Currently attending AU's Summit for Religious Freedom, which works with religious and non-religious communities to keep religion(s) from being privileged or excepted in our laws. https://www.thesrf.org/https://www.au.org
If only God would talk to Trump like in the "good old days," things would be a lot less ambiguous. Yet, crickets from on high for millennia after primitives thought the Earth was flat and gods were behind weather events. Why is that? You'd almost think there were no gods.
Will evangelical Christianity be able to self-arrest the 'over the precipice' trajectory it seems to be on by it's shameless embrace of Trump? Theodore Roosevelt once pontificated that "No man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency." (I'm not even sure that Roosevelt lived up to that ideal) -- some of my co-adherents to Christianity seem inclined to to justify 'witholding judgement' on the off chance it will give them a chance to destroy their political opposition.
They will 'strain at the gnat' of any misstep by any individual whose political candidacy isn't endorsed by Trump, and strangely willing to 'swallow the camel' of religious theatre produce by Trump in his clumsy-at-best attempt to 'blend in' with a value backdrop, and chuckle at the verbal abuse he dishes out to any perceived foe at the slightest provocation.
When I've asked folks why they are willing to vote for such an individual, the response essentially boils down to "Yeah, he's not a saint, but he'll defend your values more aggressively than anyone else!"
When Trump was first nominated... I posted on FB that "Folks, my values haven't changed... but where the GOP 'big tent' used to have a spot for me... they just made it clear that they have moved on."
So I became politically homeless, and if pressed I tell folks I might be something close to a 'small L' libertarian... but given the current electoral system, that's not much of an improvement to the 'no fixed political party' designation.
In past conversations, when colleagues have asked and I identify myself as a Christian... the conversation eventually winds up orbiting the 'separation of church and state' concept that Jefferson addressed (extra-constitutionally, for the benefit of the audience). It's hard to feel like I'm not being chain-ganged into being asked to defend the conduct of eMAGAngeical Christianity in winking at Trump's callous disregard for values and morality supposed treasured by conservative Christianity, and his overt attempts to insinuate his brand of politics into Christianity. I'm not one to throw brothers and sisters under the bus... but I feel like that's exactly what they've done to the rest of us who do not want our faith traditions dragged through the mud of every political fray from now until judgement day.
If only have of those 'felony' charges get validated by judge/jury... and if we anticipate him being challenged, or possibly removed from office.... I don't have much hope that his VP candidate will anything more than the loudest sychophant with the best political-autotune that seems least capable of back-stabbing him at the opportune political moment.
So, again, I ask, not completely without hope, ... will evangelical Christianity be able to self-arrest, and course correct out of this dumpster-fire trajectory?
"An ordeal" is the perfect descriptor for Lardass.
Re your sentence, "But after nine years or so of nonstop Trump news cycles, if I’m being honest, it’s become as tiresome for me as it has for TDS-accusers," I first read it as STD's -- which really isn't that far off the mark.
So…. While the likelihood of the Orange Fraud ever reading anything, must less the Bible, his screeds do have a paucity of “ LIKE”…..Why is it like I went for like coffee and had like tea and I like went to the like park to like catch up on my like Instagram feed and like…..At least the OJ limits his likes lusting after his daughter or Alina Habba or Stormy or ???
Hi Matt, thanks for itemizing many of the same sentiments, rage, I have regarding the latest offenses put out by the presumptive charlatan running for President. I especially note the point you make about those around me giving up word life for political life. I myself am a churcher also, however i won't even be making tomorrow's Easter service because I'm deep in the homecare of my Dad. Like the song say's about Jesus' washing, I too will be washing tomorrow. My Dad's butt and everything else. Lifting him to his chair, and negotiating this that and the other, all day long. That's service, that's Christ. I ain't holy tho, believe me, I scream into the void, God's the void that's full, is what I try to remember when i get so angry. Anyway, I remember that grace when i hear a song like Oh Happy Day, and it's cooks into joy. Thanks for the reminder, they really do hit a nice groove as it moves on. One last thing, I've learned a lot of cool things in the new PBS Gospel series you might want to check out. Dave
Thank you Matt for bringing into high relief the absurdity - 8 years long - of TFG’s journey into our collective heads, and the Scripture verses are perfectly aligned against his defective character and criminality / so happy Easter -
I’m not praying for TFG. Not because I don’t pray in general, but because there is no requirement of/in my brain, heart, or soul to do so. If there were some basic vestiges of decency there, I could see it … but I think we all know that doesn’t exist.
The conflating of religion and governance is the hallmark of radical Islam. Trumps blatant attempt to do this with Christianity doubtless falls on some admiring minds. I have never been more comfortable in my Atheism than I am when viewing Trump holding his Bible over his right lung rather than his heart. The wisdom to be found in Holy writings of all religions is, sadly, unknown to most - even alleged believers.
I wish some zealous Christian had emulated Jesus and overturned the money tables of Trump and his grifter friends, shouting: "God's Holy Word is the Bread of Life, and you have turned it into a marketing gimmick!"
Currently attending AU's Summit for Religious Freedom, which works with religious and non-religious communities to keep religion(s) from being privileged or excepted in our laws. https://www.thesrf.org/ https://www.au.org
One of your best. Thank you. Happy Easter.
If only God would talk to Trump like in the "good old days," things would be a lot less ambiguous. Yet, crickets from on high for millennia after primitives thought the Earth was flat and gods were behind weather events. Why is that? You'd almost think there were no gods.
Oh happy day. Thanks, Matt!
Slack tide, another D.Trump hater.
Will evangelical Christianity be able to self-arrest the 'over the precipice' trajectory it seems to be on by it's shameless embrace of Trump? Theodore Roosevelt once pontificated that "No man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency." (I'm not even sure that Roosevelt lived up to that ideal) -- some of my co-adherents to Christianity seem inclined to to justify 'witholding judgement' on the off chance it will give them a chance to destroy their political opposition.
They will 'strain at the gnat' of any misstep by any individual whose political candidacy isn't endorsed by Trump, and strangely willing to 'swallow the camel' of religious theatre produce by Trump in his clumsy-at-best attempt to 'blend in' with a value backdrop, and chuckle at the verbal abuse he dishes out to any perceived foe at the slightest provocation.
When I've asked folks why they are willing to vote for such an individual, the response essentially boils down to "Yeah, he's not a saint, but he'll defend your values more aggressively than anyone else!"
When Trump was first nominated... I posted on FB that "Folks, my values haven't changed... but where the GOP 'big tent' used to have a spot for me... they just made it clear that they have moved on."
So I became politically homeless, and if pressed I tell folks I might be something close to a 'small L' libertarian... but given the current electoral system, that's not much of an improvement to the 'no fixed political party' designation.
In past conversations, when colleagues have asked and I identify myself as a Christian... the conversation eventually winds up orbiting the 'separation of church and state' concept that Jefferson addressed (extra-constitutionally, for the benefit of the audience). It's hard to feel like I'm not being chain-ganged into being asked to defend the conduct of eMAGAngeical Christianity in winking at Trump's callous disregard for values and morality supposed treasured by conservative Christianity, and his overt attempts to insinuate his brand of politics into Christianity. I'm not one to throw brothers and sisters under the bus... but I feel like that's exactly what they've done to the rest of us who do not want our faith traditions dragged through the mud of every political fray from now until judgement day.
If only have of those 'felony' charges get validated by judge/jury... and if we anticipate him being challenged, or possibly removed from office.... I don't have much hope that his VP candidate will anything more than the loudest sychophant with the best political-autotune that seems least capable of back-stabbing him at the opportune political moment.
So, again, I ask, not completely without hope, ... will evangelical Christianity be able to self-arrest, and course correct out of this dumpster-fire trajectory?
"An ordeal" is the perfect descriptor for Lardass.
Re your sentence, "But after nine years or so of nonstop Trump news cycles, if I’m being honest, it’s become as tiresome for me as it has for TDS-accusers," I first read it as STD's -- which really isn't that far off the mark.
So…. While the likelihood of the Orange Fraud ever reading anything, must less the Bible, his screeds do have a paucity of “ LIKE”…..Why is it like I went for like coffee and had like tea and I like went to the like park to like catch up on my like Instagram feed and like…..At least the OJ limits his likes lusting after his daughter or Alina Habba or Stormy or ???
Hi Matt. I thought this piece is spot-on, but you forgot to quote Ps 146 v 3 - 4. Happy Easter!
Glad I'm not the only one who groans inwardly whenever "God Bless the USA" is blasted. I am not standing up for Lee Greenwood.
Happy Easter!
Hi Matt, thanks for itemizing many of the same sentiments, rage, I have regarding the latest offenses put out by the presumptive charlatan running for President. I especially note the point you make about those around me giving up word life for political life. I myself am a churcher also, however i won't even be making tomorrow's Easter service because I'm deep in the homecare of my Dad. Like the song say's about Jesus' washing, I too will be washing tomorrow. My Dad's butt and everything else. Lifting him to his chair, and negotiating this that and the other, all day long. That's service, that's Christ. I ain't holy tho, believe me, I scream into the void, God's the void that's full, is what I try to remember when i get so angry. Anyway, I remember that grace when i hear a song like Oh Happy Day, and it's cooks into joy. Thanks for the reminder, they really do hit a nice groove as it moves on. One last thing, I've learned a lot of cool things in the new PBS Gospel series you might want to check out. Dave
Thank you Matt for bringing into high relief the absurdity - 8 years long - of TFG’s journey into our collective heads, and the Scripture verses are perfectly aligned against his defective character and criminality / so happy Easter -
Matt, as usual, is right on point.
Happy Easter to all here and your families!
I’m not praying for TFG. Not because I don’t pray in general, but because there is no requirement of/in my brain, heart, or soul to do so. If there were some basic vestiges of decency there, I could see it … but I think we all know that doesn’t exist.
The conflating of religion and governance is the hallmark of radical Islam. Trumps blatant attempt to do this with Christianity doubtless falls on some admiring minds. I have never been more comfortable in my Atheism than I am when viewing Trump holding his Bible over his right lung rather than his heart. The wisdom to be found in Holy writings of all religions is, sadly, unknown to most - even alleged believers.
I wish some zealous Christian had emulated Jesus and overturned the money tables of Trump and his grifter friends, shouting: "God's Holy Word is the Bread of Life, and you have turned it into a marketing gimmick!"