"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov
I wonder if people are intellectually honest enough to ask so maybe it’s people on the left that are in a cult of ignorance. I mean, they did think that Joe Biden was cognitively capable of running the free world for the last four years
All these issues shall be resolved when Israel rules the world with their Messiah and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. "Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion" (Psalm 2:6). Praise God, the Lord Jesus Christ shall keep His covenant with Israel!
@@davidlafleche1142 yea, when is that going to happen, the people he told "none of you will taste death before the coming of the Kingdom of God" died +1900 years ago, he's late and for an all knowing timeless god, that looks like he doesn't exist.
Let's also bring back Buddhism, Hinduism, Mystic Christianity, Judaism, Taoism, and Native American Spirituality, AND let's put it all in the schools (along with Civics) and have a moment of silence for each one. Because they've all "been missing for a long time."
☀️☀️☀️ Dan, this country was founded on the general principles of Christianity. People fought and died for those principles. It is under that umbrella that you as a Buddhist, you as a Hindu, you as a Muslim or whatever you are, have the freedom to practice your religion and live in peace and harmony with others and even thrive and grow, but you must have respect and decency for the roots of this country and not impose your own haphazard ideological desires on the foundation of this nation. You can do what you want in your personal life and your can have your own moment of silence if you wish to do so and no one will say anything to you, but do not try to undermine the foundation of a nation. If I go to a country that is founded on Buddhism or Hinduism I would fully respect that and would never try to undermine that structure and that nation. In fact I would try to work with it and do my best in service to the best interests of that nation. “My views of [the Christian religion] are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from that anti-Christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense in which he wished anyone to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; and believing he never claimed any other." -Thomas Jefferson (From a letter to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803) "Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?" -Thomas Jefferson (From "Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781-1785). When Trump speaks of religion, this is the kind of religion he is talking about and not the Christian nationalist ideology that you have falsely associated with him and those who have supported his policies.
@@JeanSmith-sz4uu The founding fathers specifically excluded religion to avoid the centuries of bloody warfare Europe had with Catholic verse Protestant wars. They made a secular nation with freedom of religion a founding rule. But I guess they did keep the biblical rules for slavery, so yay Christian foundation for that at least.
@@babykata-dt3yscause trump is a one trick poney. He did shawk and awe. Once the huge push ends, there will be little more. But the damage will be done.
Thinking you're going to disappear one day while driving your car because you're sufficiently sycophantic to the correct version of the deity doesn't sound like an appealing system of government. To the religious, God is real. To the non-religious, God is myth. To the politician, God is useful.
To one who knows, GOD is the Mind that is ALL and there simply isn't anything else. Truth is simple and makes perfect sense, as the father of quantum physics discovered. (See Max Planck's speech given in Florence Italy in 1944 "The Nature Of Matter.") Elijah has returned, as prophesied, and testifies. "Christian Nationalists" are satanists, truth be known. And this evolved beginning with the "apostle" Paul, who never met Jesus Christ in the flesh, and corrupted the "GOOD NEWS" of Jesus Christ ("THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS YOU") into a demagogue's false BAD NEWS message of FEAR and JUDGMENT based on beliefs. "THE FATHER JUDGES NO MAN." - Jesus Christ
I'd never considered it before but if Christian really believes they'll be raptured, then engaging in activities like driving or operating machinery is plainly a danger to anyone not being raptured. That those Christians _do_ engage in those activities means that they don't value your safety beyond the benefit to _themselves._
"Don't listen to rapists who can barely read!" This is a maxim that everyone should live by. Dan, once again. You speak sense when sensible are beginning to doubt that sense remains in the world.
He lumps all Christians together. He just appointed Paula White to head the new White House Faith office! Even evangelicals think she is a kook. This is going to turn out great.
Paula White is married to former Journey keyboardist, Jonathon Cain, who has remade himself as a contemporary Christian musical artist. Just a bit of trivia.
Thank you for this! When evangelical pastors started labeling empathy as sin they completely turned their backs on Christ's teachings. Christian denominations were big contributors to many societal ills including slavery, Indian boarding schools, so this cringy kind of Christianity have been with us for a very long time. "Freedom of religion" was so important to the founders that they put it into the constitution. S. Baptist used to hold separation of church and state as a foundational principle because they knew that it protected THEM. But now? Thank you for your focus on the cognitive science of religion. I find it fascinating!
I think you're conflating "christian demonimations" with "christianity". Denominations are not to blame for everything, christianity as a whole has a lot of responsibility. And a lot of past denominations were categorized after the fact for later theological purposes, so blaming them in particular would literally just be going along with the scapegoating of some long-dead people that we know little about. Kind of like how the founding myths of israelite culture is a revision of history made to let canaanites distinguish themselves from other canaanites. The israelites killed their own people, on the land they were already in, not some other culture on a land they were promised. So many lies like that. Anyways. All that to say we shouldn't put too much trust in ideas of strict denominations being the only ones to ever bear guilt. Sometimes it's the entire tradition, with the old stuff included.
I don't think anyone can criticise the demands and behaviour cults and their cult leaders generally promote and encourage, while also seeing Christ as someone we should admire and want to follow as if he didn't demand the same behaviour of his own followers. Such demands that we would define as cult behaviour.
@ottz2506 arguably he didn't (as in, the book claiming he did is fiction, has multiple authors with their own theological vision and their own reasons to make Jesus say certain things, such as to say he accomplished all the prophecies)
@Nathouuuutheone sorry for the essay. If we are to do the "the book is fiction" and "multiple authors" point then we can't have any discussion at all about scripture because any criticism of it can always be dismissed with a "but this other author said this". Heck, this logic can be used to dismiss and ignore any commentary on any work of fiction. We can't comment on the topic of overcoming adversity in Harry Potter because the books are fiction and thus no adversity was actually overcome. We can't even talk about the not so subtle religious imagery of Narnia because there aren't any talking lions and wardrobes that lead to an entire world. Jesus told people to abandon their families if they wanted to join him, and - regardless as to whether it was literal or metaphorical its still messed up - told people its better to self mutiliate then to turn away from god. That is by definition cult behaviour. He never condemned slavery nor did he even come with the desire to bring peace. He came to fight. He never condemned the old laws either and if he is god in human form, it just means all the atrocities commited by god in the OT - that many christians will conveniently ignore by saying "but that was the OT" - can also be attributed to him. Why people cherry-pick the nice things to make a political point - which is the only reason people do this - is beyond me. Imo, the progressive christians do a whole lot more mental gymnastics in order to feel as if their political and religious commitments don't conflict. One socialist sounding verse in the bible that criticises wealth will have a verse that contradicts it where wealth is used as a reward. One verse that seems to be pro immigrant/foreigner/anti racism will be contradicted by another verse that says that foreigners are deemed fair game when it comes to slavery and where "strange women" and foreigner are viewed as synonymous and where interracial couples are killed because they are so (and yes race was not a concept then in the way we see it but their equivalent would be where a person is from so our view of race would be like their view of people from elsewhere. That's why I say 'interracial'). Conservative Christians still have their mental gymnastics but it's not as hard as what a progressive one who is against slavery, pro womens rights, pro LGBT etc has to go through.
@ottz2506 except, if there were two or more different versions of Harry Potter, statements made about an attempt at unifying them might not apply to each of them individually, and if we believed there was a real Harry Potter on top of it, blaming people for associating with him because a bunch of myths depict him all sorts of ways would be kind of absurd. My point was very specifically in response to your blanket position against everything Jesus. The fact that there are multiple versions and that they can be called into question on a variety of grounds means that not every single Jesus fan out there deserves your portrayal. Maybe they deserve a portrayal, just not that one. Not that monolithically anyways. Cherry picking is when you don't have a solid ground for your standards and you just pick and choose to suit your desires. That doesn't include all the ways someone can have a very consistent framework for why one version is more valid than another. And you might even agree with the methodology, or part of it, if you looked into it instead of treating it as cherry picking. The point is, when critiquing someone's position, it's best not to strawman it or to assume they have the worst possible version of it. Your way of treating Jesus as this one monolith is not so different than when we atheists are treated as some stereotype waiting for a gotcha on evolution because we're too angry at god or whatever. I detest the institution and most of the beliefs associated with christianity. I don't value Jesus as a character or as a historical person (not that I know anything about him). But I do value proper literary analysis. And I like mythology. Jesus is not a monolith. Not a single academic (of worth) treats him as a monolith. I doubt you have their education and broadened perspective.
I foresee the next four years backfiring spectacularly for right wing, Evangelical Christian Nationals and such. Yes, you'll get a lot your way, you'll enact changes that'll affect the country for decades, but as far as saving Christianity? I think Trump and the actions of Christian Nationals will only further erode people's faith and belief, not save it or grow it.
Same! To my understanding a bunch of highschool students were caught protesting this past week (not on national news?) Gen Z is a lot more aware than we give them credit for, and a lot of them are leaving christianity
You are correct. As a former Christian myself, I shared their ultimate goals, but would like to think I would have found their methods vile and horrific. I certainly do now. This is not the way.
Wrong, this crap has been going on since Trump rode that escalator back in 2015, nearly a decade now. We are screwed in the USA as the religious right has overtaken the Republican party and the government. RIP USA.
The problem is peoples religiosity tends to increase in times of hardship. If people in general were absolutely rational robots I would agree that their failure would erode confidence.
Unfortunately, I see it as the opposite. Authoritarian leadership can be very effective short term and it's likely they'll get a lot of desired results in the next four years that make them appear competent (because they are ready at this time, whereas before Trump was fairly clueless after winning). I have a feeling this is going straight down a path toward dictatorship near term.
Once Trump was asked about his favourite bible verse, but he couldn't mention one😂 and lets be honest, none of them want to live like the apostles according to the NT lived. They only pick and choose what they like. Gambling, Divorces, relationships before marriage, Discos, Bars, love industry? Okay. Same gender marriage? No. 😂
I mean if you compare how apostles (alledgly) according to the Nt lived and how 99% of Xtians live, they are all irreligious. Not to mention, that the apostles continued to keep the law, went praying 3 times a day and put God's law over human law (Acts). But yeah, Trump couldn't mention a single verse out of his "favourite book" when asked
@@littlebitofhope1489and herein lies much of the problem…. I think there is a Bible as the basis for Christianity or Bible vs Christianity discussion to be had. Much of what is presented to people in the Bible goes against the “Christ like character of Jesus.” Many people were taught when they were younger that to be a Christian was to be Jesus Christ like. What Christianity has become now is people placing themselves as whatever character in the Bible gives them credence and justification to do whatever they want to do. Christlike and the actions taken throughout the whole Bible are not synonymous.
@@littlebitofhope1489 What gaslighting is there in their post? And MAGA openly defies and contradicts 95% of the teachings attributed to Jesus. They prefer the OT deity. And don't forget that MAGA evangelicals literally said that Jesus was "woke" and declared Trump their "new messiah." Where does that line up with the NT at all?
We need more folks like Dan pushing back! Right on target. This is about power. Thanks for the history lesson and reminders. Christian nationalism sucks and we need to expunge it. Keep up the good fight.
We need more CHRISTIANS pushing back. Many will agree with what Trump says.... until the "wrong" christians get more power and their view of christianity is pushed further and further down until they are oppressed, this time for real.
Like bruh my WHOLE food bill has gone up almost 25%. I usually pay like $400 to last me maybe a good 3 weeks unless I have guests. Went to the store last week $498~500. 😢
@@nyxcole9879 Why is Trump supporting pastors who made joke of Christianity, who attack others and create cryptocurrencies to rugpull and steal from his people? Why on the other side does he think he has higher moral ground than a pastor and calls for compassion and care? Why did he raise taxes for the poor and lower them for the rich? Why is he letting corporations crush unions? Pushing out illegal immigrants is a must and you all should have stood up for it. The same as you should do against his policies which only hurt Americans. You are an idol worshipper.
Won't happen. You can't control masses and mindsets with kindness. The only controlling mechanism is fear. Religion itself is built on it, which is why it's so hypocritical when they speak of love.
@@Eric_01you heard what Dan said about why religion has persevered, right? Bc they have the ability to promote prosocial values. But that’s definitely not Christian Nationalism
"It's time to try love" I appreciate the sentiment entirely but things are a lot more complicated I er... fear. To grossly oversimplify, religion (and other cultural identifications like political affiliation or nationality etc.) is in itself a response to a deep existential fear. It's wishful thinking to imagine we can just will it away especially as @Eric points out, history has resulted in hierarchies exploiting this anxiety (probably unconsciously but the results are still very dangerous.) Having said all that, some faiths offer more hope than others and compassion seems the common element.
@ Prosocial values for a given group, sure. For some, Chrisitan Nationalism will fit that bill. That's the trick to social issues that span our existence, we always have been and will remain fractured. There are plenty that have or currently focus on love, and it has had no effect on the populus, but tickles that specific little group to no end. Why do you think there are over 90,000 religions? Agreement, and even love, just can't get there.
My experience of Christianity growing up in the UK during the 60s and 70s was the very ecumenical and undogmatic Church of England. It was about charity jumble sales for the poor, trips to Snowdonia for deprived kids, love thy neighbour regardless of their religion or ethnicity. As a Muslim kid I really admired this sort of religion. It was spiritual, kind, loving, non-judgmental and focussed on helping others. I honestly don’t recognise the Christianity that I see so much on social media these days.
That would be because it has more in common with the Francoist regime of the Opus Dei, in Spain, than it does with... Was it the Anglicans? (Sorry, I know too many denominations and it's hard for me to place them.)
This is my experience in the Presbyterian church where I live. Grew up Mormon though and they very much believe they are the only correct ones and that America is God's promised land.
Yes, that would be the sort of Vatican II Catholicism that I grew up with as well but, unfortunately, we have our share of reactionary conservatives trying to take us backwards to the days when anyone not a Catholic was suspect and you had to perform religion in a highly specific way. They want Opus Dei (a group attempting to enforce rigid adherence to their narrowly defined doctrines) and I want Dorothy Day (founder of The Catholic Worker who lived in solidarity with the poor and marginalized).
Well yea ofcourse. I mean I didn't know it was as well studied to be fair but it's something u feel is the case . We can hope that people who consider themselves Christian nationalist would hear but I don't think so . The tie between Christianity and America is culturally strong. Those guys can't understand alot.
BTW, Paul Weyrich was a co-founder of the Heritage Foundation. Since 1981, they’ve been pushing different iterations of Project 2025 (aka Mandate for Leadership) on the Oval & Congress. That’s why our tax structure has so dramatically shifted over these past decades.
Thank you so much, Dan. This is probably the fifth or sixth video i have seen of yours, and the things you have spoken on have really resonated with me. You've given me a broader (and frankly, more FEASIBLE) perspective on Christianity, and religion in general, and i cannot tell you how therapeutic it is for me. Please never stop doing what you're doing.
Did anybody but me notice those BIG cracks in the wall between separation of church and state that have just appeared in the last few weeks? Thank you for addressing this Dan. Now they actually have clergy afraid to speak up because they will either lose their congregations or be subject to some sort of reprisals.
@TonyLambregts yeah, when the official seal of the United States of America is behind anything involving Christianity and its promotion and preference being made this obvious... I felt the movements in the foundations...💔
@joehorn1762 there were surface cracks, yes. Historically, these are cracks in the foundation. HB 59 is another. Official censure of Clergy by Congress. ⚒️⚒️⛏️⛏️⛓️💥⛓️💥⛓️💥🪓🪓
There is no such thing as separation of church and state. That is a myth. All the constitution says is that the government can't create or endorse a state religion, can't coerce anyone into practicing any particular religion, and can't keep anyone from practicing the religion of their choice. That's it. Nowhere does it say that religion and government can't touch. Government officials can (but are not required to) swear their oath on a bible or other religious text. (They can also raise their right hand and affirm the oath without a Bible). There is a chaplain in congress. There are chaplains in the military. And God is in the Declaration of Independence: : "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable Rights," .
“The One Where Dan Takes On the President” In all seriousness though, I think Trump is one of those people who see religion as a tool to gain power. All he has to do is say he’s Christian and he’s got the conservative Christians to back him. How else would he do and say these un-Christian things and still get a Christian backing?
OF COURSE he does! He’s all about the power, baby! He’s a narcissist, so all of it is all about him and how he can gain power and attention and adulation. He has zero empathy, to say nothing of self-awareness. Other people are all there for his use. And that’s all. So he’s using the “Christians” as pawns in his power game.
@@susangrande8142 The best thing about having a narcissist for a president is that he cares about his legacy. He inflates his ego with American success. It’s a win/win/win.
@@Copenator333”You’ll be winning so much you will get tired of winning!” Not. Tell that to farmers who can’t ship and get paid for their foodstuffs because USAID is shutdown.
@ naw; I have to disagree with you. His incompetence prevents him from gaining success, so his strategy is to backpedal on his actions, and THEN call them successes. Or, he just makes shit up. 👍 That works too! 😆 “You can fool some of the people some of the time.”
@@littlebitofhope1489 oh for goodness sake, you know very well that he taught "love your enemy", "do not judge", "treat others how you'd like to be treated", "blessed are the peacemakers". but you're right in a way, they pick and choose, take out of context and twist the meaning to justify their obviously immorality.
I love how you are speaking on this crucial tidbit of history that has been under a bushel for far too long. This needs to be vary widely broadcast, the torrent of racial prejudice flows so strongly underneath all of the right-leaning rhetoric
I HIGHLY doubt that Trump believes any of what he is saying, but placating the religious MAGA movement. I don't view him as religious at all, except toward himself.
Where I can see 'religion bringing more happiness' is in their notion of 'being able to see dead loved ones again'. As a person who has lost all grandparents, parents, and untimely a brother, I get that draw religion brings. It is a beautiful notion. Unfortunately, as an agnostic atheist, my honesty doesn't allow me to go that route. Loosing people close to you is rough. Manufacturing a false hope will be a draw for many.
Trump, like Obama and Bill Clinton is an Atheist. The two religious Presidents of my lifetime, Bush and Biden were extreme disappointments. He uses religion as a tool. I don't fault him for that at all, and in fact the truth is that these people WANT to be used. Evangelicals love strongmen.
Absolutely. As a Roman Catholic Christian looking at all this from abroad it's horrifying. I'm especially horrified (but not surprised) at those in the US government who "identify" as Catholic aligning themselves with the Christian nationalists, pushing through policies that target the poor at home and abroad, such as supporting the cuts to USAID while the current and previous 2 Popes have all been very vocal about fighting poverty, not to mention the RCC's social teaching on the "preferential option for the poor."
A catholic think tank engineered the conservative takeover of SCOTUS. The thing we call christian nationalism today has been in development in catholic circles for a long time under multiple names like dominionism. Several key members of the Heritage Foundation are catholic. A large portion of the so called alt-right including militias like the Proud Boys are "trad caths". Catholicism and christian nationalism are the same thing in the same way that evangelicalism and christian nationalism are the same thing. You don't get to bury your head in the sand and pretend that your group is not involved. Liberal christians of every stripe have spent all of this time with their heads buried in the sand and that's why we're here in the first place. It's well past time you came up for air and looked around you. Liberal christianity has failed. And your attitude of "Oh why am I being lumped in with THOSE people?" is exactly why. Willful ignorance.
The way to shape the narrative and show that this is a minority of Christians is for the rest of American Christians to stand up, speak out, and condemn the people perverting your religion.
A catholic think tank engineered the conservative takeover of SCOTUS. The thing we call christian nationalism today has been in development in catholic circles for a long time under multiple names like dominionism. Several key members of the Heritage Foundation are catholic. A large portion of the so called alt-right including militias like the Proud Boys are "trad caths". Catholicism and christian nationalism are the same thing in the same way that evangelicalism and christian nationalism are the same thing. You don't get to bury your head in the sand and pretend that your group is not involved. Liberal christians of every stripe have spent all of this time with their heads buried in the sand and that's why we're here in the first place. It's well past time you came up for air and looked around you. Liberal christianity has failed. And your attitude of "Oh why am I being lumped in with THOSE people?" is exactly why. Willful ignorance.
I wish I could believe that the "harm caused to the marginalized" was a serious concern for these people, I think they view that harm as a feature not a bug. They'd prefer anyone not fitting their model of humanity (white, straight, cisgender), or not toeing the xtian nationalist party line, be removed from the equation, however that can be brought about.
Loved this video, Dan. The data and my observations within my religion align. I'm a Catholic. Converted in college at a very dark time in my life. I was profoundly touched by the Jesus portrayed in the Gospels. That was seven years ago. I told my husband the other night that I deeply regret entering the Roman Catholic Church. And it's precisely because parish life is all about social performance and how others measure your "faithfulness," i.e. your conservatism and loyalty to hierarchy and dogma. I will add: beliefs are powerful, as we can see in psychosis patients with delusions and paranoia. Religious beliefs structure something like an alternate reality that only members of that particular brand of religious belief share. I cannot actually have an intelligible conversation with ultra-conservative Catholics because their reality and mine are not the same. They are living in a different world.
I’m sorry you’re having that alienating experience in your parish. Are you somewhere where you can find a different one? There may be more liberal Catholic groups around too. Maybe a Catholic student group at a nearby university? A Catholic service organization, like St. Vincent dePaul? A local convent? In my experience, sisters (nuns) are VERY interested in doing real charity, even getting into social justice work. I’m an adult convert, and I understand some of your pain. I’m in an MA program in a Jesuit university in a very Catholic city, and I can talk fairly freely about social justice issues with my classmates and teachers, but not my fellow parishioners (most of them). I wish you good fortune in finding a real community of faith. 🙏
If you are in the Atlanta area, I can recommend The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown. Very welcoming parish and good outreach to homeless and LGBTQ populations. I don't think it has changed significantly since Father Henry has died. He recommended a similar parish in the St Louis area that I can look up although we haven't attended since it is a bit further for us. If you are in a metropolitan area, you might be able to find a Catholic Worker group which is about as far from Opus Dei as you can get. Maybe you can find enough similarly minded people to wrest back control of your parish from the conservatives?
@@wartgin Those are excellent suggestions! 🙏 St. Louis is home to St. Louis University, which is a Jesuit university. Jesuits (“Jebs”) tend to be very interested in social justice work, especially since Pope Francis is a Jeb, and talks about social justice issues a lot, including care for the environment. So, either St. Louis U., or there is also a Jeb seminary there.
You mean the orange menace? Yes; he said the bishop of the Episcopalian (National?) Cathedral in DC was “…a nasty woman” for what she said to him, which was echoing the words of Christ. But of course the orangeish would never know that.
The last time a Mormon ran for office, the media ground him to powder. I don't think it's likely another one will run for high office in the near future, especially while the leaders of the church cling to homophobic teachings.
Is he kidding? I wasn't happy UNTIL AFTER I was fully extricated from first one religion, then another, and another after that... I finally realized what I was doing wrong and left all religions! Now I'm actually happy! Trump doesn't know what he's talking about.
I'm unhappy and it can't be because I'm 'religious' it must be because others around me aren't religious. Therefore, if I can somehow make them all religious, it will no doubt make me happier. Or we can ALL wallow in unhappiness which will probably make me just a little happier that others are suffering just as much as me. A can't lose situation...at least for me.
Thank you Dan, your explanations of religion and associated texts are very educational, and your love of the comic world is a bonus for me! Love your podcast with “the other” Dan, he is definitely the comic relief, but your chemistry together is awesome, love “Data Over Dogma”. Thank you for what you do!
@@joehorn1762 Firstly, sorry for the spelling mistake. It should've been "an" aerious & not "a" aerious. Thank you for pointing out my mistake. It must be because i come from Darkest Africa where we aren't too educated. Secondly, i'm not your bro. i don't even know a Joe Horn. i do know of 2 Joes though. Joseph Stalin but he's already dead. Sleepy Joe whose just been ousted from his home and will furthermore be dead before me. Thank you again Joe for having pointed out my glaring mistake. So i'll repeat my corrected initial comment. "DanDan is an aerious comic". Now let that sink in.
“Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”
More religion can be good or bad. We need more Christlike people, not a new inquisition or excuses to be bully’s. Christian Nationalism is an oxymoron, and Trump is one of the least Christlike people in this world.
7:57 he says he does not pray he says he has no need to ask for forgiveness from god, he can’t quote a single scripture, or even tell you what his favorite book in the bible is. On top of all that he called 2 Corinthians “two Corinthians”. We don’t even have to mention how he lives his life🤦🏾♀️ but yeah I’ll believe religion is important to him 🙄
I find it interesting that Utah, one of the most religious states, has the highest average use of antidepressants. I don't know if the religion has to do with it or the altitude (or both), but the link is definitely there
Religion as a concept or specific tenets of specific religions? Society in general puts expectations and obligations on members, as does government. Do not even animals get depressed?
I have speculated that certain Utahns use antidepressants as a replacement for smoking and drinking for stress relief, since the latter is taboo there, but the former is not. Someone should do a study if one hasn't been done already.
@@jakeaurod I forgot to mention that Mormonism (which has the highest concentration in Utah) is a high-demand religion, which may also skew the results. Many other religions and faith traditions aren't nearly as strict, and thus you don't see antidepressant use in countries like Mexico or India, which have different majority faith traditions that are more lenient
I know this might be something not very heady for this erudite TH-cam channel, but it's sonething I have struggled with since 2015. Try as I might, I just can't get my pinhead around how someone, let alone a large portion of a voting population, can really believe that Donald Trump has a religious bone in his body! I mean, George W. Bush, okay; Ronald Reagan, okay; but Donald Trump?? I just can't see it.
My only thought on this is that unthinking religious people simply follow authority. When the preacher yells at them, they listen. When they see Trump, they see a powerful man full of authority, and they listen. They've been conditioned their whole lives to rely on faith rather than thinking, so the facts aren't important. All that matters is power, and being on the "winning" side.
I’m with you there, but also it could be that he appeals to the White Christian Nationalists, who proclaim themselves (and by extension, him) religious. Their own brand of religiousity. That’s my take on it. 👍
Oof, probably. But seeing as individuals from all religions convert into and out of them, maybe religion isn’t what makes us happy. PS, you should see Religion for Breakfast’s video titled “ Why Do People Leave Their Childhood Religions?” It’s fascinating.
I would be way more happier if Zoroastrianism were to never have existed since that’s the religion that got us into this current mess we are in right now!
@@littlebitofhope1489 To be fair there's a difference between LIVING by the sword and wielding one. There are many reasons to wield a sword, but if you define your entire life by tearing people down and hurting them, you will eventually suffer the same fate yourself.
They don't merely want to be harsh to criminals, they actively seek to see criminals and to imagine up crimes - and basic human empathy often leads people who are treated as criminals to act as the criminal they are treated as 🤮 the system is a machine that produces demons
Thank you Mr. MClellan. I have been following your channel for a while. I enjoy your scholarly insight to the bible and religiosity. I may not always agree on viewpoints but this is right on the nail head. Sadly the big religions want total control and rule and will say anything to get it.
A lot of conservative/"Trad" Catholics are buying into Trump's nonsense, too. It's extremely disappointing given the abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church. Yet they're condoning the sexual misconduct and abject cruelty of a convicted felon.
@@davidtaylor142apparently so. I’ve read other commenters say he’s a member of Opus Dei, which is extremely conservative. My understanding is that at least some of them want to go back to pre-Vatican II Catholicism. Another name I’ve heard of these is “Rad Trads.”
At least some of the conserviative Catholics (at least the ones I know) are one issue voters: abortion. They voted for F45 for his saying he’d put anti-abortion rights justices on the Supreme Court. Well, they got their wish. Now, they’re living with the *SO* anti-Catholic actions of the orange dumpster. Christ said we are supposed to welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, etc. Not under the dumpster’s watch! (I’m a very liberal Catholic.) I don’t know how they live with themselves.
It occurred to me today that you have to be kind of odd to be a young person and decide to go to seminary these days. I imagine many churches (not just the Roman Catholics but others) are going to tend toward having weirder and weirder priests and pastors. Not necessarily weird as in trad; I think Lutherans and Episcopalians and Methodists might tend to drift in an opposite direction.
@FlaviusBrosephus Firstly, i'm not your pal. Secondly, i'll leave my previous comment as is. Thirdly, thar does exist. So you fell headlong into my trap as you also do with Danny-boy. Fourthly, you over exagerate as your first statement indicates. Fifthly, you aren't who you say you are. 😎
The issue is that all these social ills are what Trump considers social virtues, and vice versa. He is not mistaken by the affect Christian nationalism will have on the nation.
African American culture is the number one cause of A LOT of our problems today! Now, please leave your closed mindless bigotry in the intellectual sewer it belongs in.
I wouldn't saw that, but religion does provide convenient cover for those with bigoted beliefs that they can't justify by logic and reason. I don't think that religion of itself makes people bad, but if you are a bad person looking for a home, religion has a lot to offer.
@@GaiusSonofGermanicusStop blaming religion for motivating extremist ideologies People would look for anything for justification for their actions, this isn’t limited to just religion it can go to quoting extremist individuals in the past such as Hit!ar
Don't let anyone ever say Dan is afraid to take on hot topics from anyone! "Donald trump does not even know how time zones work," well said. Trump says, "you can't really be happy without religion." He seemed to be happy for 70 years until he found the Evangelicals and they found him. I guess you will now be a Tweet or whatever he calls his missives on "Truth Social."
Your pastor is an ignorant fruitcake. Mental illness is NOT a punishment from God. 🙄 Would he say that the dumpster is sinful, since he’s a narcissist? (The dumpster IS majorly sinful, but I’d say his narcissism causes a lot of his harmful behaviors.) Narcissism is a mental illness.
I appreciate the insight from the scholarly study of religion. As important as it is to understand what religions say/believe, we also need better appreciation of what religion does, both positively and negatively, in their roles within societies.
Yes... but... it's done more for the christian nationalists. The big group it has hurt is liberal christians. But given that they've done next to nothing to combat this rising tide for decades. Fuck 'em.
Thank you Dan for saying it right👏👏👏👏. Wish I could get more of my family & friends to see this truth. Trump is full of crap & is really not a religious person in my opinion!!
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov
My favorite author!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤
As much as many of us can have affinity towards him, let's never forget that he had a history of sexual misconduct towards women.
I wonder if people are intellectually honest enough to ask so maybe it’s people on the left that are in a cult of ignorance. I mean, they did think that Joe Biden was cognitively capable of running the free world for the last four years
And Asimov talks about religion in this article! George Orwell also talks about religion in 1984.
@, George Carlin is pretty articulate on the subject of religion, too -- and a lot funnier!
DAMN DAN! That line “Do not listen to rapists who can barely read” was a hard hitter. Hot damn. Preach it brother.
Facts!!!!!
I thought he was telling me not to listen to King David 😛
15:33
All these issues shall be resolved when Israel rules the world with their Messiah and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. "Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion" (Psalm 2:6). Praise God, the Lord Jesus Christ shall keep His covenant with Israel!
@@davidlafleche1142 yea, when is that going to happen, the people he told "none of you will taste death before the coming of the Kingdom of God" died +1900 years ago, he's late and for an all knowing timeless god, that looks like he doesn't exist.
if someone tells you “you can’t be happy without religion” take it as a threat
Be ready for them to lecture you on what true happiness is and why you should have it if you express that you are indeed happy without it.
Religion is a threat. That is all theses ideologies do.
The guy is either dead wrong or he's telling me I'm not *_allowed_* to be happy unless I join his religion.
@@wrathofainz I like to be charitable and say he’s just wrong you can’t claim that of peoples experiences.
It 100% is a threat. All their propaganda is a threat, especially when it is pushed around children.
Let's also bring back Buddhism, Hinduism, Mystic Christianity, Judaism, Taoism, and Native American Spirituality, AND let's put it all in the schools (along with Civics) and have a moment of silence for each one. Because they've all "been missing for a long time."
I’d even bring back the Force… since that bypassed the Wall of Fire when I was in a coma
I'ma get on my Poseidon Altar ASAP!! 😂❤
#ViveLaRevolution
@@surfdog51And Paganism including Wicca and teach the kids about Witchcraft. All of which have done less harm than Christianity.
☀️☀️☀️ Dan, this country was founded on the general principles of Christianity. People fought and died for those principles. It is under that umbrella that you as a Buddhist, you as a Hindu, you as a Muslim or whatever you are, have the freedom to practice your religion and live in peace and harmony with others and even thrive and grow, but you must have respect and decency for the roots of this country and not impose your own haphazard ideological desires on the foundation of this nation. You can do what you want in your personal life and your can have your own moment of silence if you wish to do so and no one will say anything to you, but do not try to undermine the foundation of a nation. If I go to a country that is founded on Buddhism or Hinduism I would fully respect that and would never try to undermine that structure and that nation. In fact I would try to work with it and do my best in service to the best interests of that nation.
“My views of [the Christian religion] are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from that anti-Christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense in which he wished anyone to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; and believing he never claimed any other."
-Thomas Jefferson
(From a letter to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803)
"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?"
-Thomas Jefferson
(From "Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781-1785).
When Trump speaks of religion, this is the kind of religion he is talking about and not the Christian nationalist ideology that you have falsely associated with him and those who have supported his policies.
@@JeanSmith-sz4uu The founding fathers specifically excluded religion to avoid the centuries of bloody warfare Europe had with Catholic verse Protestant wars. They made a secular nation with freedom of religion a founding rule. But I guess they did keep the biblical rules for slavery, so yay Christian foundation for that at least.
Thanks! I needed this today. January, 2025 was a tough decade.
Q-Q this is so reaaaaal.
😂
If this was January is this country even going to survive these 4 years?
@@babykata-dt3ysthings are getting better, crybaby. Try to keep up.
@@babykata-dt3yscause trump is a one trick poney. He did shawk and awe. Once the huge push ends, there will be little more. But the damage will be done.
Thinking you're going to disappear one day while driving your car because you're sufficiently sycophantic to the correct version of the deity doesn't sound like an appealing system of government.
To the religious, God is real.
To the non-religious, God is myth.
To the politician, God is useful.
To one who knows, GOD is the Mind that is ALL and there simply isn't anything else. Truth is simple and makes perfect sense, as the father of quantum physics discovered. (See Max Planck's speech given in Florence Italy in 1944 "The Nature Of Matter.") Elijah has returned, as prophesied, and testifies. "Christian Nationalists" are satanists, truth be known. And this evolved beginning with the "apostle" Paul, who never met Jesus Christ in the flesh, and corrupted the "GOOD NEWS" of Jesus Christ ("THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS YOU") into a demagogue's false BAD NEWS message of FEAR and JUDGMENT based on beliefs. "THE FATHER JUDGES NO MAN." - Jesus Christ
Praise be to Seneca
I'd never considered it before but if Christian really believes they'll be raptured, then engaging in activities like driving or operating machinery is plainly a danger to anyone not being raptured. That those Christians _do_ engage in those activities means that they don't value your safety beyond the benefit to _themselves._
😮
He taught that to Nero with great effect. Nero found that Christianity was a useful scapegoat, and Christians were good torches.
"Don't listen to rapists who can barely read!" This is a maxim that everyone should live by. Dan, once again. You speak sense when sensible are beginning to doubt that sense remains in the world.
@smallthoughts513, I came to post exactly this.
For real! He's spot on with this one.
OK then no Billy Graham either
@suem6004
Anti-Semite Billy Graham came to realize in the emd that he was peddling an empty promise and a formless myth.
++
Dan! I love you man! Thank you for existing in this world in these trying times. Thank you for using your platform and speaking out!
He lumps all Christians together. He just appointed Paula White to head the new White House Faith office! Even evangelicals think she is a kook. This is going to turn out great.
45,000 different denominations of Christianity. None of them seeing the problem in that. There are no Gods. You are not special.
Methinks he knows he’s sabotaging US Christianity even if stealthily… and he revels in it
Don't forget that he endorsed a literal flat-earther because she was a MAGA Christian Nationalist. 😂
@@solosynapse Who?
Paula White is married to former Journey keyboardist, Jonathon Cain, who has remade himself as a contemporary Christian musical artist. Just a bit of trivia.
Thank you for this! When evangelical pastors started labeling empathy as sin they completely turned their backs on Christ's teachings. Christian denominations were big contributors to many societal ills including slavery, Indian boarding schools, so this cringy kind of Christianity have been with us for a very long time. "Freedom of religion" was so important to the founders that they put it into the constitution. S. Baptist used to hold separation of church and state as a foundational principle because they knew that it protected THEM. But now? Thank you for your focus on the cognitive science of religion. I find it fascinating!
I think you're conflating "christian demonimations" with "christianity". Denominations are not to blame for everything, christianity as a whole has a lot of responsibility. And a lot of past denominations were categorized after the fact for later theological purposes, so blaming them in particular would literally just be going along with the scapegoating of some long-dead people that we know little about.
Kind of like how the founding myths of israelite culture is a revision of history made to let canaanites distinguish themselves from other canaanites. The israelites killed their own people, on the land they were already in, not some other culture on a land they were promised.
So many lies like that. Anyways. All that to say we shouldn't put too much trust in ideas of strict denominations being the only ones to ever bear guilt. Sometimes it's the entire tradition, with the old stuff included.
I don't think anyone can criticise the demands and behaviour cults and their cult leaders generally promote and encourage, while also seeing Christ as someone we should admire and want to follow as if he didn't demand the same behaviour of his own followers. Such demands that we would define as cult behaviour.
@ottz2506 arguably he didn't (as in, the book claiming he did is fiction, has multiple authors with their own theological vision and their own reasons to make Jesus say certain things, such as to say he accomplished all the prophecies)
@Nathouuuutheone sorry for the essay. If we are to do the "the book is fiction" and "multiple authors" point then we can't have any discussion at all about scripture because any criticism of it can always be dismissed with a "but this other author said this". Heck, this logic can be used to dismiss and ignore any commentary on any work of fiction. We can't comment on the topic of overcoming adversity in Harry Potter because the books are fiction and thus no adversity was actually overcome. We can't even talk about the not so subtle religious imagery of Narnia because there aren't any talking lions and wardrobes that lead to an entire world.
Jesus told people to abandon their families if they wanted to join him, and - regardless as to whether it was literal or metaphorical its still messed up - told people its better to self mutiliate then to turn away from god. That is by definition cult behaviour. He never condemned slavery nor did he even come with the desire to bring peace. He came to fight. He never condemned the old laws either and if he is god in human form, it just means all the atrocities commited by god in the OT - that many christians will conveniently ignore by saying "but that was the OT" - can also be attributed to him.
Why people cherry-pick the nice things to make a political point - which is the only reason people do this - is beyond me. Imo, the progressive christians do a whole lot more mental gymnastics in order to feel as if their political and religious commitments don't conflict. One socialist sounding verse in the bible that criticises wealth will have a verse that contradicts it where wealth is used as a reward. One verse that seems to be pro immigrant/foreigner/anti racism will be contradicted by another verse that says that foreigners are deemed fair game when it comes to slavery and where "strange women" and foreigner are viewed as synonymous and where interracial couples are killed because they are so (and yes race was not a concept then in the way we see it but their equivalent would be where a person is from so our view of race would be like their view of people from elsewhere. That's why I say 'interracial').
Conservative Christians still have their mental gymnastics but it's not as hard as what a progressive one who is against slavery, pro womens rights, pro LGBT etc has to go through.
@ottz2506 except, if there were two or more different versions of Harry Potter, statements made about an attempt at unifying them might not apply to each of them individually, and if we believed there was a real Harry Potter on top of it, blaming people for associating with him because a bunch of myths depict him all sorts of ways would be kind of absurd.
My point was very specifically in response to your blanket position against everything Jesus. The fact that there are multiple versions and that they can be called into question on a variety of grounds means that not every single Jesus fan out there deserves your portrayal. Maybe they deserve a portrayal, just not that one. Not that monolithically anyways. Cherry picking is when you don't have a solid ground for your standards and you just pick and choose to suit your desires. That doesn't include all the ways someone can have a very consistent framework for why one version is more valid than another. And you might even agree with the methodology, or part of it, if you looked into it instead of treating it as cherry picking.
The point is, when critiquing someone's position, it's best not to strawman it or to assume they have the worst possible version of it. Your way of treating Jesus as this one monolith is not so different than when we atheists are treated as some stereotype waiting for a gotcha on evolution because we're too angry at god or whatever.
I detest the institution and most of the beliefs associated with christianity. I don't value Jesus as a character or as a historical person (not that I know anything about him). But I do value proper literary analysis. And I like mythology. Jesus is not a monolith. Not a single academic (of worth) treats him as a monolith. I doubt you have their education and broadened perspective.
I foresee the next four years backfiring spectacularly for right wing, Evangelical Christian Nationals and such. Yes, you'll get a lot your way, you'll enact changes that'll affect the country for decades, but as far as saving Christianity? I think Trump and the actions of Christian Nationals will only further erode people's faith and belief, not save it or grow it.
Same! To my understanding a bunch of highschool students were caught protesting this past week (not on national news?) Gen Z is a lot more aware than we give them credit for, and a lot of them are leaving christianity
You are correct. As a former Christian myself, I shared their ultimate goals, but would like to think I would have found their methods vile and horrific. I certainly do now. This is not the way.
Wrong, this crap has been going on since Trump rode that escalator back in 2015, nearly a decade now.
We are screwed in the USA as the religious right has overtaken the Republican party and the government.
RIP USA.
The problem is peoples religiosity tends to increase in times of hardship. If people in general were absolutely rational robots I would agree that their failure would erode confidence.
Unfortunately, I see it as the opposite. Authoritarian leadership can be very effective short term and it's likely they'll get a lot of desired results in the next four years that make them appear competent (because they are ready at this time, whereas before Trump was fairly clueless after winning).
I have a feeling this is going straight down a path toward dictatorship near term.
What! The most irreligious man in America! He is appealing to the religious right.
Once Trump was asked about his favourite bible verse, but he couldn't mention one😂 and lets be honest, none of them want to live like the apostles according to the NT lived. They only pick and choose what they like. Gambling, Divorces, relationships before marriage, Discos, Bars, love industry? Okay. Same gender marriage? No. 😂
Southern Baptists
Grifters gonna grift.
I mean if you compare how apostles (alledgly) according to the Nt lived and how 99% of Xtians live, they are all irreligious. Not to mention, that the apostles continued to keep the law, went praying 3 times a day and put God's law over human law (Acts). But yeah, Trump couldn't mention a single verse out of his "favourite book" when asked
Trump is AntiChrist,he is VERY RELIGIOUS.
So glad I found this channel! As a Christian, I have found so many non-Christlike words, actions and themes among MAGA.
That just depends on how you cherry pick. Their words and actions follow the bible quite closely.
@@littlebitofhope1489and herein lies much of the problem…. I think there is a Bible as the basis for Christianity or Bible vs Christianity discussion to be had.
Much of what is presented to people in the Bible goes against the “Christ like character of Jesus.”
Many people were taught when they were younger that to be a Christian was to be Jesus Christ like. What Christianity has become now is people placing themselves as whatever character in the Bible gives them credence and justification to do whatever they want to do.
Christlike and the actions taken throughout the whole Bible are not synonymous.
@ Do you gaslight people as a rule, or save it for religion?
@@littlebitofhope1489little bit of brain would be a better screen name. Stupid comment. You're wrong, every word you typed is so fckn wrong
@@littlebitofhope1489 What gaslighting is there in their post?
And MAGA openly defies and contradicts 95% of the teachings attributed to Jesus. They prefer the OT deity. And don't forget that MAGA evangelicals literally said that Jesus was "woke" and declared Trump their "new messiah." Where does that line up with the NT at all?
We need more folks like Dan pushing back! Right on target. This is about power. Thanks for the history lesson and reminders. Christian nationalism sucks and we need to expunge it. Keep up the good fight.
Christian nationalism, in my area, is the SBC.
@@harveywabbit9541it is entrenched in many Christian communities.
We need more CHRISTIANS pushing back. Many will agree with what Trump says.... until the "wrong" christians get more power and their view of christianity is pushed further and further down until they are oppressed, this time for real.
We did in an election! And Dan’s side lost! Haha
@@suem6004did you watch the video? The better question,did you understand the video?
Why are my eggs still expensive?
Like bruh my WHOLE food bill has gone up almost 25%. I usually pay like $400 to last me maybe a good 3 weeks unless I have guests.
Went to the store last week $498~500. 😢
The chickens are sick and dying; H5N1 bird flu or some sh*t
Because the companies selling them aren't lowering prices to a level that you would consider cheap.
Shut up and be thankful, peasant!
Why has my household water pressure not gone up?
And this child king doesn't even have an understanding of the Christian religion at a "Jesus Christ Superstar" level.
Donald Trump, Superstar...do you think youre who Q says you are....did god move the bullet or was that just PR....❤
@@nyxcole9879 That is excellent.
@@nyxcole9879 Why is Trump supporting pastors who made joke of Christianity, who attack others and create cryptocurrencies to rugpull and steal from his people? Why on the other side does he think he has higher moral ground than a pastor and calls for compassion and care? Why did he raise taxes for the poor and lower them for the rich? Why is he letting corporations crush unions? Pushing out illegal immigrants is a must and you all should have stood up for it. The same as you should do against his policies which only hurt Americans. You are an idol worshipper.
Thank you Dan for spreading the research behind this dangerous power play
❤❤❤ Fear based religion has ran it's course. It's time to try love
Won't happen. You can't control masses and mindsets with kindness. The only controlling mechanism is fear. Religion itself is built on it, which is why it's so hypocritical when they speak of love.
@@Eric_01you heard what Dan said about why religion has persevered, right? Bc they have the ability to promote prosocial values. But that’s definitely not Christian Nationalism
"It's time to try love"
I appreciate the sentiment entirely but things are a lot more complicated I er... fear. To grossly oversimplify, religion (and other cultural identifications like political affiliation or nationality etc.) is in itself a response to a deep existential fear. It's wishful thinking to imagine we can just will it away especially as @Eric points out, history has resulted in hierarchies exploiting this anxiety (probably unconsciously but the results are still very dangerous.)
Having said all that, some faiths offer more hope than others and compassion seems the common element.
@ Prosocial values for a given group, sure. For some, Chrisitan Nationalism will fit that bill. That's the trick to social issues that span our existence, we always have been and will remain fractured. There are plenty that have or currently focus on love, and it has had no effect on the populus, but tickles that specific little group to no end. Why do you think there are over 90,000 religions? Agreement, and even love, just can't get there.
They love to hate.
Thank you for sharing your logic and wisdom. You are helping provide clarity in troubled times.
Except, he offers no compassion he accuses Trump of not having. Those who complain are more guilty of the same
@@suem6004says the troll lying for a dictator.
@@suem6004 Objectively false. Stop lying, and stop projecting.
I agree, except for the part about troubled times. The more I learn of history, the more I’m convinced there have never been untroubled times. Lol
My experience of Christianity growing up in the UK during the 60s and 70s was the very ecumenical and undogmatic Church of England. It was about charity jumble sales for the poor, trips to Snowdonia for deprived kids, love thy neighbour regardless of their religion or ethnicity. As a Muslim kid I really admired this sort of religion. It was spiritual, kind, loving, non-judgmental and focussed on helping others. I honestly don’t recognise the Christianity that I see so much on social media these days.
That would be because it has more in common with the Francoist regime of the Opus Dei, in Spain, than it does with... Was it the Anglicans? (Sorry, I know too many denominations and it's hard for me to place them.)
@@neoqwerty Yes, the Church of England is the Anglican Church.
This is my experience in the Presbyterian church where I live. Grew up Mormon though and they very much believe they are the only correct ones and that America is God's promised land.
Yes, that would be the sort of Vatican II Catholicism that I grew up with as well but, unfortunately, we have our share of reactionary conservatives trying to take us backwards to the days when anyone not a Catholic was suspect and you had to perform religion in a highly specific way. They want Opus Dei (a group attempting to enforce rigid adherence to their narrowly defined doctrines) and I want Dorothy Day (founder of The Catholic Worker who lived in solidarity with the poor and marginalized).
As a black Christian. We already knew this 😂
Hopefully Dan’s message(s) reach those who are not as informed.
@@komlat253 I knew this too, but the surprise for me is how mean he is.
@@komlat253 ❤️ 💙 💜
Well, a lot of black people support MAGA.
Well yea ofcourse. I mean I didn't know it was as well studied to be fair but it's something u feel is the case . We can hope that people who consider themselves Christian nationalist would hear but I don't think so . The tie between Christianity and America is culturally strong. Those guys can't understand alot.
This is much needed commentary. Thank you for your efforts, Dan.
Proud to be an ex-Catholic from the Philippines, now an agnostic-atheist! Thank you, Mr. Dan.
Hey po you’re just like me fr :)
Thank you for this, Dan. It is a bandaid for my offended soul and my battered intellect.
BTW, Paul Weyrich was a co-founder of the Heritage Foundation. Since 1981, they’ve been pushing different iterations of Project 2025 (aka Mandate for Leadership) on the Oval & Congress. That’s why our tax structure has so dramatically shifted over these past decades.
We need more Luigis.
The fit gets me every time. Dan speaks straight truth on very heavy topics and then follows up with a pretty good Rick impersonation.
Thank you so much, Dan. This is probably the fifth or sixth video i have seen of yours, and the things you have spoken on have really resonated with me. You've given me a broader (and frankly, more FEASIBLE) perspective on Christianity, and religion in general, and i cannot tell you how therapeutic it is for me. Please never stop doing what you're doing.
Did anybody but me notice those BIG cracks in the wall between separation of church and state that have just appeared in the last few weeks?
Thank you for addressing this Dan.
Now they actually have clergy afraid to speak up because they will either lose their congregations or be subject to some sort of reprisals.
Howdy there Mary. I'm not surprised to see you here. You have made an astute observation with that comment.
@TonyLambregts yeah, when the official seal of the United States of America is behind anything involving Christianity and its promotion and preference being made this obvious...
I felt the movements in the foundations...💔
Those cracks have been there. He just broke them open and allowed the rest of them to go further.
@joehorn1762 there were surface cracks, yes.
Historically, these are cracks in the foundation.
HB 59 is another. Official censure of Clergy by Congress.
⚒️⚒️⛏️⛏️⛓️💥⛓️💥⛓️💥🪓🪓
There is no such thing as separation of church and state. That is a myth. All the constitution says is that the government can't create or endorse a state religion, can't coerce anyone into practicing any particular religion, and can't keep anyone from practicing the religion of their choice. That's it. Nowhere does it say that religion and government can't touch. Government officials can (but are not required to) swear their oath on a bible or other religious text. (They can also raise their right hand and affirm the oath without a Bible). There is a chaplain in congress. There are chaplains in the military. And God is in the Declaration of Independence: : "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable Rights," .
“The One Where Dan Takes On the President”
In all seriousness though, I think Trump is one of those people who see religion as a tool to gain power. All he has to do is say he’s Christian and he’s got the conservative Christians to back him. How else would he do and say these un-Christian things and still get a Christian backing?
OF COURSE he does! He’s all about the power, baby! He’s a narcissist, so all of it is all about him and how he can gain power and attention and adulation. He has zero empathy, to say nothing of self-awareness. Other people are all there for his use. And that’s all. So he’s using the “Christians” as pawns in his power game.
@@susangrande8142 The best thing about having a narcissist for a president is that he cares about his legacy. He inflates his ego with American success. It’s a win/win/win.
@@Copenator333”You’ll be winning so much you will get tired of winning!” Not. Tell that to farmers who can’t ship and get paid for their foodstuffs because USAID is shutdown.
@ naw; I have to disagree with you. His incompetence prevents him from gaining success, so his strategy is to backpedal on his actions, and THEN call them successes. Or, he just makes shit up. 👍 That works too! 😆 “You can fool some of the people some of the time.”
@@PolarBear9733 I too am not tired of winning. It’s been a great run. But we want more winning!
I wonder what would need to happen in order for Christians to feel compelled to follow the actual teachings of Christ.
You mean the guy who said " I come not to bring peace, but the sword"? I think they are following him quite well.
@@littlebitofhope1489 Dan has a video dedicated to that passage, and explains it quite well.
@ It's pretty self explanatory. Not one two syllable word in it.
@@littlebitofhope1489 oh for goodness sake, you know very well that he taught "love your enemy", "do not judge", "treat others how you'd like to be treated", "blessed are the peacemakers".
but you're right in a way, they pick and choose, take out of context and twist the meaning to justify their obviously immorality.
@ Your ignorance is not as good as my knowledge.
I love how you are speaking on this crucial tidbit of history that has been under a bushel for far too long. This needs to be vary widely broadcast, the torrent of racial prejudice flows so strongly underneath all of the right-leaning rhetoric
Thank you Dan, this needed to be said. As a Christian I’m appalled by today’s so-called “Christians” without the Christ.
I HIGHLY doubt that Trump believes any of what he is saying, but placating the religious MAGA movement. I don't view him as religious at all, except toward himself.
I doubt that Trump can comprehend what is being said.
Where I can see 'religion bringing more happiness' is in their notion of 'being able to see dead loved ones again'. As a person who has lost all grandparents, parents, and untimely a brother, I get that draw religion brings. It is a beautiful notion. Unfortunately, as an agnostic atheist, my honesty doesn't allow me to go that route. Loosing people close to you is rough. Manufacturing a false hope will be a draw for many.
B-but his favorite book in the Bible is Two Corinthians! 🤪😂
@@jdmac44 LOL Yes. That Two Corinthians is a great book!
Trump, like Obama and Bill Clinton is an Atheist. The two religious Presidents of my lifetime, Bush and Biden were extreme disappointments.
He uses religion as a tool. I don't fault him for that at all, and in fact the truth is that these people WANT to be used. Evangelicals love strongmen.
If greater religiosity = happiness then Afghanistan under the Taliban should be the happiest country in the world.
Greater religiosity leading to happiness ≠ Religious oppression leading to happiness
Oh, but you see that's because it's the wrong religion. (To be said in a tone of great earnestness)
/S just in case
As a liberal and a Catholic it pains me how all of Christianity is lumped in with these fanatics.
Way too many conservative Catholics believe Trump's garbage, unfortunately.
Absolutely. As a Roman Catholic Christian looking at all this from abroad it's horrifying. I'm especially horrified (but not surprised) at those in the US government who "identify" as Catholic aligning themselves with the Christian nationalists, pushing through policies that target the poor at home and abroad, such as supporting the cuts to USAID while the current and previous 2 Popes have all been very vocal about fighting poverty, not to mention the RCC's social teaching on the "preferential option for the poor."
A catholic think tank engineered the conservative takeover of SCOTUS. The thing we call christian nationalism today has been in development in catholic circles for a long time under multiple names like dominionism. Several key members of the Heritage Foundation are catholic. A large portion of the so called alt-right including militias like the Proud Boys are "trad caths".
Catholicism and christian nationalism are the same thing in the same way that evangelicalism and christian nationalism are the same thing. You don't get to bury your head in the sand and pretend that your group is not involved. Liberal christians of every stripe have spent all of this time with their heads buried in the sand and that's why we're here in the first place. It's well past time you came up for air and looked around you. Liberal christianity has failed. And your attitude of "Oh why am I being lumped in with THOSE people?" is exactly why. Willful ignorance.
The way to shape the narrative and show that this is a minority of Christians is for the rest of American Christians to stand up, speak out, and condemn the people perverting your religion.
A catholic think tank engineered the conservative takeover of SCOTUS. The thing we call christian nationalism today has been in development in catholic circles for a long time under multiple names like dominionism. Several key members of the Heritage Foundation are catholic. A large portion of the so called alt-right including militias like the Proud Boys are "trad caths".
Catholicism and christian nationalism are the same thing in the same way that evangelicalism and christian nationalism are the same thing. You don't get to bury your head in the sand and pretend that your group is not involved. Liberal christians of every stripe have spent all of this time with their heads buried in the sand and that's why we're here in the first place. It's well past time you came up for air and looked around you. Liberal christianity has failed. And your attitude of "Oh why am I being lumped in with THOSE people?" is exactly why. Willful ignorance.
I wish I could believe that the "harm caused to the marginalized" was a serious concern for these people, I think they view that harm as a feature not a bug.
They'd prefer anyone not fitting their model of humanity (white, straight, cisgender), or not toeing the xtian nationalist party line, be removed from the equation, however that can be brought about.
Thank you Dan. We need more people like you to help us through this nightmare we are in or are we in hell? 😕
I appreciate this clear, detailed analysis!
"Do better, Mr. President'
That's like asking sh!# not to smell. How about we ask voters to do better instead. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Perhaps one day they'll give us better options. I won't get my hopes up
@@apachewraith Sounds like someone making an excuse for why they didn't vote against the face-eating leopard party. Enjoy your face-eating leopard.
Loved this video, Dan. The data and my observations within my religion align. I'm a Catholic. Converted in college at a very dark time in my life. I was profoundly touched by the Jesus portrayed in the Gospels. That was seven years ago. I told my husband the other night that I deeply regret entering the Roman Catholic Church. And it's precisely because parish life is all about social performance and how others measure your "faithfulness," i.e. your conservatism and loyalty to hierarchy and dogma. I will add: beliefs are powerful, as we can see in psychosis patients with delusions and paranoia. Religious beliefs structure something like an alternate reality that only members of that particular brand of religious belief share. I cannot actually have an intelligible conversation with ultra-conservative Catholics because their reality and mine are not the same. They are living in a different world.
I’m sorry you’re having that alienating experience in your parish. Are you somewhere where you can find a different one? There may be more liberal Catholic groups around too. Maybe a Catholic student group at a nearby university? A Catholic service organization, like St. Vincent dePaul? A local convent? In my experience, sisters (nuns) are VERY interested in doing real charity, even getting into social justice work. I’m an adult convert, and I understand some of your pain. I’m in an MA program in a Jesuit university in a very Catholic city, and I can talk fairly freely about social justice issues with my classmates and teachers, but not my fellow parishioners (most of them). I wish you good fortune in finding a real community of faith. 🙏
If you are in the Atlanta area, I can recommend The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown. Very welcoming parish and good outreach to homeless and LGBTQ populations. I don't think it has changed significantly since Father Henry has died.
He recommended a similar parish in the St Louis area that I can look up although we haven't attended since it is a bit further for us.
If you are in a metropolitan area, you might be able to find a Catholic Worker group which is about as far from Opus Dei as you can get.
Maybe you can find enough similarly minded people to wrest back control of your parish from the conservatives?
@@wartgin Those are excellent suggestions! 🙏 St. Louis is home to St. Louis University, which is a Jesuit university. Jesuits (“Jebs”) tend to be very interested in social justice work, especially since Pope Francis is a Jeb, and talks about social justice issues a lot, including care for the environment. So, either St. Louis U., or there is also a Jeb seminary there.
Didn't he just ask a bishop for an apology?
The Bishop pissed off many Southern Baptists, many of whom are white supremeists.
You mean the one that got 50 million from USAID?
You mean the orange menace? Yes; he said the bishop of the Episcopalian (National?) Cathedral in DC was “…a nasty woman” for what she said to him, which was echoing the words of Christ. But of course the orangeish would never know that.
For reminding him of the Gospel.
@davidferencz9640 You think losing 50 million in funding for her had anything to do with it?
Appreciate Dan’s work. Thank you Dan for the educational content you create.
Prosperity doctrine is blasphemy.
Modern Christianity in general is blasphemy.
Dan---Your brilliance is so moving. Dan McClellan for USA President!!!!!
The last time a Mormon ran for office, the media ground him to powder. I don't think it's likely another one will run for high office in the near future, especially while the leaders of the church cling to homophobic teachings.
Even Trump saying the word Christian makes me nearly throw up in my mouth a little bit. He knows nothing about what a real Christian is all about.
I think Trump is very Christian. Delusional, deceptive and ignorant. Sounds like a Christian to me.
Agree! 🤢
"Stop listening to ignorant and hateful people." 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 ❤
Trump doesn’t care. Doubt he’s even religious.
Trump is not a believer, but he finds the form of it useful.
@ The same way I view Jordan Peterson
Dan is the voice of reason in the world today!
Voice of reasons that TH-camr is a young earth creationist….
Is he kidding? I wasn't happy UNTIL AFTER I was fully extricated from first one religion, then another, and another after that... I finally realized what I was doing wrong and left all religions! Now I'm actually happy! Trump doesn't know what he's talking about.
Thank you for reviewing the literature in these areas and also for making book recommendations so that we can do our own research and reflection.
I'm unhappy and it can't be because I'm 'religious' it must be because others around me aren't religious. Therefore, if I can somehow make them all religious, it will no doubt make me happier. Or we can ALL wallow in unhappiness which will probably make me just a little happier that others are suffering just as much as me. A can't lose situation...at least for me.
What if I ended up religious? In the faith of arch rivals?
Thank you Dan, your explanations of religion and associated texts are very educational, and your love of the comic world is a bonus for me! Love your podcast with “the other” Dan, he is definitely the comic relief, but your chemistry together is awesome, love “Data Over Dogma”. Thank you for what you do!
Dr. Dan, you are a tonic for my soul.
DanDan is a aerious comic. 🤦🏽♂️
@alwinengelbrecht3012 cool story, bro.
@@joehorn1762 Firstly, sorry for the spelling mistake. It should've been "an" aerious & not "a" aerious. Thank you for pointing out my mistake. It must be because i come from Darkest Africa where we aren't too educated.
Secondly, i'm not your bro. i don't even know a Joe Horn. i do know of 2 Joes though. Joseph Stalin but he's already dead. Sleepy Joe whose just been ousted from his home and will furthermore be dead before me.
Thank you again Joe for having pointed out my glaring mistake. So i'll repeat my corrected initial comment. "DanDan is an aerious comic". Now let that sink in.
@alwinengelbrecht3012 reread my first reply, troll. And seek professional help.
“Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”
More religion can be good or bad. We need more Christlike people, not a new inquisition or excuses to be bully’s.
Christian Nationalism is an oxymoron, and Trump is one of the least Christlike people in this world.
Very interesting (and useful) analysis and perspective. I'll be looking into some of the sources you listed at the end. Thanks!
Yours is rapidly becoming one of my favorite channels.
Mine too. Danny-boy is just so "funny". Too much learning has made him mad. 🤦🏽♂️
@@alwinengelbrecht3012your obsession is pathetic.
@@alwinengelbrecht3012 Ah, a bitter bastard.
"... don't listen to rapists who can barely read." Ain't that the damn truth.
7:57 he says he does not pray he says he has no need to ask for forgiveness from god, he can’t quote a single scripture, or even tell you what his favorite book in the bible is. On top of all that he called 2 Corinthians “two Corinthians”. We don’t even have to mention how he lives his life🤦🏾♀️ but yeah I’ll believe religion is important to him 🙄
I find it interesting that Utah, one of the most religious states, has the highest average use of antidepressants. I don't know if the religion has to do with it or the altitude (or both), but the link is definitely there
Religion as a concept or specific tenets of specific religions? Society in general puts expectations and obligations on members, as does government. Do not even animals get depressed?
Nope. The highest happiness, volunteerism, family size. You are drinking the bigoted koolade.
I have speculated that certain Utahns use antidepressants as a replacement for smoking and drinking for stress relief, since the latter is taboo there, but the former is not. Someone should do a study if one hasn't been done already.
@@jakeaurodI don't know. Do animals get depressed in the wild?
@@jakeaurod I forgot to mention that Mormonism (which has the highest concentration in Utah) is a high-demand religion, which may also skew the results. Many other religions and faith traditions aren't nearly as strict, and thus you don't see antidepressant use in countries like Mexico or India, which have different majority faith traditions that are more lenient
He said "one of the biggest problems" is the absence of religion 😂 that is rich.
Thank you for this excellent video. You are GREAT at this... at presenting this honest analysis.
I know this might be something not very heady for this erudite TH-cam channel, but it's sonething I have struggled with since 2015. Try as I might, I just can't get my pinhead around how someone, let alone a large portion of a voting population, can really believe that Donald Trump has a religious bone in his body! I mean, George W. Bush, okay; Ronald Reagan, okay; but Donald Trump?? I just can't see it.
My only thought on this is that unthinking religious people simply follow authority. When the preacher yells at them, they listen. When they see Trump, they see a powerful man full of authority, and they listen. They've been conditioned their whole lives to rely on faith rather than thinking, so the facts aren't important. All that matters is power, and being on the "winning" side.
I’m with you there, but also it could be that he appeals to the White Christian Nationalists, who proclaim themselves (and by extension, him) religious. Their own brand of religiousity. That’s my take on it. 👍
I am WAY happier WITHOUT religion! Thank you for all you do, Dan!
Maybe because you were in the wrong one.
Oof, probably. But seeing as individuals from all religions convert into and out of them, maybe religion isn’t what makes us happy.
PS, you should see Religion for Breakfast’s video titled “ Why Do People Leave Their Childhood Religions?” It’s fascinating.
I would be way more happier if Zoroastrianism were to never have existed since that’s the religion that got us into this current mess we are in right now!
@@عادلالضحية
LOL
And let me guess...you have the "right one."
@@kentstallard6512 i can't read your reply idk why
Thanks for sharing your sources, Dan!
Thank you Dan! This is so true
Jesus: "who lives by the sword dies by the sword."
Evangelicals: "I see! Sword bad, gun good, got it."
Jesus: I come not to bring peace, but the sword.
Jesus in the book of Revelation has a sword in his mouth😂😂
@littlebitofhope1489 is there anything that guy DIDN'T say? 😹😹😹
@@littlebitofhope1489 To be fair there's a difference between LIVING by the sword and wielding one. There are many reasons to wield a sword, but if you define your entire life by tearing people down and hurting them, you will eventually suffer the same fate yourself.
@@RegalRoyalWasTaken Oh bologna. So tell me, why did you feel the need to lie?
They don't merely want to be harsh to criminals, they actively seek to see criminals and to imagine up crimes - and basic human empathy often leads people who are treated as criminals to act as the criminal they are treated as 🤮 the system is a machine that produces demons
Thank you Mr. MClellan. I have been following your channel for a while. I enjoy your scholarly insight to the bible and religiosity. I may not always agree on viewpoints but this is right on the nail head. Sadly the big religions want total control and rule and will say anything to get it.
Thank you Dan for your content on this specific matter
Thank you Dan💜
What we need is more empathy 🙏
So well said. This fight so many people have against reality is depressing.
He could not even say it without looking at the paper. Someone wrote it to him, and clearly he was not convinced... Just Power grab.
You mean like Biden who could not pronounce a single word let alone find the stage? Haha supremslotsnuysxoiehnvkwokv~Biden
A lot of conservative/"Trad" Catholics are buying into Trump's nonsense, too. It's extremely disappointing given the abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church. Yet they're condoning the sexual misconduct and abject cruelty of a convicted felon.
Isnt Vance a tradcath?
@@davidtaylor142apparently so. I’ve read other commenters say he’s a member of Opus Dei, which is extremely conservative. My understanding is that at least some of them want to go back to pre-Vatican II Catholicism. Another name I’ve heard of these is “Rad Trads.”
At least some of the conserviative Catholics (at least the ones I know) are one issue voters: abortion. They voted for F45 for his saying he’d put anti-abortion rights justices on the Supreme Court. Well, they got their wish. Now, they’re living with the *SO* anti-Catholic actions of the orange dumpster. Christ said we are supposed to welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, etc. Not under the dumpster’s watch! (I’m a very liberal Catholic.) I don’t know how they live with themselves.
@@davidtaylor142he's changed his name so many times,who tf knows what he is
It occurred to me today that you have to be kind of odd to be a young person and decide to go to seminary these days. I imagine many churches (not just the Roman Catholics but others) are going to tend toward having weirder and weirder priests and pastors.
Not necessarily weird as in trad; I think Lutherans and Episcopalians and Methodists might tend to drift in an opposite direction.
Thank you! ❤❤❤
Not even just Christian Nationalism, and not even just _White_ Chrisian Nationalism, but the New Apostolic Reformation in particular.
"Apostolic" without any historical Apostolic authority😂
@JK-qo4zp They're Restorationists. And they have an eerie similarity to the LDS.
Liar.
@@suem6004yes, you are.
100 million percent true!
Thar doesn't exist at all. 🤦🏽♂️
@ lol neither does the word "Thar." Go ahead and edit your comment pal ;)
@FlaviusBrosephus Firstly, i'm not your pal.
Secondly, i'll leave my previous comment as is.
Thirdly, thar does exist. So you fell headlong into my trap as you also do with Danny-boy.
Fourthly, you over exagerate as your first statement indicates.
Fifthly, you aren't who you say you are.
😎
@@alwinengelbrecht3012 You're either a basement-dwelling idiot, or a troll. Either way, this comment was one of the lamest comebacks I've ever seen.
The issue is that all these social ills are what Trump considers social virtues, and vice versa. He is not mistaken by the affect Christian nationalism will have on the nation.
Thank you for this video💚
Thanks Dan!
Dan for President!
DanDan is so "funny". 🤡
He'll make a "funny" POTUS too. 🤦🏽♂️
@alwinengelbrecht3012 you arent funny. You are extremely sad.
@@alwinengelbrecht3012 Why do you like championing your own stupidity?
This video is very important. I hope more people see it. I hope it goes viral.
Get him Dan
❤you just nail it every single time❤
“Over the last… fairly long period.” How someone who has almost no idea of historical trends talks.
from democracy to dictatorship and then to theocracy.
Thank you Dan! Excellent information as always.
Religion is the number one cause of A LOT of our problems today!
African American culture is the number one cause of A LOT of our problems today!
Now, please leave your closed mindless bigotry in the intellectual sewer it belongs in.
Please leave your closed mindless bigotry in the intellectual sewer it belongs in.
And yet, the antireligionists are squealing hysterics with blue hair saying no such thing as a woman
I wouldn't saw that, but religion does provide convenient cover for those with bigoted beliefs that they can't justify by logic and reason. I don't think that religion of itself makes people bad, but if you are a bad person looking for a home, religion has a lot to offer.
@@GaiusSonofGermanicusStop blaming religion for motivating extremist ideologies
People would look for anything for justification for their actions, this isn’t limited to just religion it can go to quoting extremist individuals in the past such as Hit!ar
Don't let anyone ever say Dan is afraid to take on hot topics from anyone! "Donald trump does not even know how time zones work," well said. Trump says, "you can't really be happy without religion." He seemed to be happy for 70 years until he found the Evangelicals and they found him. I guess you will now be a Tweet or whatever he calls his missives on "Truth Social."
Thanks for this! I needed to know I wasn't going insane!
Dan question I left church and my pastor blamed sin for mental illness, and Idk if I misunderstood that or what. I need help to better understand
Your pastor is a lying sack of doo-doo. I hope that helps.
Your pastor is an ignorant fruitcake. Mental illness is NOT a punishment from God. 🙄 Would he say that the dumpster is sinful, since he’s a narcissist? (The dumpster IS majorly sinful, but I’d say his narcissism causes a lot of his harmful behaviors.) Narcissism is a mental illness.
Your own mental illness?
I appreciate the insight from the scholarly study of religion. As important as it is to understand what religions say/believe, we also need better appreciation of what religion does, both positively and negatively, in their roles within societies.
You are a gem
Wow, Dan! To hear someone speak such blount truth is so refreshing!
Boom! Scholared!
Thank you so much for this. Thx for resources also.
The fact that Christians have taken on this orange monster as their anointed figurehead has done more for the atheist movement than anything.
Yes... but... it's done more for the christian nationalists.
The big group it has hurt is liberal christians. But given that they've done next to nothing to combat this rising tide for decades.
Fuck 'em.
Why does Trump like putting orange makeup on his face ?
@@xplicitgoofy1015 Some mix of vanity, bad skin, laziness and bad taste.
Dan was getting fiery! love it
Thank you Dan for saying it right👏👏👏👏. Wish I could get more of my family & friends to see this truth. Trump is full of crap & is really not a religious person in my opinion!!