So, I’m reading that excellent piece now. I do believe that Trumpism has become an integral part of his supporters’ identity, as is written. So my next question is WHY; why were such a substantial group of people ready in 2016, to have their identities centered on a new force (Trump)? Was there a collective void? Or was a set of establis…
So, I’m reading that excellent piece now. I do believe that Trumpism has become an integral part of his supporters’ identity, as is written. So my next question is WHY; why were such a substantial group of people ready in 2016, to have their identities centered on a new force (Trump)? Was there a collective void? Or was a set of established conventional religious beliefs within these individuals booted out to make space for Trumpism? That seems to be the impression of Russell Moore, the Evangelical who has despaired over entire congregations that have supplanted religious doctrine with Trumpism.
I wish I had an answer for that WHY. There could be a variety of reasons. An old friend who is very religious switched from supporting Carson in 2016 to Trump. She asked me what I saw in Biden in 2020 and I told her that he reflected my values. And I went on to use *Republican's* statements about Biden and Trump to contrast the two. Lyndsey Graham: "as good a man as God ever made". (About Biden). Pointed out how T was a serial marriage cheater, stiffed numerous small businesses, somehow managed to bankrupt a casino or two, many failed enterprises, etc. She later seemed to decide that she could not support someone as corrupt and immoral as T. Will she ever support Biden or any other D? Oh, heck no, but not supporting T is good enough. I guess I think Russell Moore has a good take on at least one aspect of the issue.
The contradiction in seeing religious people support the immoral Trump is neatly solved (by them) as some version of “God often chooses imperfect messengers”. Trumpism is so similar to religious ideology in that every angle of logical argument has an answer based on faith, not logic. So argument is futile. As intended.
Russell Moore fascinates me as a rare example, along with Liz Cheney and Adam Kissinger, of someone willing to examine their identity tribe under the bright light of truth and logic. It takes extraordinary moral fiber. My own hasn’t been tested like that. Gulp.
So, I’m reading that excellent piece now. I do believe that Trumpism has become an integral part of his supporters’ identity, as is written. So my next question is WHY; why were such a substantial group of people ready in 2016, to have their identities centered on a new force (Trump)? Was there a collective void? Or was a set of established conventional religious beliefs within these individuals booted out to make space for Trumpism? That seems to be the impression of Russell Moore, the Evangelical who has despaired over entire congregations that have supplanted religious doctrine with Trumpism.
Now I’ll keep reading that piece.
I wish I had an answer for that WHY. There could be a variety of reasons. An old friend who is very religious switched from supporting Carson in 2016 to Trump. She asked me what I saw in Biden in 2020 and I told her that he reflected my values. And I went on to use *Republican's* statements about Biden and Trump to contrast the two. Lyndsey Graham: "as good a man as God ever made". (About Biden). Pointed out how T was a serial marriage cheater, stiffed numerous small businesses, somehow managed to bankrupt a casino or two, many failed enterprises, etc. She later seemed to decide that she could not support someone as corrupt and immoral as T. Will she ever support Biden or any other D? Oh, heck no, but not supporting T is good enough. I guess I think Russell Moore has a good take on at least one aspect of the issue.
The contradiction in seeing religious people support the immoral Trump is neatly solved (by them) as some version of “God often chooses imperfect messengers”. Trumpism is so similar to religious ideology in that every angle of logical argument has an answer based on faith, not logic. So argument is futile. As intended.
Russell Moore fascinates me as a rare example, along with Liz Cheney and Adam Kissinger, of someone willing to examine their identity tribe under the bright light of truth and logic. It takes extraordinary moral fiber. My own hasn’t been tested like that. Gulp.
Agree about "imperfect messengers".