Trumpism's most illuminating and characteristic instances – not its most important, nor most harsh, nor most hazardous, nor most foolish, but perhaps its most illuminating – occurred earlier this fall. During the period of several weeks, the US president commenced revealing the public his plans for a lavish reception room double the dimensions compared to the White House and then commenced independently demolishing the East Wing portion to build it.
He has committed acts 10,000 times as bad – the existing assessment of fatalities due to his slashing to international aid stands at 600,000 and increasing, and presently a study forecast his petroleum strategies would cause deaths an additional 1.3 million. But nothing as definitional. No former leader would have attempted – really, no former commander would have imagined – independently wrecking significant portions of the presidential residence to construct a royal-themed celebration hall, with the active collaboration of some of America's wealthiest, almost all of whom have business with federal agencies.
We transitioned from 'the meek shall inherit the Earth' to 'the meek shall die from cholera'
As confusing as it is to watch the chief executive try to upend the old idea of democracy and replace it with its complete opposite, there remains a substantial portion among Americans who wouldn't consider it entirely new. That is those of us – in older age cohorts a near majority – who were raised as mainline Protestant Christians.
We have observed across decades while conservative evangelical congregations converted the Savior we grew up with into the complete reverse of our understanding of him. Fundamentally, they converted a persona of affection into a figure of animosity who blesses precisely the cruelties that he criticized in biblical teachings; this change developed more gradually, across decades instead of months, but it is nonetheless disconcerting in the same ways, a bewildering emotional blow for countless people.
A Toxic Christianity Gains Ground
So let me first describe the Savior from my childhood, since in theory Jesus is the center within Christian belief, and given that the rapidly expanding group of Americans might have little sense about him since they are atheists or agnostics or religiously unaffiliated. I have no problem with these different approaches, nor with any other faith; however I believe that there are pearls of substantial value in biblical accounts.
It is decidedly definitely not the story of a powerful ruler emerging; instead, a child comes into the world to displaced parents in an automotive shelter, who need to rapidly escape to another nation to evade covert authorities. The child matures in simple surroundings, a working carpenter; his message is about love for others, particularly for the disadvantaged – and not a sentimental love, but tangible care, shown by providing food and housing. Jesus' answer to violence is to turn the additional cheek – not as an act of submissive tolerance, but as a way to instruct the aggressor; his approach to wrongdoing states that when an individual takes your coat you should give him your sweater also.
The apparent and direct reality that the Jesus in biblical accounts advocates for a form of radical love centered on the impoverished has perpetually caused Christian religion something of a controversial faith: engaging for the general public, but owing to its inherent radicalness requiring to be restrained. In the 1950s it was restrained by dilution – Protestantism was so widespread that it basically baptized the status quo.
A Battle for the Highest of Us
Therefore I have felt inspired to observe the steadfast resistance against Trump arise over the last twelve months. It has been great solace to participate in developing the initiative that has protested openly through repeated demonstrations, and appears to have motivated voters to participate in numbers in interim political contests. We must have to maintain it, and through comparable resolve, with American flags during all protests and requests to the best parts in US history.
We shall be interrogated ... regarding how you welcomed the foreigner? Did you accept these individuals and embrace them or reject?
The nation is most protected, in other words, by reference to the best about American history, just as Christianity is most protected through connection to that which renders it special and beautiful, particularly the pattern of Christ. In neither case does it suggest pretending the most damaging regarding America and religious tradition never occurred; it represents both humility and conviction, a mixture that genuine US believers ought to accept.
