It's nice to see him finally having to go before a jury (if he doesn't settle). With that said the other investigations into him I feel provide even a greater risk to his freedom. The Fulton County case and Documents cases should be big worries. Great write-up.
I'm terrified of him being able to pay his way out of whatever he's charged with. If that happens it'll prove that he's completely above the law, and evangelicals will consider it more proof that he's their Messiah.
Fortunately the American justice system is too slow to deliver a verdict by Good Friday. Which means the only resurrection we'll be celebrating this Easter will be Jesus Christ's. Trump will just have to wait for his, like the rest of us...
For me, on a more global level, I hear echoes of texts I read in grad school – thinkers like Ernst Bloch, and Walter Benjamin. Their use of religious language that is stripped of its specific religious tenor, but at the same time inspires apocalyptic imagery in popular consciousness, precisely because that language has those mythological symbols embedded. I find, like you, that this is really dangerous in part because of its secular application, and because it is able to create this sense of urgency, to kind of pressurize, if you will, the discourse, because this is such powerful language, and used in a foreboding, but oddly nonspecific way for the average reader/hearer. If you’re aware of the fundamentalist “bring on the 2nd coming” thinkers, it’s terrifying, but it makes sense how they’re using the language to “anoint” Trump. But if you aren’t aware of that, it loops into that ambient, oppressive post pandemic atmosphere, and adds to the fear. You’re right to call our attention to it, to name it so that we can begin to educate people about it.
Revelations already happened as John said it would. But it is also symbolic of an inner archetypal
journey where Armeggedan is abolishing ego consciousness for transcendent awareness. 7 candelabras - 7 chakras, etc. etc. So if we are entering the era where ego ceases to dominate - cudos
to those prophets! My thought is if for some reason Trump undergoes dramatic conversion experience he will close all those loopholes he got rich off of. We can only hope. I am for not throwing stones at an adulterer. I mean, I am watching Rizzoli and Isles and this is probably adultery for me a gay woman because I like empowered women series when in reality I could have finished
the Divine Mercy prayer for the world on EWTN. Yes, dangerous times - but as teresa of avila said "I'm more afraid of people afraid of the devil than I am of the devil himself." We have a choice for compasson who look outside themselves for a savior and fear of losing white supremacy in the world.
It must be a great suffering and worry for them - I am over getting angry as Trump and I have the same adolescent entitlement fits of rage - and of course, that's the attraction of his followers. Fear and rage is a magnet - it's hard for me to keep an inner magnet of kindness and understanding if I watch too much - I'm for not throwing stones at an adulterer, myself having been one - perhaps he might instead just pay his own legal fees as punishment and not use donated funds.
This is indeed scary. Why couldn’t they have waited to convene the Grand Jury until after Easter? I have a feeling that most people think the nationalist Christians belief in Trump being the second coming of Jesus is a bunch of hooey and cannot see the danger we moderate Christians see in the timing of the indictment.
THANK YOU AGAIN DIANA AND ALL THE COMMENTS I HAVE READ SO FAR. MAY PREACHING PASTORS SPEAK UP IN THEIR PULPITS THIS WEEEND AND COMING WEEK. IN CHRIST'S NAME I PRAY.
Perhaps the true slight of hand is an embodiment of the Antichrist parading as the second coming of Christ with ardent followers. Just as the Christ impulse is not one person, neither is the Antichrist. Evolution without grace has occurred side by side with the evolution of grace. It is just becoming more and more obvious as the freedom of choice. The stage is being set for a battle and the true hope we rest on is that righteousness prevails.
Thank you for this thoughtful, insightful take. As a pastor staring at her Palm Sunday sermon, the Trump indictment has added a new, deeply troubling wrinkle to an already deeply complicated Sunday in the church year. I am grateful and (frankly) lucky to be in a congregation that is blue, not purple, which gives me space to address this in a way so many colleagues cannot.
I was afraid he would win the election, then I was afraid during his presidency, and now I'm afraid of what will happen during his trial. He loves inciting violence, and doesn't care if people die because of his words. I believe he is evil.
My concern is that he has inspired another Timothy McVeigh. It will be the lone wolves that are going to be dangerous. By any stretch of the imagination, Trump is dangerous and the epitaxy of Evil.
After growing up in a very conservative evangelical home and having gone with my grandmother on many a cold calls to “save” people , I also grew to fear the book of Revelation. Within the past five years, our church weekly book study group read Professor Craig Koester’s book Revelation and the End Times, I no longer fear that book because I understand the history and how it continues to play out today.
I also believe someone is very cleverly choosing the words he is speaking these days.
I have just begun reading your book A People’s History of Christianity. It seems ever so relevant in today’s world.
I continue to pray every day that God will help us save our country.
It's nice to see him finally having to go before a jury (if he doesn't settle). With that said the other investigations into him I feel provide even a greater risk to his freedom. The Fulton County case and Documents cases should be big worries. Great write-up.
He is definitely the arch type of an anti-Christ.
I'm terrified of him being able to pay his way out of whatever he's charged with. If that happens it'll prove that he's completely above the law, and evangelicals will consider it more proof that he's their Messiah.
Fortunately the American justice system is too slow to deliver a verdict by Good Friday. Which means the only resurrection we'll be celebrating this Easter will be Jesus Christ's. Trump will just have to wait for his, like the rest of us...
I had not considered this aspect of Trump's indictment but, of course, it is right.
I agree, the religious rhetoric has reached a new and even more dangerous level. To some, Trump isn’t just comparable to Christ, he IS Christ. Here’s my article about that, with quotes from some books being sold on Amazon and handed out at rallies: https://medium.com/politically-speaking/is-donald-trump-the-christ-antichrist-or-just-the-worlds-most-dangerous-man-5f26292c087?sk=c4379c3bcfd792c85b35849f3f9844ad
Well, that was the quickest prediction I've ever had come true:
https://twitter.com/newvangelicals/status/1641924394007101440
For me, on a more global level, I hear echoes of texts I read in grad school – thinkers like Ernst Bloch, and Walter Benjamin. Their use of religious language that is stripped of its specific religious tenor, but at the same time inspires apocalyptic imagery in popular consciousness, precisely because that language has those mythological symbols embedded. I find, like you, that this is really dangerous in part because of its secular application, and because it is able to create this sense of urgency, to kind of pressurize, if you will, the discourse, because this is such powerful language, and used in a foreboding, but oddly nonspecific way for the average reader/hearer. If you’re aware of the fundamentalist “bring on the 2nd coming” thinkers, it’s terrifying, but it makes sense how they’re using the language to “anoint” Trump. But if you aren’t aware of that, it loops into that ambient, oppressive post pandemic atmosphere, and adds to the fear. You’re right to call our attention to it, to name it so that we can begin to educate people about it.
Great article, really. We've lost our way.
Revelations already happened as John said it would. But it is also symbolic of an inner archetypal
journey where Armeggedan is abolishing ego consciousness for transcendent awareness. 7 candelabras - 7 chakras, etc. etc. So if we are entering the era where ego ceases to dominate - cudos
to those prophets! My thought is if for some reason Trump undergoes dramatic conversion experience he will close all those loopholes he got rich off of. We can only hope. I am for not throwing stones at an adulterer. I mean, I am watching Rizzoli and Isles and this is probably adultery for me a gay woman because I like empowered women series when in reality I could have finished
the Divine Mercy prayer for the world on EWTN. Yes, dangerous times - but as teresa of avila said "I'm more afraid of people afraid of the devil than I am of the devil himself." We have a choice for compasson who look outside themselves for a savior and fear of losing white supremacy in the world.
It must be a great suffering and worry for them - I am over getting angry as Trump and I have the same adolescent entitlement fits of rage - and of course, that's the attraction of his followers. Fear and rage is a magnet - it's hard for me to keep an inner magnet of kindness and understanding if I watch too much - I'm for not throwing stones at an adulterer, myself having been one - perhaps he might instead just pay his own legal fees as punishment and not use donated funds.
This is indeed scary. Why couldn’t they have waited to convene the Grand Jury until after Easter? I have a feeling that most people think the nationalist Christians belief in Trump being the second coming of Jesus is a bunch of hooey and cannot see the danger we moderate Christians see in the timing of the indictment.
THANK YOU AGAIN DIANA AND ALL THE COMMENTS I HAVE READ SO FAR. MAY PREACHING PASTORS SPEAK UP IN THEIR PULPITS THIS WEEEND AND COMING WEEK. IN CHRIST'S NAME I PRAY.
Perhaps the true slight of hand is an embodiment of the Antichrist parading as the second coming of Christ with ardent followers. Just as the Christ impulse is not one person, neither is the Antichrist. Evolution without grace has occurred side by side with the evolution of grace. It is just becoming more and more obvious as the freedom of choice. The stage is being set for a battle and the true hope we rest on is that righteousness prevails.
Thank you for this thoughtful, insightful take. As a pastor staring at her Palm Sunday sermon, the Trump indictment has added a new, deeply troubling wrinkle to an already deeply complicated Sunday in the church year. I am grateful and (frankly) lucky to be in a congregation that is blue, not purple, which gives me space to address this in a way so many colleagues cannot.
Thank for Diana.
I was afraid he would win the election, then I was afraid during his presidency, and now I'm afraid of what will happen during his trial. He loves inciting violence, and doesn't care if people die because of his words. I believe he is evil.
My concern is that he has inspired another Timothy McVeigh. It will be the lone wolves that are going to be dangerous. By any stretch of the imagination, Trump is dangerous and the epitaxy of Evil.
After growing up in a very conservative evangelical home and having gone with my grandmother on many a cold calls to “save” people , I also grew to fear the book of Revelation. Within the past five years, our church weekly book study group read Professor Craig Koester’s book Revelation and the End Times, I no longer fear that book because I understand the history and how it continues to play out today.
I also believe someone is very cleverly choosing the words he is speaking these days.
I have just begun reading your book A People’s History of Christianity. It seems ever so relevant in today’s world.
I continue to pray every day that God will help us save our country.
Thank you for your words.