Thank you, Rev. Jim, for another penetrating essay about this ongoing, despicable coup attempt. It's time not to mince words-- the so-called "Christian nationalism" movement that has completely hijacked the GOP is a PSEUDO-CHRISTIAN depravity. It tramples everything that Jesus actually stood for -- starting with the Social Gospel of justice, caring and sharing (not to mention his other teachings and his virtues such as humble kenosis / self-emptying).
The pseudo-Christian Nationalism is not a "theocracy" as its fanatic, fascist adherents imagine, but rather a dangerous, deadly autocracy, inspired by the demons of pathological authoritarianism, ugly racism, arrogant pride, and vicious intolerance, and marked by the zero empathy for which authoritarians are notorious (see psychologist Robert Altemeyer's yeoman work over the decades on the Right-Wing Authoritarian Personality).
Average longtime Republican voters have allowed themselves to be utterly mesmerized and bamboozled by the pseudo-Christian heresy and endlessly deceptive GOP demonizing political attack ads (lavishly funded by mega-rich donors and giant corporations). These apparently "willfully ignorant" GOP voters don't see the obvious fact that, as former longtime Republican top advisor Steve Schmidt has been warning for the last several years, the GOP is "evil" and "must be destroyed." (And see his many dozens of columns for The Warning here at Substack.com).
Not to be picky, but because I don't want you to misstate facts, the fat orange guy wasn't referring to the election when he said he didn't want people to know "we lost," he referred to a Supreme Court decision. And "heresy"? This is politics, not church doctrine. Not that they aren't closely related. After all, you're not preaching anymore...the good guys should follow a more rigorous standard than the ranters and ravers. Still, I'm glad you're still fighting the good fight!
Thanks for pointing those two things out. If we truly want to represent ourselves as Christians, we should work very hard at making truth our highest standard. I hope Jim reads you comments and works a little harder at sticking to what is truly true. I read Jim's messages because I trust him and his motives, even if I dont always agree. Fat orange guy...gotta admit I enjoyed that.
Thank you for your undaunted support of those who are marginalized and for continuing to speak the true Christian message. I can’t believe I’m saying this because I’ve largely rejected evangelicalism but perhaps what we need is a huge tent revival on the national mall to show the world that there is a large Christian population in the United States that rejects Christian Nationalism and stands with Christ’s teachings and those who the Christian Nationalists want to marginalize.
Two (three?) monarchs, Charles I of Great Britain and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of France, counted lying as a royal prerogative. They all paid for it with their lives. I say those executions have established a worthy precedent. As the 'Republicans' now aspire to their own autocracy, when they lose, let the guillotines and axes be sharp for them. Or, perhaps more humiliatingly, let all their power and wealth be stripped from them and let's make sure they never do anything more consequential than--geez, I can't think of anything inconsequential enough to trust them with!
This approach may not be really Christian, but don't serious examples have to be made here so that this does not happen again and lead to serious destruction of innocent lives, both animal and human? What excuse do these 'fellow' palefaces, most of them from what we'd call 'good families', have for their greed and spite? These questions are not rhetorical; I feel they need real answers.
Thanks Jim … the truth told with clarity and conviction.
Thank you, Rev. Jim, for another penetrating essay about this ongoing, despicable coup attempt. It's time not to mince words-- the so-called "Christian nationalism" movement that has completely hijacked the GOP is a PSEUDO-CHRISTIAN depravity. It tramples everything that Jesus actually stood for -- starting with the Social Gospel of justice, caring and sharing (not to mention his other teachings and his virtues such as humble kenosis / self-emptying).
The pseudo-Christian Nationalism is not a "theocracy" as its fanatic, fascist adherents imagine, but rather a dangerous, deadly autocracy, inspired by the demons of pathological authoritarianism, ugly racism, arrogant pride, and vicious intolerance, and marked by the zero empathy for which authoritarians are notorious (see psychologist Robert Altemeyer's yeoman work over the decades on the Right-Wing Authoritarian Personality).
Average longtime Republican voters have allowed themselves to be utterly mesmerized and bamboozled by the pseudo-Christian heresy and endlessly deceptive GOP demonizing political attack ads (lavishly funded by mega-rich donors and giant corporations). These apparently "willfully ignorant" GOP voters don't see the obvious fact that, as former longtime Republican top advisor Steve Schmidt has been warning for the last several years, the GOP is "evil" and "must be destroyed." (And see his many dozens of columns for The Warning here at Substack.com).
Amen.
Not to be picky, but because I don't want you to misstate facts, the fat orange guy wasn't referring to the election when he said he didn't want people to know "we lost," he referred to a Supreme Court decision. And "heresy"? This is politics, not church doctrine. Not that they aren't closely related. After all, you're not preaching anymore...the good guys should follow a more rigorous standard than the ranters and ravers. Still, I'm glad you're still fighting the good fight!
Hey Mel,
Thanks for pointing those two things out. If we truly want to represent ourselves as Christians, we should work very hard at making truth our highest standard. I hope Jim reads you comments and works a little harder at sticking to what is truly true. I read Jim's messages because I trust him and his motives, even if I dont always agree. Fat orange guy...gotta admit I enjoyed that.
Thank you for your undaunted support of those who are marginalized and for continuing to speak the true Christian message. I can’t believe I’m saying this because I’ve largely rejected evangelicalism but perhaps what we need is a huge tent revival on the national mall to show the world that there is a large Christian population in the United States that rejects Christian Nationalism and stands with Christ’s teachings and those who the Christian Nationalists want to marginalize.
Two (three?) monarchs, Charles I of Great Britain and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of France, counted lying as a royal prerogative. They all paid for it with their lives. I say those executions have established a worthy precedent. As the 'Republicans' now aspire to their own autocracy, when they lose, let the guillotines and axes be sharp for them. Or, perhaps more humiliatingly, let all their power and wealth be stripped from them and let's make sure they never do anything more consequential than--geez, I can't think of anything inconsequential enough to trust them with!
This approach may not be really Christian, but don't serious examples have to be made here so that this does not happen again and lead to serious destruction of innocent lives, both animal and human? What excuse do these 'fellow' palefaces, most of them from what we'd call 'good families', have for their greed and spite? These questions are not rhetorical; I feel they need real answers.
Aha! The ghost of Augustine appears. After Cromwell struck off a royal head, the Irish were next. And the French? Be careful what you wish for...
And what hath Augustine to do with that?
See "just war". I.e. when it's okay to chop.off heads and such.
Hm. I think Augustine includes fighting against the greed and lust for power of certain people is a just war, no? At least, so I'd imagine.