General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI think I know why DT's most fervent followers won't abandon him, and it's not
what I've been thinking. It's not just about tapping into their wellspring of hate.
His most fervent followers are Evangelical voters, but the issue isn't Abortion.
It's the End Times.
When DT announced that he was moving the Embassy to Jerusalem, this was a signal:
He was bringing on the End Times.
They don't care that he's rolling back Clean Air regs.
It's the End Times.
They don't care that he's rolling back Clean Water regs.
It's the End Times.
They don't care that he's bringing chaos and mayhem
It's the End Times.
They won't care if he starts WW3.
It's the End Times.
All the suffering that he can bring down on our heads is justified
because it will bring on the End Times, when Jesus will return to rule over all.
These beliefs aren't taught by the Catholic Church or the mainline Protestant denominations. They're based less on the Bible than on Hal Lindsey's The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind series of novels. But they have infected millions of evangelical Christians across the country, who just can't wait for The Rapture and are certain Donald Trump is bringing us closer to the End Times.
Some background.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/explanation/doomindustry.html
http://www.raptureready.com/hal-lindsey/
dawg
(10,626 posts)I'm a Southern Baptist living in a rural part of Georgia that voted overwhelmingly for Trump. But I don't hear anyone talking about him bringing about the end of days.
I *do* hear racist and xenophobic things all the time.
Sometimes, the simplest answer is the best.
pnwmom
(109,025 posts)who do have these beliefs.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/14/half-of-evangelicals-support-israel-because-they-believe-it-is-important-for-fulfilling-end-times-prophecy/?utm_term=.f15064aab9d2
Half of evangelicals support Israel because they believe it is important for fulfilling end-times prophecy
Well before he was asked to offer a prayer at Mondays ceremony marking the U.S. Embassys move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, earning the enmity of Mitt Romney, Pastor Robert Jeffress offered tangential insight into why he and many evangelicals think the move was so important.
Jerusalem has been the object of the affection of both Jews and Christians down through history and the touchstone of prophecy, Jeffress told CNN last year. But, most importantly, God gave Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land to the Jewish people.
The latter half of that quote hints at the deep religious meaning of the existence of Israel for Jeffress and other Christians. As University of North Texas professor Elizabeth Oldmixon told Vox last year, the issue of recognizing Jerusalem is inextricable from that belief.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)their hatred.
I don't doubt that some ignorant "Christians" are eagerly awaiting the End Time, but they are not trump's main support. Of course, I too live in the South where seemingly decent people wave confederate flags, hate minorities, and support those who hate like them.
Turbineguy
(37,420 posts)they would know God is in charge, not Trump.
Wake up America!
nolabels
(13,133 posts)cultures that also embraced fatalism. Being a victim of your own beliefs is what infants and toddlers do, so please also consider the mentality we are dealing with here.
hvn_nbr_2
(6,492 posts)"As soon as the tenth nation joins the European Common Market (the beast), Armageddon will happen and the world will end" Hal Lindsay?
AwakeAtLast
(14,134 posts)Vinca
(50,334 posts)pnwmom
(109,025 posts)and she knows how I feel about DT.
But I've seen her FB page and it is FULL of DT and Melania worship. She herself is an extremely religious person, which she IS overt about it. And it finally hit me that there's probably a connection.
Dan
(3,589 posts)That special koolaid - will they drink it?