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The Way We Never Were: Calling Out Evangelicals For Hypocrisy Misses the Point

  

Category:  Religion & Ethics

Via:  don-overton  •  5 years ago  •  3 comments

The Way We Never Were: Calling Out Evangelicals For Hypocrisy Misses the Point
Much of the discussion of white evangelicals laments the loss of their moral standing, but such criticisms suffer under the misunderstanding that white evangelicalism in the United States has somehow devolved from a once salutary moral vision to brute political opportunism.

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



One mai nstay of our current political discourse is the injudicious use of the term “hypocrisy” to call out one’s political opponents. Charges of hypocrisy are ubiquitous across the political spectrum, but they play a significant role in religious critiques of Trump and his evangelical supporters.  

Writing for the  Guardian , Samuel G. Freedman, for instance,  portrays  Trump as a modern-day Cyrus, the ancient Persian ruler who, according to biblical traditions, allowed the Babylonian exiles from Judah to return to their homeland. Freedman suggests, “ Under King Cyrus Trump, however, the religious right has laid bare its hypocrisy, and indeed its heresy.” He goes on to hope that perhaps one day “white evangelicals will recover some of their ethical and religious moorings.”

Jay Caruso expresses much the same sentiment. Writing for the  Dallas Morning News , he  notes  that when it comes to evangelical support  for Trump, “all of the lying, multiple marriages, multiple sexual assault and harassment allegations, ugly comments about immigrants, petty and vindictive insults thrown at people who dare to criticize him—none of it matters.” Evangelical leaders like Robert Jeffress—who just last week referred to evangelicals who don’t support Trump as “ spineless morons ”— proudly wear their “hypocrisy” on their sleeves. 


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Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
1  Bob Nelson    5 years ago

Fundamentalism is characterized by obedience. This is true, regardless of the religion. Islamist fundamentalists' behavior and beliefs are very similar to 'Christian" fundamentalists.

Obedience to the preacher / imam, even if that means going directly against the religion's strictures.

 
 
 
bbl-1
Professor Quiet
2  bbl-1    5 years ago

Fundamentalism.  A sanitized word for those who keep 'The Inquisition Card' in their pocket at the ready when 'Their Opportunity' arrives.

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
3  JBB    5 years ago

Jesus Christ would, without any doubt, abhor the damn gop of today...

 
 

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