"Every single thing we said was going to happen has happened or is happening." And it's horrifying to watch. Thanks for the reminder that this film exists--and gave us all accurate forewarning of what would happen, if Trump were elected again. Thank you for all the work you do, Jemar! I can't imagine the depth of your exhaustion and exasperation. Please know I am praying for you and your ministry!
I can't help but seize upon your statement here, too, that "Russell Vought...is the most dangerous person in the capital right now" as "the architect of Project 2025 and head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as well as an "avowed white Christian nationalist." Vought, of course, is an alumnus of Wheaton College in Illinois. The CCCU's long allegiance to the GOP's right wing/Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority has also been an allegiance to Christian nationalism before it was dubbed as such. We who have taught at CCCUs (and I count myself in that number because when I first started out at Cedarville U, I was still beholden to that right wing) are reaping what we've sown.
I pray often the prayer of Daniel in Daniel 9, confessing the sins of my nation, substituting "The United States" for Israel in the verses: "Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, 'O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame..." How fitting these verses are!
I greatly appreciated the film. My sister was deceived and exploited by these groups. I am thinking that the Trumpism movement is a type of counterfeit spirituality. America has had "Great Awakenings" in the past that led to personal repentance. People do have real spiritual needs and hunger. But this movement offers a feeling of belonging and a counterfeit sense of connection to God without repentance, in fact, it calls right actions sin, and lawless actions righteousness. People who are lonely, stressed, or troubled are exploited by this offer of belonging and affirmation. They are attracted by explanations that every bad thing is not their responsibility, it is the fault of other dehumanized bad actors. And "every dollar they contribute will save babies and defeat Communists."
You've homed in on the appeal of white Christian nationalism--connection, belonging, affirmation. These are emotional and relational ties, not primarily intellectual ones (for many).
The arts are critical. I'm anxious to see the film. The poet Jerome Rothenberg wrote "In the Shadow of a Mad King" in 2019/20--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_AjNP21pDk&t=574s. Chilling. Artists, journalists, religious leaders, scholars.....including Jemar, have been sounding the alarm for many years. It's time to heed the warning with personal/collective action. (As an aside, if anyone is interested in modern poetry, here's a site worth exploring--ModPo.org.)
The scary part for me was seeing the faces of the mobs…both modern and in Germany. I had thought that Hitler youth participated out of fear. But they looked ecstatic, almost orgasmic. Logic will not change these people. This is beyond my ability to understand.
I think if Mr. Trump can arbitrarily change the name of a body of water We (some of) the People should change the name of the religion that has been called Christian Nationalism. Since it clearly (by its fruits) is not Christian, we should henceforth entitle it more appropriately the Nationalist religion. Can I get this to catch on without going on social media which I do not do.
It seems more folks are interested in seeing the docufilm now. I've been asking banking institutions how their customers can access funds in a case of an emergency, if all online banking access is removed (in mid-March?) with the nat'l budget/debt ceiling timing, or DOGE-takeover-onto-X.I shared the first link with my advocacy with CongressPeople today:
Rewatch and then "Go Home and tell them your story".
https://open.substack.com/pub/jonathanbrownson/p/tell-them-your-story?r=gdp9j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
"Every single thing we said was going to happen has happened or is happening." And it's horrifying to watch. Thanks for the reminder that this film exists--and gave us all accurate forewarning of what would happen, if Trump were elected again. Thank you for all the work you do, Jemar! I can't imagine the depth of your exhaustion and exasperation. Please know I am praying for you and your ministry!
I can't help but seize upon your statement here, too, that "Russell Vought...is the most dangerous person in the capital right now" as "the architect of Project 2025 and head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as well as an "avowed white Christian nationalist." Vought, of course, is an alumnus of Wheaton College in Illinois. The CCCU's long allegiance to the GOP's right wing/Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority has also been an allegiance to Christian nationalism before it was dubbed as such. We who have taught at CCCUs (and I count myself in that number because when I first started out at Cedarville U, I was still beholden to that right wing) are reaping what we've sown.
I pray often the prayer of Daniel in Daniel 9, confessing the sins of my nation, substituting "The United States" for Israel in the verses: "Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, 'O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame..." How fitting these verses are!
The CCCU connections are so disheartening. Thank you for pointing us to Daniel 9. Fitting indeed.
I greatly appreciated the film. My sister was deceived and exploited by these groups. I am thinking that the Trumpism movement is a type of counterfeit spirituality. America has had "Great Awakenings" in the past that led to personal repentance. People do have real spiritual needs and hunger. But this movement offers a feeling of belonging and a counterfeit sense of connection to God without repentance, in fact, it calls right actions sin, and lawless actions righteousness. People who are lonely, stressed, or troubled are exploited by this offer of belonging and affirmation. They are attracted by explanations that every bad thing is not their responsibility, it is the fault of other dehumanized bad actors. And "every dollar they contribute will save babies and defeat Communists."
You've homed in on the appeal of white Christian nationalism--connection, belonging, affirmation. These are emotional and relational ties, not primarily intellectual ones (for many).
The arts are critical. I'm anxious to see the film. The poet Jerome Rothenberg wrote "In the Shadow of a Mad King" in 2019/20--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_AjNP21pDk&t=574s. Chilling. Artists, journalists, religious leaders, scholars.....including Jemar, have been sounding the alarm for many years. It's time to heed the warning with personal/collective action. (As an aside, if anyone is interested in modern poetry, here's a site worth exploring--ModPo.org.)
Absolutely. Arts are so critical. I often speak of the Arts, the Academy, and the Assembly as essential to social justice movements.
Thank you. We will watch it today.
Would be glad to know what you think!
The scary part for me was seeing the faces of the mobs…both modern and in Germany. I had thought that Hitler youth participated out of fear. But they looked ecstatic, almost orgasmic. Logic will not change these people. This is beyond my ability to understand.
I think if Mr. Trump can arbitrarily change the name of a body of water We (some of) the People should change the name of the religion that has been called Christian Nationalism. Since it clearly (by its fruits) is not Christian, we should henceforth entitle it more appropriately the Nationalist religion. Can I get this to catch on without going on social media which I do not do.
White Christian nationalism is a specific strain of religious nationalism which is found worldwide and across multiple religious traditions.
It seems more folks are interested in seeing the docufilm now. I've been asking banking institutions how their customers can access funds in a case of an emergency, if all online banking access is removed (in mid-March?) with the nat'l budget/debt ceiling timing, or DOGE-takeover-onto-X.I shared the first link with my advocacy with CongressPeople today:
https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/10/23452488/elon-musk-twitter-bank-q-and-a
https://open.substack.com/pub/landfamilyhome/p/a-household-guide-for-cyber-defense?r=518mt6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
https://open.substack.com/pub/andrawatkins/p/online-privacy-chat-recording-for?r=518mt6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false