The Last Temptation - How American Evangelicals Sold Their Collective Souls For Politics

[OldLady]

Evangelicals would endorse Satan himself if he will appoint conservative Supreme Court Justices

Perhaps it is time we dusted off Nathaniel Hawthorne and re-read "Young Goodman Brown."

 

[Polishprince]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

There was no other candidate in 2016 who could have schlonged Hillary Clinton, bode. What would Kasich or Jeb! have done when the Hillary Hate Machine came at them full steam ahed? In actuality, there was only one realistic choice in 2016, Donald J. Trump.

Nope...that is just your excuse for chosing lying donnie. CRCs had multiple choices. YOU had the choices....and YOU chose fat, cheating donnie.

Its a two party system, there weren't multiple choices at all.

It was either the single Pro-Life candidate or the single Anti-Life candidate

 

[OldLady]

The Last Temptation - The Atlantic - Pocket

One of the most extraordinary things about our current politics—really, one of the most extraordinary developments of recent political history—is the loyal adherence of religious conservatives to Donald Trump. The president won four-fifths of the votes of white evangelical Christians. This was a higher level of support than either Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, an outspoken evangelical himself, ever received.

Trump’s background and beliefs could hardly be more incompatible with traditional Christian models of life and leadership. Trump’s past political stances (he once supported the right to partial-birth abortion), his character (he has bragged about sexually assaulting women), and even his language (he introduced the words pussy and shithole into presidential discourse) would more naturally lead religious conservatives toward exorcism than alliance. This is a man who has cruelly publicized his infidelities, made disturbing sexual comments about his elder daughter, and boasted about the size of his penis on the debate stage. His lawyer reportedly arranged a $130,000 payment to a porn star to dissuade her from disclosing an alleged affair. Yet religious conservatives who once blanched at PG-13 public standards now yawn at such NC-17 maneuvers. We are a long way from The Book of Virtues.

In January, following reports that Trump had referred to Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries,” Pastor Robert Jeffress came quickly to his defense. “Apart from the vocabulary attributed to him,” Jeffress wrote, “President Trump is right on target in his sentiment.” After reports emerged that Trump’s lawyer paid hush money to the porn star Stormy Daniels to cover up their alleged sexual encounter, Graham vouched for Trump’s “concern for Christian values.” Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, argued that Trump should be given a “mulligan” for his past infidelity. One can only imagine the explosion of outrage if President Barack Obama had been credibly accused of similar offenses.

The moral convictions of many evangelical leaders have become a function of their partisan identification. This is not mere gullibility; it is utter corruption. Blinded by political tribalism and hatred for their political opponents, these leaders can’t see how they are undermining the causes to which they once dedicated their lives. Little remains of a distinctly Christian public witness.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The GOP, the party that claimed Jesus for themselves & for a nation, have now ultimately defiled Christianity & Jesus, relegating their claimed 'savior' to nothing more than a political tool in their efforts to attain & retain political power.

And Jesus said to the evangelicals, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

This is not mere gullibility; it is utter corruption.
It is neither. It is realism. No leader with strong Christian values is going to make it through the muck to the top of the Hill. I would suggest that the evangelicals got tired of getting nowhere and decided that it was better to fight dirty than to never get abortion outlawed. Or homosexuality forced back into the closet. No doubt those things are more important to them than the minor tarnishment of picking a man who does not meet their moral standards. Voting for him doesn't mean they personally act like him in their daily lives, does it?

There are very few supporters of Donald Trump of any stripe who don't begin with "I don't like the way he.....(fill in the blank) BUT....." They want to get certain things accomplished. Those who actually LIKE Trump's personality are probably from NYC, where they're used to attitudes and mouths like that.

----------------------------- i'm RURAL as can be and have been for 50 of my 70 years and I unashamedly support the TRUMP with a few problems . Trump was the only American in the election that he won Old Lady .

It's not right to deem the fellow citizens you disagree with as "unAmerican," Pismoe.
tsk tsk

 

[bodecea]

The Last Temptation - The Atlantic - Pocket

One of the most extraordinary things about our current politics—really, one of the most extraordinary developments of recent political history—is the loyal adherence of religious conservatives to Donald Trump. The president won four-fifths of the votes of white evangelical Christians. This was a higher level of support than either Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, an outspoken evangelical himself, ever received.

Trump’s background and beliefs could hardly be more incompatible with traditional Christian models of life and leadership. Trump’s past political stances (he once supported the right to partial-birth abortion), his character (he has bragged about sexually assaulting women), and even his language (he introduced the words pussy and shithole into presidential discourse) would more naturally lead religious conservatives toward exorcism than alliance. This is a man who has cruelly publicized his infidelities, made disturbing sexual comments about his elder daughter, and boasted about the size of his penis on the debate stage. His lawyer reportedly arranged a $130,000 payment to a porn star to dissuade her from disclosing an alleged affair. Yet religious conservatives who once blanched at PG-13 public standards now yawn at such NC-17 maneuvers. We are a long way from The Book of Virtues.

In January, following reports that Trump had referred to Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries,” Pastor Robert Jeffress came quickly to his defense. “Apart from the vocabulary attributed to him,” Jeffress wrote, “President Trump is right on target in his sentiment.” After reports emerged that Trump’s lawyer paid hush money to the porn star Stormy Daniels to cover up their alleged sexual encounter, Graham vouched for Trump’s “concern for Christian values.” Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, argued that Trump should be given a “mulligan” for his past infidelity. One can only imagine the explosion of outrage if President Barack Obama had been credibly accused of similar offenses.

The moral convictions of many evangelical leaders have become a function of their partisan identification. This is not mere gullibility; it is utter corruption. Blinded by political tribalism and hatred for their political opponents, these leaders can’t see how they are undermining the causes to which they once dedicated their lives. Little remains of a distinctly Christian public witness.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The GOP, the party that claimed Jesus for themselves & for a nation, have now ultimately defiled Christianity & Jesus, relegating their claimed 'savior' to nothing more than a political tool in their efforts to attain & retain political power.

And Jesus said to the evangelicals, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

This is not mere gullibility; it is utter corruption.
It is neither. It is realism. No leader with strong Christian values is going to make it through the muck to the top of the Hill. I would suggest that the evangelicals got tired of getting nowhere and decided that it was better to fight dirty than to never get abortion outlawed. Or homosexuality forced back into the closet. No doubt those things are more important to them than the minor tarnishment of picking a man who does not meet their moral standards. Voting for him doesn't mean they personally act like him in their daily lives, does it?

There are very few supporters of Donald Trump of any stripe who don't begin with "I don't like the way he.....(fill in the blank) BUT....." They want to get certain things accomplished. Those who actually LIKE Trump's personality are probably from NYC, where they're used to attitudes and mouths like that.

The last two paragraphs would seem to sum up the issue, IMO.

It is difficult to see something you so deeply value discredited so comprehensively. Evangelical faith has shaped my life, as it has the lives of millions. Evangelical history has provided me with models of conscience. Evangelical institutions have given me gifts of learning and purpose. Evangelical friends have shared my joys and sorrows. And now the very word is brought into needless disrepute.

This is the result when Christians become one interest group among many, scrambling for benefits at the expense of others rather than seeking the welfare of the whole. Christianity is love of neighbor, or it has lost its way. And this sets an urgent task for evangelicals: to rescue their faith from its worst leaders.

The GOP has brought the concepts of religion & Christianity down into the gutter of human imperfection. Shameful

You are blaming the wrong group. The Christian leaders of the evangelicals did this to themselves by involving themselves in the politics. The GOP didn’t change, they just like the Democratic Party are political entities that crave power.

A BIG clue of how fundies were selling themselves out to the GOP was when Billy Graham arbitrarily announced that Mormons were now qualified as good christians in 2012 when Romney was running against Obama......this is after over 100 years of fundies calling Mormons Satanists.

 

[Papageorgio]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

There isn’t enough support to elect a real Christian, politics are too dirty to be President. Look at Carter, great guy, terrible President.

 

[pismoe]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

There was no other candidate in 2016 who could have schlonged Hillary Clinton, bode. What would Kasich or Jeb! have done when the Hillary Hate Machine came at them full steam ahed? In actuality, there was only one realistic choice in 2016, Donald J. Trump.

----------------------------------------------- 'kasich' and the 'Mexican jebito' were the worse of the worse on the 'rino' side .

 

[bodecea]

Yes; politics in the US should be free from religion (secular) but as we all know a certain demographic that claims to be religious has perverted secular politics in the US.

------------------------------ its none of your business and you certainly shouldn't be Judging who and who is not Christian in this Free and Secular Country Caddo .

You continue to claim the nation is "secular" but the GOP continues to mix 'fake' religion & 'fake' Christianity into their politics.

Nothing secular about that, IMO & in the opinion of many others.

so, you didn't read the article?

Did you vote and support Clinton and Co? Because they're about to be busted for pedophilia. So really, the Atlantic better watch out about throwing stones in glass houses

BFFs

Donald J. Trump has posed for pics with Bill and Hillary Clinton as well. Doesn't make him guilty or complicit in any way with the arkancide of Vince Foster or the crimes of the Pizzagate scandal.

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

There was no other candidate in 2016 who could have schlonged Hillary Clinton, bode. What would Kasich or Jeb! have done when the Hillary Hate Machine came at them full steam ahed? In actuality, there was only one realistic choice in 2016, Donald J. Trump.

Nope...that is just your excuse for chosing lying donnie. CRCs had multiple choices. YOU had the choices....and YOU chose fat, cheating donnie.

Its a two party system, there weren't multiple choices at all.

It was either the single Pro-Life candidate or the single Anti-Life candidate

More excuses when YOU had all those Republicans to choose from. 2016 Republican Party presidential candidates - Wikipedia

 

[Deno]

You Tards are a Hoot.....

You are pissed that we elected a Street Fighter that

Is better at your game than you.

I am not a real religious man but I do believe in God

and I know he works in mysterious ways....

I don’t think there is another human being alive that

could have done what Trump has done.....

You Tards and all your lying media along with all the rinos and corrupt republicans

threw everything you had at him and you have only made him stronger.

Anyone that wouldn’t at least question if God had a hand in this is a fool.

 

[bodecea]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

--------------------------------------- all the other choices were terrible choices when compared to the American TRUMP Bode .

And tell us what was terrible about each and every one of them.

 

[bodecea]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

There isn’t enough support to elect a real Christian, politics are too dirty to be President. Look at Carter, great guy, terrible President.

So.....sell out.

 

[Polishprince]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

--------------------------------------- all the other choices were terrible choices when compared to the American TRUMP Bode .

And tell us what was terrible about each and every one of them.

What makes you think that if the Republican National Convention had chosen any of the other 16 candidates, they wouldn't have been attacked just as viciously by the Libs? Remember, both McCain and Romney were portrayed as Literally Hitler in the previous 2 elections, and George W. Bush was called "Chimpus Khan", condemned as a war criminal who the libs promised to send off to The Hague for war crimes.

 

[pismoe]

The Last Temptation - The Atlantic - Pocket

One of the most extraordinary things about our current politics—really, one of the most extraordinary developments of recent political history—is the loyal adherence of religious conservatives to Donald Trump. The president won four-fifths of the votes of white evangelical Christians. This was a higher level of support than either Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, an outspoken evangelical himself, ever received.

Trump’s background and beliefs could hardly be more incompatible with traditional Christian models of life and leadership. Trump’s past political stances (he once supported the right to partial-birth abortion), his character (he has bragged about sexually assaulting women), and even his language (he introduced the words pussy and shithole into presidential discourse) would more naturally lead religious conservatives toward exorcism than alliance. This is a man who has cruelly publicized his infidelities, made disturbing sexual comments about his elder daughter, and boasted about the size of his penis on the debate stage. His lawyer reportedly arranged a $130,000 payment to a porn star to dissuade her from disclosing an alleged affair. Yet religious conservatives who once blanched at PG-13 public standards now yawn at such NC-17 maneuvers. We are a long way from The Book of Virtues.

In January, following reports that Trump had referred to Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries,” Pastor Robert Jeffress came quickly to his defense. “Apart from the vocabulary attributed to him,” Jeffress wrote, “President Trump is right on target in his sentiment.” After reports emerged that Trump’s lawyer paid hush money to the porn star Stormy Daniels to cover up their alleged sexual encounter, Graham vouched for Trump’s “concern for Christian values.” Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, argued that Trump should be given a “mulligan” for his past infidelity. One can only imagine the explosion of outrage if President Barack Obama had been credibly accused of similar offenses.

The moral convictions of many evangelical leaders have become a function of their partisan identification. This is not mere gullibility; it is utter corruption. Blinded by political tribalism and hatred for their political opponents, these leaders can’t see how they are undermining the causes to which they once dedicated their lives. Little remains of a distinctly Christian public witness.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The GOP, the party that claimed Jesus for themselves & for a nation, have now ultimately defiled Christianity & Jesus, relegating their claimed 'savior' to nothing more than a political tool in their efforts to attain & retain political power.

And Jesus said to the evangelicals, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

This is not mere gullibility; it is utter corruption.
It is neither. It is realism. No leader with strong Christian values is going to make it through the muck to the top of the Hill. I would suggest that the evangelicals got tired of getting nowhere and decided that it was better to fight dirty than to never get abortion outlawed. Or homosexuality forced back into the closet. No doubt those things are more important to them than the minor tarnishment of picking a man who does not meet their moral standards. Voting for him doesn't mean they personally act like him in their daily lives, does it?

There are very few supporters of Donald Trump of any stripe who don't begin with "I don't like the way he.....(fill in the blank) BUT....." They want to get certain things accomplished. Those who actually LIKE Trump's personality are probably from NYC, where they're used to attitudes and mouths like that.

----------------------------- i'm RURAL as can be and have been for 50 of my 70 years and I unashamedly support the TRUMP with a few problems . Trump was the only American in the election that he won Old Lady .

It's not right to deem the fellow citizens you disagree with as "unAmerican," Pismoe.
tsk tsk

----------------------------------- Freedom of Speech speaking the TRUTH is just my style . I prefer face to face though OldLady .

 

[Papageorgio]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

There isn’t enough support to elect a real Christian, politics are too dirty to be President. Look at Carter, great guy, terrible President.

So.....sell out.

That is what happens now and look where we are. I say stay true to yourself and find other parties that align closer to your belief system. The last election almost 95% of the votes went to two evil and immoral people, if we keep voting that way, we end up where we are today. Division, overspending, under taxing, immoral decisions and hatred. Those seem to be the strong points of the Republican and Democratic Party today.

 

[pismoe]

------------------------------ its none of your business and you certainly shouldn't be Judging who and who is not Christian in this Free and Secular Country Caddo .

You continue to claim the nation is "secular" but the GOP continues to mix 'fake' religion & 'fake' Christianity into their politics.

Nothing secular about that, IMO & in the opinion of many others.

so, you didn't read the article?

Did you vote and support Clinton and Co? Because they're about to be busted for pedophilia. So really, the Atlantic better watch out about throwing stones in glass houses

BFFs

Donald J. Trump has posed for pics with Bill and Hillary Clinton as well. Doesn't make him guilty or complicit in any way with the arkancide of Vince Foster or the crimes of the Pizzagate scandal.

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

There was no other candidate in 2016 who could have schlonged Hillary Clinton, bode. What would Kasich or Jeb! have done when the Hillary Hate Machine came at them full steam ahed? In actuality, there was only one realistic choice in 2016, Donald J. Trump.

Nope...that is just your excuse for chosing lying donnie. CRCs had multiple choices. YOU had the choices....and YOU chose fat, cheating donnie.

Its a two party system, there weren't multiple choices at all.

It was either the single Pro-Life candidate or the single Anti-Life candidate

More excuses when YOU had all those Republicans to choose from. 2016 Republican Party presidential candidates - Wikipedia

-------------------------------- NONE were suitable Bode . [maybe Cruz but he floundered Bode]

 

[Papageorgio]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

--------------------------------------- all the other choices were terrible choices when compared to the American TRUMP Bode .

And tell us what was terrible about each and every one of them.

What makes you think that if the Republican National Convention had chosen any of the other 16 candidates, they wouldn't have been attacked just as viciously by the Libs? Remember, both McCain and Romney were portrayed as Literally Hitler in the previous 2 elections, and George W. Bush was called "Chimpus Khan", condemned as a war criminal who the libs promised to send off to The Hague for war crimes.

That seems to be the Democratic Party’s MO the last few years and now people are catching on.

 

[pismoe]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

--------------------------------------- all the other choices were terrible choices when compared to the American TRUMP Bode .

And tell us what was terrible about each and every one of them.

What makes you think that if the Republican National Convention had chosen any of the other 16 candidates, they wouldn't have been attacked just as viciously by the Libs? Remember, both McCain and Romney were portrayed as Literally Hitler in the previous 2 elections, and George W. Bush was called "Chimpus Khan", condemned as a war criminal who the libs promised to send off to The Hague for war crimes.

--------------------------------------- I wouldn't have voted for any except for The TRUMP or the Cruz and that is all . And good or bad , I woulda voted for 'hilary' just to feck up the 'rinos' and moderates if 'kasich' or 'jebito' would been nominated . --- just stating my plan for 2016 .

 

[BrokeLoser]

Well, it was a real good OP anyway.

Haha...they’re always fun until the sane people show up...huh?

 

[Polishprince]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

--------------------------------------- all the other choices were terrible choices when compared to the American TRUMP Bode .

And tell us what was terrible about each and every one of them.

What makes you think that if the Republican National Convention had chosen any of the other 16 candidates, they wouldn't have been attacked just as viciously by the Libs? Remember, both McCain and Romney were portrayed as Literally Hitler in the previous 2 elections, and George W. Bush was called "Chimpus Khan", condemned as a war criminal who the libs promised to send off to The Hague for war crimes.

That seems to be the Democratic Party’s MO the last few years and now people are catching on.

I think the reason why people are catching on is due to the fact that Donald J. Trump fights back against the attacks, and just doesn't let the lies stand. Mr. Trump was born on the tough streets of New York City. He had to kick people's asses just to make it to the corner bodega for a quart of milk for his mum. That's how he perfected his patented "Hostile Takeover".

 

[pismoe]

Question in point: Who else would the Evangelicals support?

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

--------------------------------------- all the other choices were terrible choices when compared to the American TRUMP Bode .

And tell us what was terrible about each and every one of them.

----------------------------------------------- TRUMP is an American in comparison to all the others . Especially the 'mexican' jebito bush' who was the worse / worst of them all Bode .

 

[Polishprince]

Who else of all those GOP candidates in 2016, you mean? Remember that it's those people who had all those choices.....and chose fat donnie.

--------------------------------------- all the other choices were terrible choices when compared to the American TRUMP Bode .

And tell us what was terrible about each and every one of them.

What makes you think that if the Republican National Convention had chosen any of the other 16 candidates, they wouldn't have been attacked just as viciously by the Libs? Remember, both McCain and Romney were portrayed as Literally Hitler in the previous 2 elections, and George W. Bush was called "Chimpus Khan", condemned as a war criminal who the libs promised to send off to The Hague for war crimes.

That seems to be the Democratic Party’s MO the last few years and now people are catching on.

I think the reason why people are catching on is due to the fact that Donald J. Trump fights back against the attacks, and just doesn't let the lies stand. Mr. Trump was born on the tough streets of New York City. He had to kick people's asses just to make it to the corner bodega for a quart of milk for his mum. That's how he perfected his patented "Hostile Takeover".

My cousin looked at an apartment in New York City, and she was checking it out, saw a member of the NYPD there. Goes up to him and asks "Officer, how is it to the Subway from here?" The cop was honest "can't say, so far, no one has ever made it". Very tough city.