Very Bad News: Have Christian nationalists staged a soft coup?

[MineralMan]

https://www.salon.com/2018/04/05/have-christian-nationalists-staged-a-soft-coup-with-trump-as-their-figurehead/

{snip}
Yet white Christian evangelical voters were among his most enthusiastic supporters in the 2016 election. Despite Trump's many failings of character, temperament and policy as president, they remain loyal members of his political cult. Why is this?

A new article by social scientists Andrew Whitehead, Joseph Baker and Samuel Perry in the journal Sociology of Religion offers several possibilities. The researchers explained their findings in a recent article for the Washington Post, writing that "the more someone believed the United States is — and should be — a Christian nation, the more likely they were to vote for Trump."

{snip}
How do you explain Trump's victory and his enduring popularity among right-wing Christians?

Our research shows that for many Americans, voting for or supporting Trump is a symbolic defense of the United States’ perceived Christian heritage. Increasing levels of Christian nationalism – which we understand as a desire to see Christianity intimately intertwined with civil society – is a key predictor of who voted for Trump beyond political party, political ideology and various demographic characteristics.

The article at the link, and the links within that article demonstrate that Christian dominionism is on the rise and Trump is their power base. This is distinctly not "good news" about religion. Read the link. If you are a Christian and those people do not represent you, it's time to speak up loudly.

[Cartoonist]

1. Just one aspect

I think the overriding factor was racism. Sure, they hate Muslims for their religion, but they hate Mexicans who are Christians. They hate black people who are predominately Christian as well.

[MineralMan]

3. Its more a question of governance.

At least that's my understanding. They want a nation governed according to their concept of Christian principles. That is the danger in this.

[Cartoonist]

4. Small group

I acknowledge that there are people who want a Christian theocracy, but there aren't enough of them to elect a president. Unfortunately, there are enough racists to turn elections.

[MineralMan]

6. They use bigotry and racism to attract voters, but

their goal is generally unstated publicly.

[WhiteTara]

8. I don't think it's "governance"

but more CONTROL over others. Their power does not come from what is within them, but how they can control others. Of course, that is not true power but control by _____ fill in the blank. Don't you think?

[LiberalArkie]

2. Yes, back in the 60's

[Girard442]

5. It's true the Evangelicals have made a power play and so far it's scary-successful, but...

...the religious right has gotten deference from people like me who treated them with a modicum of respect because we imagined they were driven by sincere beliefs which at the root were somewhat positive; that however misguided they were, their hearts were in the right place.

Now we see it's not just the occasional TV preacher who's a thorough-going dirtbag -- the entire religious right is all pestilence and corruption. We see them as the enemy and we intend to give no quarter in the struggles to come.

[MineralMan]

7. I hope that will be enough.

Thank you for opposing them.

[safeinOhio]

9. The thing tha ties them together is

authoritarian rule, by the church and the government.

[Freelancer]

10. Christian authoritarians want veto power most of all

They don't want to rule. They don't especially care where America is headed, so long as their households have a carve-out that allows them to cruise along with one foot in 1957.

What Christian authoritarians and populists are after is the same deal that was set up at the U.N. at its inception, where a few -- out of fear of getting swamped -- get a permanent veto over the will of the majority. That's why the presidency is all important to them.

Sure, they want more Supreme Court Justices, but, to be in their comfort-zone, having a white, male, self-professed Christian President with veto power is essential -- even if he is a scum bag.