For better but mostly worse, politics has stretched its tendrils into every area of life. Where I teach, we feel this tension between remaining neutral on our person political beliefs and persuasions while also condemning the new base and crude normal in political discourse and rhetoric. I think it is important to reemphasize that all THIS is not normal. This is not typically how political figures behave or communicate with each other. It is not normal because of DJT's behavior, temperament, narcissistic disorder. I don't want to equivocate and say simply that there is fault on both sides of the political aisle. Yes, we've all been dragged down into the gutter, but there is a distinct and clear reason why. From the very beginning, DJT destroyed norms around decency, respect, decorum, civil discourse, etc. That behavior got him the power and the following he needed to rise to the office of president of the United States. Nothing about his behavior has changed. In fact, he is more emboldened by the support and cult following of his MAGA base--the extreme base and DJT have this feedback loop going, and the moral basement keeps dropping deeper. It is NOT NORMAL.
So, as educators, we emphasize that democracy, civil discourse, debate on policy, and a culture of respect based on shared principles of human rights and dignity are necessary for our society to flourish rather than languish in moral decay.
DJT is NOT NORMAL. He is not a republican or a democrat. He is an autocrat--self-serving in the most extreme way ever seen in American politics. MAGA-ism is a disease that will not easily be eradicated from our political system. It's spreading faster, unfortunately, among a new generation of teenage males (vs females)--as it appeals to the impulsive, visceral, and simplistic nature of teenage male brains--not quite as developed or empathetic as their female counterparts at this age (see Richard Reeves, Of Boys and Men).
Also of note is the tendency to dichotomize everything in the DJT worldview. An "us" vs "them" mindset is prevalent in ALL politics, but especially in the fringe far right and far left. Its a mental fallacy, but one that really plays into human tendency (see Hans Rosling, Factfulness).
At play here as well is a very real need to feel as though one is a part of something--a member of a club (see Robert Putnam, The Upswing). MAGA is a club with simple membership rules--whatever DJT says/does is good--no matter what. This is a simple, easy worldview that many Christians (or former Christians) will recognize for what it is: WORSHIP. If God (DJT) does it, it cannot possibly be wrong because by definition, God (DJT) is good. Is it any wonder why DJT does well with people who are programmed this way? Sure, more enlightened Christians in more liberal states aren't quite so hypnotized, but the wiring is already there. It's just a matter of feeding in a different power source.
So, this leads me again to a familiar conclusion: the best solution is to teach morality as something existing separate from an authority figure. This avoids the "Would God/Jesus support DJT?" question because that is an irrelevant question to ask. We don't have to put sandals on every political candidate and drop them in Galilee. Or place our leaders on a donkey riding into Jerusalem. Instead, we can view them within the current moral landscape, and ask whether or not their behavior improves or degrades our society, culture, nation, neighborhood, family, church, whatever.
I know my Christian friends don't want me to throw Jesus out with the bathwater. I respect the fruits of your belief system in the kind, generous, and self-sacrificial way you live your lives. However, I find it much easier to condemn the poor behavior I see in other people without having to wonder whether or not MAGA Christians will be my eternal neighbors on the golden streets of heaven. I do not see them as my brothers and sisters in Christ because I do not follow authoritarianism. Jesus was remarkable and historically more significant than perhaps any other person because of his unique behavior within the context of his time and place, not, in my opinion, because of his ascribed AUTHORITY as the son of God. If we can get away from this author of truth and justice and goodness model, we will be better off as a society in the longterm because we will look at goodness as something existing on its own. It is more complicated, but I think it is the correct way to approach morality as Homo sapiens in our present circumstances.
I always appreciate your well thought-out opinions. Thanks for sharing!
I imagine it would be difficult to "preach" about how immoral Trump is, without also feeling the need to address the morality of the other candidates as well. (While I agree that Trump takes the cake, Harris is not without moral fault. I don't see either Trump or Harris taking the servant leader role Jesus modeled and offering to wash my feet, or whatever the modern day equivalent is. Scooping my dog's poop?) That feels to me like the first step down the road of the church focusing on judging the relative immorality of humans, which doesn't feel particularly Jesus-y, rather than the truths Jesus himself taught.
It seems more prudent to teach a church the importance of truth, respecting and loving others, kindness, humility, generosity, compassion, justice etc. I interpret Jesus as being rather political during his time on earth, but he didn't take sides with Rome or the Sanhedrin. Perhaps a teaching on putting your hope in God and not in ANY political party may be helpful.
For better but mostly worse, politics has stretched its tendrils into every area of life. Where I teach, we feel this tension between remaining neutral on our person political beliefs and persuasions while also condemning the new base and crude normal in political discourse and rhetoric. I think it is important to reemphasize that all THIS is not normal. This is not typically how political figures behave or communicate with each other. It is not normal because of DJT's behavior, temperament, narcissistic disorder. I don't want to equivocate and say simply that there is fault on both sides of the political aisle. Yes, we've all been dragged down into the gutter, but there is a distinct and clear reason why. From the very beginning, DJT destroyed norms around decency, respect, decorum, civil discourse, etc. That behavior got him the power and the following he needed to rise to the office of president of the United States. Nothing about his behavior has changed. In fact, he is more emboldened by the support and cult following of his MAGA base--the extreme base and DJT have this feedback loop going, and the moral basement keeps dropping deeper. It is NOT NORMAL.
So, as educators, we emphasize that democracy, civil discourse, debate on policy, and a culture of respect based on shared principles of human rights and dignity are necessary for our society to flourish rather than languish in moral decay.
DJT is NOT NORMAL. He is not a republican or a democrat. He is an autocrat--self-serving in the most extreme way ever seen in American politics. MAGA-ism is a disease that will not easily be eradicated from our political system. It's spreading faster, unfortunately, among a new generation of teenage males (vs females)--as it appeals to the impulsive, visceral, and simplistic nature of teenage male brains--not quite as developed or empathetic as their female counterparts at this age (see Richard Reeves, Of Boys and Men).
Also of note is the tendency to dichotomize everything in the DJT worldview. An "us" vs "them" mindset is prevalent in ALL politics, but especially in the fringe far right and far left. Its a mental fallacy, but one that really plays into human tendency (see Hans Rosling, Factfulness).
At play here as well is a very real need to feel as though one is a part of something--a member of a club (see Robert Putnam, The Upswing). MAGA is a club with simple membership rules--whatever DJT says/does is good--no matter what. This is a simple, easy worldview that many Christians (or former Christians) will recognize for what it is: WORSHIP. If God (DJT) does it, it cannot possibly be wrong because by definition, God (DJT) is good. Is it any wonder why DJT does well with people who are programmed this way? Sure, more enlightened Christians in more liberal states aren't quite so hypnotized, but the wiring is already there. It's just a matter of feeding in a different power source.
So, this leads me again to a familiar conclusion: the best solution is to teach morality as something existing separate from an authority figure. This avoids the "Would God/Jesus support DJT?" question because that is an irrelevant question to ask. We don't have to put sandals on every political candidate and drop them in Galilee. Or place our leaders on a donkey riding into Jerusalem. Instead, we can view them within the current moral landscape, and ask whether or not their behavior improves or degrades our society, culture, nation, neighborhood, family, church, whatever.
I know my Christian friends don't want me to throw Jesus out with the bathwater. I respect the fruits of your belief system in the kind, generous, and self-sacrificial way you live your lives. However, I find it much easier to condemn the poor behavior I see in other people without having to wonder whether or not MAGA Christians will be my eternal neighbors on the golden streets of heaven. I do not see them as my brothers and sisters in Christ because I do not follow authoritarianism. Jesus was remarkable and historically more significant than perhaps any other person because of his unique behavior within the context of his time and place, not, in my opinion, because of his ascribed AUTHORITY as the son of God. If we can get away from this author of truth and justice and goodness model, we will be better off as a society in the longterm because we will look at goodness as something existing on its own. It is more complicated, but I think it is the correct way to approach morality as Homo sapiens in our present circumstances.
I always appreciate your well thought-out opinions. Thanks for sharing!
I imagine it would be difficult to "preach" about how immoral Trump is, without also feeling the need to address the morality of the other candidates as well. (While I agree that Trump takes the cake, Harris is not without moral fault. I don't see either Trump or Harris taking the servant leader role Jesus modeled and offering to wash my feet, or whatever the modern day equivalent is. Scooping my dog's poop?) That feels to me like the first step down the road of the church focusing on judging the relative immorality of humans, which doesn't feel particularly Jesus-y, rather than the truths Jesus himself taught.
It seems more prudent to teach a church the importance of truth, respecting and loving others, kindness, humility, generosity, compassion, justice etc. I interpret Jesus as being rather political during his time on earth, but he didn't take sides with Rome or the Sanhedrin. Perhaps a teaching on putting your hope in God and not in ANY political party may be helpful.
Amen and thank you.
"To fail in charity is like wounding God in the pupil of his eye." -- Padre Pio