me envious of those who have the resources, connections and support of the mainstream media.
I believe that evangelicals think that Trump will hasten Jesus’s return to earth/the rapture. They want the end of times sooner rather than later and he’s their guy to make it happen.
I have family that are evangelicals and are doing everything they can to bring on the rapture. Great article BTW. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
There are so many really scary aspects of this ... not the least of which is how his followers carry that persecution complex into their own lives. We've seen it in university classrooms when students who are exposed to ideas they don't like claim that they are being "persecuted" by "woke" professors. Suddenly, by the mere existence of our syllabi, we are perpetrators of religious and social oppression. I
Yes, absolutely. I retired a few years ago and feel I got out none too soon. In earlier years, it was already brewing: I experienced what you describe (without the term “woke” being in use then) when I taught feminism to students who didn’t want to be there. By the time I retired it was more the “reverse”—i.e. suddenly found myself accused of being a “neoliberal establishment, etc….” I had some wonderful students over the years, but by the time I left and given the current climate—both Right and Left—I was glad to be out of academia!
Thank you so much for this comment. It was incredibly validating. The most popular philosophy class in our program was "Women & Gender in Philosophy" that I had created & taught. In fact, one of your pieces, "The Body and the Reproduction of Femininity" from _Unbearable Weight_ was on the syllabus. Despite (or because of?) that course's popularity, it eventually received a complaint from someone not even registered in the class. It went nowhere, of course, but it just had such a chilling effect and I knew it was time to go. I'm glad we got out, and I'm so glad to connect with you here. Thank you.
Susan -- enjoying your posts -- wonder if you might be interested to collaborate on a post about how Trump was elected the first time. I've written a book about this, under a different guise.... but I find it fascinating how Middle East conflicts specifically -- both Benghazi, and now Israel-Hamas (which obviously resonates with the Evangelicals, have served to amplify the extreme voices, to Trump's advantage.
We certainly share that interest! Did you know I’ve also written a book about the 2016 election? I just subscribed to you, and we should get familiar with each other’s work, then discuss possible collaboration. Perhaps exchange info on our books?
Susan - I knew your name sounded familiar, I read one of your books -- "The Destruction of Hillary Clinton". Will look for the 2016 election book. I interviewed Clinton for my book on the broader causes and consequences of Benghazi 2022. There was one question I regretted not asking her, but which I assume she couldn't answer (I assume you'd have an opinion on this, and I'd love to know). My view is conditioned heavily by what I saw on the ground in LIbya (and Washington) from 2004 -- through the attack. My basic assertion is that partisan politics created two deeply flawed partisan narratives. Clinton (with Rice) was caught squarely in the middle - brought back into the Obama framing, and sacrificed to Republican claims, the first of which was effectively true. The republications used that dissonance to bolster a series of increasingly outlandish accusations against Clinton, the "slime" she couldn't wash off. I'll go back to your book again and refresh my memory!
With all that has been said about Trump not conceding if he looses in November, and with his hard core supporters of insurrectionists, insurgents and religious fanatics, is there any doubt as to how things will play out?
This is insightful and scary. Despite what conservatives profess, this country was not at all founded by religious zealots. They feared a theocracy far more than they were drawn to it. I wrote about the same phenomenon. https://lawrencegoldstone.substack.com/p/iran-american-style
There are some things I don’t agree with here. BUT our conclusion is the same: KEEP TRUMP OUT AT ANY COST. This is not a “both sides” choice, whatever ones position on Biden.
I have thought a lot about this issue. And the counter might be, should one choose to challenge them, that God sent sinner Trump...but not as savior. He sent an obvious criminal, cheater, liar, sex abuser, thief as a test. Who worships such evil...will answer to God, sooner than later.
Sure Jesus is up there pulling his hair out. "After all I taught and lived, to now be so distorted. To use the 'power' of my name to push perversity...if they believe, do they not think I am ignoring this? Trump is the test, and some are getting failing grade. Biggly."
My husband said something similar this morning. He considers Trump the anti-Christ.
Susan, this might interest you. The Deification of Donald Trump Poses Some Interesting Questions https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/17/opinion/trump-god-evangelicals-anointed.html?unlocked_article_code=1.OU0.h-M8.9mZzZkrAmVaE&smid=nytcore-android-share
Thanks Camila! Very interesting piece. And if it had been published before I published my stack, I would have had more to quote from and reference! Makes me envious of those who have the resources, connections and support of the mainstream media.
Don't be, Susan, although I understand your frustration. You are a wonderful resource yourself. We can file this article as 'further reading'.
I believe that evangelicals think that Trump will hasten Jesus’s return to earth/the rapture. They want the end of times sooner rather than later and he’s their guy to make it happen.
Interesting take!! I hadn’t thought of that piece of it.
I have family that are evangelicals and are doing everything they can to bring on the rapture. Great article BTW. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
There are so many really scary aspects of this ... not the least of which is how his followers carry that persecution complex into their own lives. We've seen it in university classrooms when students who are exposed to ideas they don't like claim that they are being "persecuted" by "woke" professors. Suddenly, by the mere existence of our syllabi, we are perpetrators of religious and social oppression. I
Yes, absolutely. I retired a few years ago and feel I got out none too soon. In earlier years, it was already brewing: I experienced what you describe (without the term “woke” being in use then) when I taught feminism to students who didn’t want to be there. By the time I retired it was more the “reverse”—i.e. suddenly found myself accused of being a “neoliberal establishment, etc….” I had some wonderful students over the years, but by the time I left and given the current climate—both Right and Left—I was glad to be out of academia!
Thank you so much for this comment. It was incredibly validating. The most popular philosophy class in our program was "Women & Gender in Philosophy" that I had created & taught. In fact, one of your pieces, "The Body and the Reproduction of Femininity" from _Unbearable Weight_ was on the syllabus. Despite (or because of?) that course's popularity, it eventually received a complaint from someone not even registered in the class. It went nowhere, of course, but it just had such a chilling effect and I knew it was time to go. I'm glad we got out, and I'm so glad to connect with you here. Thank you.
Susan -- enjoying your posts -- wonder if you might be interested to collaborate on a post about how Trump was elected the first time. I've written a book about this, under a different guise.... but I find it fascinating how Middle East conflicts specifically -- both Benghazi, and now Israel-Hamas (which obviously resonates with the Evangelicals, have served to amplify the extreme voices, to Trump's advantage.
We certainly share that interest! Did you know I’ve also written a book about the 2016 election? I just subscribed to you, and we should get familiar with each other’s work, then discuss possible collaboration. Perhaps exchange info on our books?
Susan - I knew your name sounded familiar, I read one of your books -- "The Destruction of Hillary Clinton". Will look for the 2016 election book. I interviewed Clinton for my book on the broader causes and consequences of Benghazi 2022. There was one question I regretted not asking her, but which I assume she couldn't answer (I assume you'd have an opinion on this, and I'd love to know). My view is conditioned heavily by what I saw on the ground in LIbya (and Washington) from 2004 -- through the attack. My basic assertion is that partisan politics created two deeply flawed partisan narratives. Clinton (with Rice) was caught squarely in the middle - brought back into the Obama framing, and sacrificed to Republican claims, the first of which was effectively true. The republications used that dissonance to bolster a series of increasingly outlandish accusations against Clinton, the "slime" she couldn't wash off. I'll go back to your book again and refresh my memory!
I had an audible credit, so I just ordered your book to listen to. Looking forward to it!
I guess it will come down to turnout (in three or four states) of the demographics most likely to vote D.
Yeah, and whether the “left” will do what they should be doing to get that turnout and vote for Biden.
With all that has been said about Trump not conceding if he looses in November, and with his hard core supporters of insurrectionists, insurgents and religious fanatics, is there any doubt as to how things will play out?
There’s no doubt about the nomination. What happens in November and after: I don’t even want to imagine the possibilities.
As with January 6th, a lack of imagination can be fatal to the republic.
This is insightful and scary. Despite what conservatives profess, this country was not at all founded by religious zealots. They feared a theocracy far more than they were drawn to it. I wrote about the same phenomenon. https://lawrencegoldstone.substack.com/p/iran-american-style
Thanks! Will head over to your post this afternoon.
There are some things I don’t agree with here. BUT our conclusion is the same: KEEP TRUMP OUT AT ANY COST. This is not a “both sides” choice, whatever ones position on Biden.