It’s hard for me to understand the popularity of authoritarian movements. Why would people willingly cede power to someone whose overriding goal is power? Yet it’s happened over and over. Lately I’ve been looking at comments on the Internet and seeing a strong pattern. They see the world as facing an apocalyptic battle between two utterly opposed forces. Their side is good, and anyone who opposes it must be evil. Not only that, their opponents are all on the same side. It’s hard to think of immigrants, Constitutional lawyers, liberals (in all the senses of the word), Muslims, socialists, and the Pope all as a unified front, but to orthodox MAGAs they are.
Evangelical Christianity, which is the heart of Trump’s support, loves the idea that history is a struggle between Satanic and divine forces, and they expect it to culminate in a world war which God, of course, will win. It colors people’s worldview even when they aren’t thinking of supernatural forces. It’s their habit to think of political conflicts as fights between two fully consistent and completely opposed forces. It’s a view that doesn’t leave much room for good people who disagree, honestly mistaken ideas, and people who aren’t wholly on one side or the other.
When you accept this view, it’s reasonable to think anyone on your side is completely trustworthy, anyone opposed is a thorough liar, and anything which supports your side must be right. Anything your side does is good, including threatening to destroy a civilization. It helps if the civilization to be destroyed is aligned with a non-Christian religion.
In praying to God from the Pentagon, “Secretary of War” Hegseth raged: “Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”
Jackson Lahmeyer, a Trump-aligned candidate from Oklahoma who is also an Evangelical pastor, proclaimed, “Good and evil, that’s the story of the Bible. The good news is that at the end good always wins.” Look at chapter 16 of Revelation, if you have the stomach for it. Angels spread skin disease, pollute the seas and fresh water, cause deadly heat waves, and dry up a major river. They’re allegedly working for God, so this makes them “good.”
The Crusades were run on the same mindset. Armies set out to take Jerusalem and the surrounding area because “God wills it!” When the Crusaders took the city in 1099, they massacred thousands of people, mostly Muslims and Jews. They considered their own side “good” not because of their character or deeds, but because they claimed to be on God’s side. They could cite Biblical precedents, such as the genocide of the Canaanites.
Communicating with people who look at the world that way is hard. By the very fact of disagreeing with them, you’re on the side of “evil.” The important thing is to reject their worldview vocally and persistently.
Hi Gary,
Your post inspired a few thoughts. But at the end of the day, the moments of agreement with you outweighed any need for nuance.
I will point out that the American left has demonstrated this authoritarian tendence for framing any discussion as “good vs. evil” for many decades. I think it is regrettable that the American right has adopted the basic framework. There used to be room for a conservative/libertarian, like me, to exist.
We seem to be stuck choosing between the lesser of two evils who each have at best modest interest in individual liberty.
I should add that the Catholic Church had a strong pro-socialist message in Latin America throughout the 20th century. It isn’t particularly new/unique for the Pope to partner with socialism.
Regards,
Dann
This Tagline is OFF TOPIC! (as if the rest of the message wasn’t)
We’re definitely stuck between two evils, and lately I’ve noticed a growing tendency on the left (based on a very small sample, I’ll admit) to attack libertarians / classical liberals / classical conservatives. (I just invented that last term, but there’s probably a place for it in today’s world.) I try to find common ground with them, but it’s hard when their first priority is to win elections.
Hi Gary,
Leftists have been attacking libertarian-ish folks for my entire adult lifetime. We advocate for slightly less government and they lose their minds. Their only priority is winning elections so they can wield power.
In contrast, liberals seem to be able to manage an adult conversation even if they disagree with libertarian-ish perspectives.
The liberals are out-gunned by the leftists, IMO.
Regards,
Dann