Politics is the new Religion

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

my original point from 2016 was not that religion and politics are intertwined, but that politics is replacing religion as a source of spiritual fulfillment

so this year we had a movement which offered spiritual redemption, moral instruction, kneeling and chants, original sin and the confession of it, fellowship and excommunication, a thorough dogma, the pursuit of a perfect state of being, a rigidly enforced guidelines for behavior, and martyr worship.

but perhaps all that is by chance

I would still make the point that in many cases this is indicated by the mixing of religion and politics. One could make chicken and egg argument. Either the inclusion of politics into religion was caused by politics taking on the trappings of religion and forcing itself into established religions or established religions were co-opted by political leaders and religious elements were transferred to the political party.

In our current situation, as much as some conservative leaders try to disavow Trump's moral credentials while maintaining that he is a useful tool for their religious objectives, it can be argued that Donald Trump is the new moral leader of a large number of American conservative Christians.

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[tw]

Originally Posted by richlevy

... it can be argued that Donald Trump is the new moral leader of a large number of American conservative Christians.

He cheated on his every wife. He says he can murder someone on Fifth Ave and still be loved (voted for) by his Christian supporters. He steals money from Contractors by not paying them. He lies incessantly. He trades in his wives every ten years for a newer model.

So that proves Christian Evangelicals are actually Satanists? That is their morality?

Religion is always about a man and his god. A good religion is never imposed on anyone else. What religion should violate American principles that separate church and state? Good religions have no place in politics. Otherwise they are imposing their beliefs on all others.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by tw

He cheated on his every wife. He says he can murder someone on Fifth Ave and still be loved (voted for) by his Christian supporters. He steals money from Contractors by not paying them. He lies incessantly. He trades in his wives every ten years for a newer model.

So that proves Christian Evangelicals are actually Satanists? That is their morality?

Religion is always about a man and his god. A good religion is never imposed on anyone else. What religion should violate American principles that separate church and state? Good religions have no place in politics. Otherwise they are imposing their beliefs on all others.

It just shows that some sheep have trouble picking the right shepard. UT is right in that some politics give the same satisfaction as religion. The switchover is made easier when a religious leader introduces the political leader, even with a qualifier. Trump being an obvious jerk makes it easier by setting a low bar. Getting into heaven by throwing children into detention camps is a lot easier than caring about them.

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[tw]

Originally Posted by richlevy

UT is right in that some politics give the same satisfaction as religion. The switchover is made easier when a religious leader introduces the political leader, even with a qualifier. Trump being an obvious jerk makes it easier by setting a low bar.

What make that easiest? Who are always most easily indoctrinated by concepts that contradict their original religion. Adults who are still children. Adults who make decisions from their feelings. Adults to do not learn facts BEFORE making a decision.

"I am a conservative" or "I am a liberal" or "I am an evangelical". Therefore I know what is right. Classic examples of adults who only make decisions from what they feel only using their reptilian brain - just like a child. Adults who do not even know they are not thinking logically.

Trump should be the classic example of evil - to an evangelical. But evangelicals are some of the easiest sheep to brainwash. A high percentage of adults who do not know how to think like an adult. Who know only because they feel.

Same applies to far right and far left extremists - whose beliefs are based in the same emotions that inspire evangelicals. All classic examples of adults who are still children.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Promising two alternate realities, one heaven the other hell, based on whom you worship

True believers hanging on long speeches from on high explaining what they should think

Supporters spreading the good word and writing checks for the collection plate

I'll grant you it's a new religion, but not the new religion. having a consumer price index tells you who the real god is in this country. Shopping will always be the official religion of the USA, with mindless media consumption coming in second. As long as people can shop and watch shit on TV we will never have a revolution in this country. Ever.

Politics is dependent on media, at best it's a cult or a religious splinter group.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The good folks in Rhode Island, having been driven out of Europe by religious persecution, demanded and got added to the Constitution by way of the bill of rights, a written guaranty there would be no state religion. It didn't help because individual states made their own rules/laws. In some states you couldn't hold public office or government employment unless you were a specified religion. It wasn't even by custom, a wink and a nod, it was actually written into state laws.