Christian Liberals & Progressive People of Faith

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts) Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:41 PM Apr 2018

Is Trump's Presidency Turning White Evangelical Christianity into a 'Cult'?

Is Trump's Presidency Turning White Evangelical Christianity into a 'Cult'? This Religion Scholar Thinks So
It's a compelling case.
By Brad Reed / Raw Story April 15, 2018, 10:08 AM GMT

Reza Aslan, a religion scholar and former CNN host who has written extensively about Islamic fundamentalism, is featured in a new Big Think video in which he asks the question of whether the followers of President Donald Trump constitute a “religious cult.”

Aslan begins by noting that Trump received unprecedented support from American evangelicals during the 2016 presidential election — even more than former President George W. Bush, who identified specifically as an evangelical.

“This makes no sense,” Aslan said. “Especially when you consider that Trump is not just the most irreligious president in modern history — that his entire worldview makes a mockery of core Christian values, such as humility and empathy and care for the poor.”
To examine why this could be, Aslan pointed in part to the rise of the so-called “Prosperity Gospel” that was once seen as completely heretical by most Christians, but that now has garnered a significant following.

https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/reza-aslan-believes-trump-turning-white-evangelicals-religious-cult

7 replies

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Highlight:

Is Trump's Presidency Turning White Evangelical Christianity into a 'Cult'? (Original Post) workinclasszero Apr 2018 OP

Evangelicalism is About White Male Supremacy dlk Apr 2018 #1

As it stands before us today, I can't argue with that workinclasszero Apr 2018 #3

Perhaps they just need to rebrand Salviati Apr 2018 #5

Turning? Canoe52 Apr 2018 #2

Aren't most religions a cult. nt jrthin Apr 2018 #4

Nope. There is a relevant and specific difference between the two. LanternWaste Apr 2018 #6

No, it was a cult before Trump and will continue after Trump JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 2018 #7

dlk

(12,406 posts)

1. Evangelicalism is About White Male Supremacy

Reply to workinclasszero (Original post)

Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:51 PM

Apr 2018

The actual teachings of Jesus are secondary.

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)

3. As it stands before us today, I can't argue with that

Reply to dlk (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:59 PM

Apr 2018

The thought of the Christian church tying itself to the ultra rich, united in the war against the poor, the sick and the aged is revolting, to say the least.

Jesus was born in a stable, said his Kingdom was not of this world, drove the capitalists out of the Temple and said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man go to heaven.

The "Jesus" the Trump cult claims to worship is a construct made in their own greedy minds.

Salviati

(6,037 posts)

5. Perhaps they just need to rebrand

Reply to workinclasszero (Reply #3)

Mon Apr 16, 2018, 01:12 PM

Apr 2018

The Cult of Modern Apostles of the Majestic Messiah Of Nazareth, I'm sure we could find some snappy acronym to go along with it...

Canoe52

(2,963 posts)

2. Turning?

Reply to workinclasszero (Original post)

Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:56 PM

Apr 2018

Already there...

jrthin

(4,964 posts)

4. Aren't most religions a cult. nt

Reply to Canoe52 (Reply #2)

Mon Apr 16, 2018, 01:03 PM

Apr 2018

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)

6. Nope. There is a relevant and specific difference between the two.

Reply to jrthin (Reply #4)

Wed Apr 18, 2018, 05:52 PM

Apr 2018

Nope. There is a relevant and specific difference between the two.

This is pre-Anthro 101, basic stuff, but as you may need the primer, you should start with Howard Colvin's History of Religion then History of Religious Ideas by Mircea Eliade and finish off with Evolving Brains, Emerging Gods by Fuller Torrey.

Those three academic books often result in a divorce between a human and their simplistic bumper-stickers.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,784 posts)

7. No, it was a cult before Trump and will continue after Trump

Reply to workinclasszero (Original post)

Sun Apr 22, 2018, 05:29 PM

Apr 2018

Their profile is raised somewhat by evangelicals in government, like Pence.

Trump claims to be Presbyterian, probably goes to church on Easter, maybe. Unless the weather's nice, in which case he's golfing.

As to his "worldview", I don't think Christianity (evangelical or otherwise) ever influences his worldview. His worldview doesn't mock Christianity, it simply ignores it.

I mean no criticism on this issue. Trump might represent a true split between religion and state, as he practices no religion (and not statesmanship, either).

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