Jennifer Rubin: Trump idolatry has undermined religious faith

[Nevilledog]

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Tweet text:

Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin
@JRubinBlogger
The siege mentality has morphed into an ends-justify-the-means style of politics in which lies, brutal discourse and even violence are applauded as necessary to protect “real America.”

Opinion | Trump idolatry has undermined religious faith
The damage many White evangelicals have done to religion dwarfs the damage they have done to our politics.
washingtonpost.com
1:35 PM · Dec 28, 2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/28/trump-idolatry-has-undermined-religious-faith/

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https://archive.fo/DbRdk

Much has been written about White evangelicals’ central role in the fraying of democracy. More attention, however, should be paid to the damage the political movement has inflicted on religion itself.

The demographic — which remains in the throes of White grievance and an apocalyptic vision that postulates America (indeed “Western civilization”) is under attack from socialists, foreigners and secularists — forms the core of the MAGA movement. Many have rejected the sanctity of elections, the principle of inclusion and even objective reality.

The consequences have been dire for American politics. The siege mentality has morphed into an ends-justify-the-means style of politics in which lies, brutal discourse and even violence are applauded as necessary to protect “real America.” Essential features of democracy, such as the peaceful transfer of power, compromise with political opponents and defining America as an idea and not a racial or religious identity, have fallen by the wayside.

Sadly, the degradation of democracy has intensified in the wake of Joe Biden’s victory. The doctrinal elevation of the “big lie," the increase in violent rhetoric and the effort to rig elections all reflect a heightened desperation by the MAGA crowd. This has driven the GOP to new lows (e.g., vaccine refusal to “own the libs,” virtually all House Republicans defending an animation depicting the murder of a congresswoman).

*snip*

[uponit7771]

1. K&R, this is one of the reasons younger people don't like institutional religion; its associated too

... much with politics and racism

[gay texan]

2. Jennifer,

It was undermined long before him.....

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. Thou shall not have other Gods before me.

So says the 1st Commandment.

Looks like Evangelicals are guilty of that sin against the one God Almighty if they put TFG ahead.

[Effete Snob]

4. Christianity is a lot older than democracy

Christianity has historically embraced autocratic despots.

The "hippie Jesus" that many seem to think is what "real Christians ought to believe in" is a relatively recent invention.

[LakeArenal]

5. Sigh....Jesus was Jewish. That right JEWISH. NOT Christian.

He would NEVER recognize this Christianity stuff as it does nothing for JEWISH people.

That’s why Christians can make up anything as they go along. It’s that Jewish Moses’ Ten Commandments’ not theirs. They can break all of them as long as they repent ten minutes before they die.

[MontanaMama]

6. That ship has sailed.

Religion has nothing to do with faith, imho, and organized religious organizations have done a great job undermining themselves.

[J_William_Ryan]

7. Religion has always been the bane of sound, responsible governance.

We should be more concerned about the degradation of democracy than any damage inflicted on religion.

[Solly Mack]

8. I don't know of a definition of democracy that says religion is a requirement for democracy.

However, religion does require democratic principles for religious pluralism to exist. Actual religious pluralism - not a dominant/oppressed "religious pluralism" facade.

The goal of the "white evangelical political movement" isn't to do away with religious values (as they define them) but to ensure that their "religious values" (as they define them) are the ONLY religious value allowed.

They want a theocracy based on how they believe.

They want a political authoritarian leader who will make this happen.

They want the trappings of American democracy to remain -

They want a President - who enforces their religious values (as they define them).

They want a Congress - that makes laws based on their religious values and only on their religious values.

They want a SCOTUS - that determines everything the white evangelical Congress and the white evangelical President does is "constitutional".

They want to vote - for candidates who all meet their "religious values" (as they define them). Because only candidates who think as they do should be allowed to hold office. Useful idiots welcomed, of course.

They want all schools to be religious schools based on their religious beliefs.

All thought and ideas to be based on their religious values.

Oh, they'll claim other people have the right to exist - they just don't have the right to a voice if their voice claims something different. They want the dissenters to know their place - shut-up and be invisible.

They want any challenge to the white, patriarchal, evangelical government to be considered against the law on every level - federal, state, local.

They want a world where they don't have to explain themselves or justify their actions. Where they can think, say, and do any hateful thing they want without anyone calling them on it.

Differences are seen as a challenge and challenges to their beliefs are viewed as an attack on their very being.

In short, everyone that does not agree with them is their enemy.

It's not the damage they've done to religion that is the greater threat - it's the damage they've done to democracy and democratic principles in the name of their religion that has been - and remains - the greater threat.