I tried to summarise what follows and then decided to share it as it was written by Heather Cox Richardson because nothing I could say could add to it. I offer it as an admiring promotion of her free, family, newsletter, 'Letters from an American', to which you can subscribe here:
The Alabama Supreme Court on February 16, 2024, decided that cells awaiting implantation for in vitro fertilization are children and that the accidental destruction of such an embryo falls under the state's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. In an opinion concurring with the ruling, Chief Justice Tom Parker declared that the people of Alabama have adopted the “theologically based view of the sanctity of life” and said that “human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God.”
Payton Armstrong of media watchdog Media Matters for America reported today that on the same day the Alabama decision came down, an interview Parker did on the program of a self-proclaimed “prophet” and Q-Anon conspiracy theorist appeared. In it, Parker claimed that “God created government” and called it “heartbreaking” that “we have let it go into the possession of others.”
Parker referred to the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” a theory that appeared in 1975, which claims that Christians must take over the “seven mountains” of U.S. life: religion, family, education, media, entertainment, business…and government. He told his interviewer that “we've abandoned those Seven Mountains and they've been occupied by the other side.” God “is calling and equipping people to step back into these mountains right now,” he said.
While Republicans are split on the decision about embryos after a number of hospitals have ended their popular IVF programs out of fear of prosecution, others, like Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley agreed that “embryos, to me, are babies.”
House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) identifies himself as a Christian, has argued that the United States is a Christian nation, and has called for “biblically sanctioned government.” At a retreat of Republican leaders this weekend, as the country is grappling with both the need to support Ukraine and the need to fund the government, he tried to rally the attendees with what some called a “sermon” arguing that the Republican Party needed to save the country from its lack of morality.
As Charles Blow of the New York Times put it: “If you don't think this country is sliding toward theocracy, you're not paying attention.”
This madness is going on in the USA right now.
Liz Truss was speaking at a conference promoting this type of madness this week.
And then note this, reported by Harry Coles in the Sun, based on comments made by Boris Johnson to the same far-right think tank conference that Truss was speaking at. He said:
When you look back at Trump's last term in office there is little doubt that the world felt safer and calmer and more stable. Right now much of the world is craving the stability that goes with strong and decisive American leadership.
So there we have Johnson playing straight into the fascist copy-book portrayal of the strong male leader as the saviour of the world.
Theocratic fascism is threatening us all. We really do need to wake up to it.
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A friend of mine who lives in the US tells me that her husband (an evangelical Christian and a Trump supporter) believes that the approaching total eclipse of the sun will signal the collapse of “civilised” society.
Millenarians are always with us
And always wrong
It really amazes me that American Christians should find such a loathsome (‘ungodly’) character as Trump to be someone they can support. Surely in Christian terms he is a ‘false prophet’: he doesn’t even come in sheep’s clothing! How can they not recognise him for what he is? One wonders what they would make of JC himself, if he did actually make a comeback, preaching love and forgiveness etc – a woke commie?
Have they told you how many evangelicals believe Trump to be the second coming of Jesus? It’s funny until you realize they’re deadly serious.
Part of the reason for the shameful unconditional support for Israel during this bloody war is explained by the presence of Evangelical Christians who are a large part of the US voting block ( cant remember the proportion but quite a lot!) who believe that once Jews have full control of Jerusalem its an indicator of the end times/ second coming of Christ. Is this a result of the US poor funding of education? Its unbelievable that the same country that gets rockets to the moon is so….. backward in other things. ps money also is powerful!
Is this Eclipse due on 5th November by any chance?
It’s a bit late to be predicting the collapse of civilised society isn’t it?
Hindsight they say is 20/20.
Do they have a way to tell what colour/ race the embryo might be? I suspect the ‘sanctity’ suddenly goes away if it isn’t the ‘right’ one. It clearly does not even remotely apply to any Palestinians.
I have always had an issue with these folk, who are usually patriarchal men, who obsess about the unborn but then couldn’t care less about the children or adults.
I have been faith-free since I was 11 years old. It has been a pleasure in the following sixty years to observe the slow retreat of religion in Scotland. Here in Glasgow, I live in the heartlands of the Orange Order. The tiny marches of old people compared to my youth are a sure sign of encroaching rationality.
Living in a multi faith society is essential, so that I can be faith free and not executed. It is more than 300 years since Thomas Aikenhead was executed in Edinburgh for blasphemy, but this is still common elsewhere in the world, specifically in theocracies, often pretending to be other offences.
I categorise religions by their threat level, at threat level zero, we have Quakers and Baha’i (still regularly executed in Iran) and at threat level five, well I had better not say.
Theocracies like Israel and Iran, are a mediaeval curse on the rest of us, but pale into insignificance compared to the threat from Christian fascism in the states. The growth of atheism in America, up to 25ish percent, is, I think, the major cause of this. A lifelong friend in NYC is part of the movement to keep religion and government separate, and thinks they are losing the battle. Huge swaths of the American population are so poorly educated that they cannot distinguish between a nation of Christians (allowed in the constitution) and a Christian nation (not allowed.) Thirty percent of them believe that the creation of Israel at the end of WWII means that we are living in the End Times as described in the Book of Revelations, and that Jesus return is immanent, which sets the stage for the end of the world. Of course, Israel must be preserved at all costs, as that is where Jesus will return to.
I believe that non-empirical belief systems, such as religion, are a mental health issue. For almost everyone, there are clear mental health benefits in a well-ordered spiritual life. The rest want to kill you in God’s name.
I post your last observation with care.
David, with respect, no set of values can be completely proven empirically or by logic. They can go some way but they always fall short.
They requires other things such as compassion. Some would also argue experience of a different state of consciousness or near death experiences. The Scientific and Medical Network has a range of speakers highly qualified in a range of disciplines who argue that consciousness can exist ‘beyond the brain.’
I have given talks (three times ) on the irrationality of “End Times’ theology and its mis-interpretation of the Bible. I feel the same way as you about that. But there is a spectrum of beliefs, as you indicate. At the other end we have for example, the Dalai Lama’s Buddhism which engages in yearly conferences with scientists and philosophers.
You have a valid point about the dangers of much of what we see in the USA.
I won’t continue as this blog is for other issues.
I firmly respect the right to belueve in a spiritual existence
I have major difficulties with the human power constructs within much religion
Ian,
not so sure about this; ‘David, with respect, no set of values can be completely proven empirically or by logic’ I am quite taken with the maths of game theory, which does seem to suggest that compassion, and sharing have a rational basis. Time is short, and our metaphysical route to understanding that unconditional love is the solution for everything does not seem that important. Standing outside Faslane or Dungaval in the same crowd as the Archbishop of Glasgow, I don’t need a detailed critique about why he is there….
My view is that these religious/spiritual matters ARE relevant to this blog as the ideas all of us here are sick of are riven with moralities – twisted or otherwise. They inculcate economics and social policy all of the time. Read Michael Hudson or David Graeber.
Adam Curtis said that the books of arch individualist and neo-lib prophet Ayn Rand out-sell the Bible in the U.S. True or not? He’s an excellent researcher.
My view on most religions is that they are death cults peddling suspect deferred benefits. You can only access a better life when you are dead apparently? And who is checking? Who is reporting back? Who is verifying?
Religions celebrate the creation of life by God and then go on to undervalue it. We are it seems to be denied the heaven on earth that religion tells us God created for us!!! All those man-gods get in the way with their ‘visions’ and ‘exclusive insights’ that create careers and income for them – status.
So,instead, we use earth/life as a place/space of mass extermination, despoliation and exploitation. But don’t worry – it’ll all be OK when you’re dead.
The emphasis on death and some unseen and unrecorded post death judgements enables Catholics like Tony Blair to do what he did and still does – he avoids accountability to us that way you see as do many others.
The big ethical religious ideas – such as banning usury and debt forgiveness – well – they are just substituted for minor crimes to do with sex, the shame of pleasure (if God created parts of the female/male anatomy to not to be enjoyed by women – and men – then he/she is just being cruel or having a laugh at our expense – I don’t buy it), children out of wedlock and ascribing souls to microbial forms of life.
All this proves to me that religion in its mass form at least has been perverted by self interest in the form of wealth. So to me its invalid – but I know of lower clergy in Christianity and Islam who feel the same about their institutions whom they feel are becoming detached from ‘what it’s really all about’.
What is religion or spirituality?
Well, I think it is deeply personal. I think it is spending time reflecting on yourself and considering trying to live up to better version of oneself (or a prophet like Jesus or Mohammed) – whether its making sure you brush your teeth everyday, are kind to strangers, the planet and its fauna & flora and those you love and walking around with your eyes open connected to everyone and everything. Self awareness based in the effects you have on those/things around you. Connection. Empathy. Compassion. All it seems missing from economics and policy these days yet it is these attributes that also propelled us forward as a species.
So, a choice of reading: the Bible or Atlas Shrugged?
Neither I think for me. Maybe ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ instead.
Thanks
I understand it is sometimes disheartening to hear about American evangelical beliefs, but in a country of such vastness there will always be some ‘alternative’ views…… All I can say that many years ago, when James Baldwin’s ‘ THE FIRE NEXT TIME’ was serialised in the Sunday Times ( I think about 1963?) I finally started to ‘think’ more, rather than listen to the accepted dogma/ritual that constitutes christianity-or any other religion for that matter-. I’m not quite sure how to approach this problem, except that in my ‘old school’ no one said we could not disagree with the ‘status quo’.Or was that only possible 60 years ago?
He is a hero….
“human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God.”
Alabama has been executing people in its penal system since 1812. Using Parker’s ‘logic’, that’s a lot of Alabama law enforcement officers and state attorneys that have gone to Hell.
I tire of these ‘man-gods’ proclaiming the word of God – these charlatans, these fascists. They are an affront to God – the Jewish version, Muslim version Christian – whatever. Even I – as an atheist – live under these founding rules and know right from wrong.
A complex world needs nuance and skill to live in but overall some form of empathy? Not continuous judgement.
My default is to seek out the words of that bloke from Nazareth.
Here is what I think is a great song about him from singer/songwriter and Master of the Telecaster Chuck Prophet: ‘Jesus Was A Social Drinker’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTiRNRvoG1s
PSR,
Thanks for sharing that song, I love it! I’d never heard of Chuck Prophet before, I feel an afternoon on YouTube coming on!
It’s not quite as bleak as it may sound, Richard, as polling in the US shows that like the abortion ban this latest nonsence in Alabama is deeply unpopular, even among Republican voters (see this clip from MSNBC’s Ari Melber https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari-melber)
On the subject of theofascism, or just plain religious extremism in the US, I recently read American Messiahs (Adam Morris, 2019) and Fantasyland: how America went haywire – a 500 year history (Kurt Andersen, 2017), both well worth a read for anyone who wants to understand how some sections of US society and politics end up as extreme as they appear to us in the UK and most other liberal (or supposedly liberal) democracies. It’s not surprising that it only took a person (Trump) with no moral or ethical compass, and a strong bent toward authoritarianism, to awake and unite the crypto- fascism that sits just below the surface of many religious zealots, white supremacists and others of similar ilk.
Thanks, Ivan
May I recommend “Good To Be God” by Tibor Fischer as an anarchic novel that subverts all this nonsense. Published 16 years ago and riper by the day!
I lived in the US for many years and joined Amnesty International protests against the death penalty, an abhorrent relic of our uncivilized past that I have vehemently opposed since my childhood in the UK. Following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in Florida, close to where I lived at the time, I went down to Dade County as a medical volunteer. Imagine my shock when I discovered that a group of Christian Fundamentalists I was camped with wholeheartedly supported the death penalty despite defending the ‘right to life’ of embryos under legal abortion laws. They honestly told me that the electric chair was inadequate as an ‘electric bench’ could “Fry more convicts at a time”!
This ranks as the single most disgraceful inconsistency with the compassionate humanity professed by those who portray themselves as followers of Jesus. I never understood the tenacity of the American addiction to guns, that mindlessly endures the growing number of mass shootings. I was alarmed by the beliefs among the majority of the population, and certain laws in the States, that demonstrate a horrific disregard for human life in most circumstances, with the illogical exception of tiny groups of fertilized human cells. For Christian Fundamentalist, strident followers of the Lord, the right to Life ends at birth in a country where their Republican Party opposes universal access to healthcare and even the most minimal access to a social safety net.
The increasing numbers of homeless people forced to sleep rough on the street and those who cannot afford healthcare also represent ‘human life’, but this is all too easily disregarded in America. Sadly our Tory Government ,and His Majesty’s worthless ‘opposition’, appear determined to emulate this US destructive model. We should note that both the late Queen and her husband enjoyed longevity twice that of the average person disgarded on the UK’s frigid streets: just 47 years! I fear it is only a matter of time before we, as always, follow the most vile examples set by the US regarding ignoring the wellbeing of ordinary people and their children. Will we go even further to ban abortion and reinstate the death penalty; I sincerely hope not.
I abhor the death penalty and will aways coindemn its use.
I equally abhor incarceration for life for minor offences as happens to mainly black men in the USA
I find it useful to describe the so-called ‘death penalty’ as judicial murder
Rees-Mogg has also recently made some pro-Trump comments and it is barely a month since Truss stated that “…it is essential for Conservatism that Donald Trump wins the next US presidential election”. If they are not careful one might be tempted to suggest that someone, somewhere is directing these right-wing politicians to utter pro-Trump propaganda.
Reckoning life to begin at conception is a heretical modern idea, that doesn’t really sit well with conservative Christianity, other than fitting into a misogynistic world view that enjoys making motherhood more difficult. I have yet to read about any time or place where legal personhood didn’t start at birth or even some time afterwards, while life itself used to be reckoned to start at the quickening, when the baby’s movements first become palpable.
Mein Gott !! I can honestly say that for once I am totally shocked by some of the revelations of the US of A in this post and comments .
Spent six months there in 1970 and the country was then more of a mystery to me than cultures far far more apart , like India , Nepal , Egypt , parts of South America, and even working in Aboriginal outback Australia for months seems more accessible. Thanks for the post .
One can look at the circumstances around the rise of the Nazis (economic pressures, social breakdown, public disorder…) and the related politics, to see how a weakly functioning democracy turns to fascism. And consider the inertia and outright collaboration of the institutional church (the ‘German Christians’) colluding with that, with a moralistic, nationalist religion devoid of its original content.
But note also the rejection of that perversion by genuine believers such as Bonhoeffer.
The US churches seem equally divided; and quite variable from place to place: I know many Christians there who are equally appalled at the theocratic bigotry displayed in cases such as this in Arkansas; and the general white ‘Christian’ nationalism surrounding support for Trump and his ilk. Sadly, the myth of redemptive violence is deeply embedded in US culture in particular.
Here in the UK, the much greater decline in church attendance and nominal Christianity gives me hope that there isn’t much fertile ground for such bigotry, even with the depths plumbed by some Tories (and I say this as what I might call a ‘post-evangelical’ Christian. I’ve stopped using the E word: I might have, 50 years ago; before I saw the totally bent use of it in the US.)
The bigots usually do one or more of the following:
– Selectively quote bits of scripture, taken literally, often from a specific translation and usually out of context.
– Misinterpret texts and ignore the cultural context of their original authors and hearers
– Claim ideas as biblical which simply aren’t (eg capitalism; or the ‘takeover government’ idea)
– Ignore a lot of inconvenient texts that don’t suit them.
Unfortunately (rather like with economics?!) there are a lot of people, whether too uneducated, lazy, gullible or whatever, who simply swallow the propaganda – probably because it excuses them from any difficulty with their own actions or attitudes.
To quote ‘the bloke from Nazareth’ as someone called him here, in one of those bits the aforementioned won’t like:
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these*, you did not do for me.’
* Palestinians, Syrians, Yemenis, children, black people, indigenous…. (insert as desired…)
Thanks for drawing attention to this present danger. The comments have also been very informative.
The 7 Mountains crew have been actively infiltrating all US government institutions at all levels since 1975. In that time they also have run a global outreach programme which, for instance, has fallen on very fertile ground in the more deprived areas and amongst fundamentalist Christians of all denominations of Northern Ireland. The neo liberal zealots in the Heritage Foundation and Tufton street found eager political colleagues with the DUP during the Brexit campaign.
Pertinent to this Christian nationalist theocratic trend in democratic politics are the subtle nudging intent of many of the comments on last nights’s Guardian editorial: View on the false alternatives of arts funding. Disturbing to me are just how many of them, in seemingly different phrasing, are supportive of a government shut down of all state grants to the arts. I do wonder, that this worrying anti-arts movement, together with the recent Florida federal prosecutors indictment against the journalist Tim Burke, that a new Christian nationalist war front is being opened up against writers and creatives, historically the last bastion of truth and freedom against fascist totalitarians.
Reactionaries always hate the arts in all forms
There’s a number of videos on the internet of Frank Zappa calling out this slide to a fascist theocracy in the 1980s (I think). Sad to see his predictions coming to light