Yesterday, I shared signs that the resistance to MAGA/Trump is gaining steam. Among those positive signs is the emergence of religious leaders who are now coming out in force to rebut the performative piety of the White “Christian” nationalists who make up a significant part of the MAGA cult.
The recent growth of participation by genuinely religious leaders is welcome, but we shouldn’t overlook clerics who have been addressing the evils of the administration and the hypocrisy of those “Christians” for quite some time. One of those brave souls is local Quaker pastor, Phil Gulley, who is also a noted humorist and author. (Phil now has a Substack, and if you don’t get it, you absolutely should.)
Phil is a friend, and has graciously allowed me to quote liberally from one recent essay, titled “Can I Get An Amen?”
He began by describing an incident where he was invited and subsequently dis-invited to address a Southern Baptist gathering, Gully noted that the Southern Baptist Convention “is to spirituality what Donald Trump is to education. Speaking of Donald Trump, seventy-two percent of Southern Baptists voted for him in the last election, which gives you some idea of their moral acumen.”
Gulley then turned to Trump’s “hour long dronefest” at the National Prayer Breakfast.
As rich a spiritual event as the National Day of Prayer breakfast was, I can’t help but wonder why Billy Graham, back in 1952, thought it a good idea to pray to a man who told his followers, “when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret…” Then again, religion can be a mysterious undertaking and maybe back in 1952 Jesus changed his mind and told Billy Graham to go ahead and rent out a hotel ballroom, fill it with big shots, invite the press, and have at it.
Gulley noted that Franklin Graham, Billy’s son, had skipped the event, and wondered whether
he and God might be on the outs since this past November when Graham said, “The Epstein files are nothing compared to God’s files.” I had no idea God, as Graham seems to suggest, is an even bigger pedophile than Jeffrey Epstein and I think Franklin Graham needs to tell us what he knows and when he knew it.
The essay’s conclusion is vintage Gulley.
As annoying as all these things are, what bothers me most is that the prayer breakfast was held on February 5th, my birthday, and I would have happily traveled to Washington D.C. to speak to those folks. There are things I’ve been wanting to say to Donald Trump and the Southern Baptists for some years now and it would have saved me a lot of trouble to only have to say it once, when they were all together. Since they didn’t afford me the opportunity, I’ll say it now. Do us all a favor and go into your closets, close the doors, and shut your pieholes. Leave the running of the country to those of us who still believe in the Constitution. Can I get an Amen!
I certainly say Amen!
I will also note that there is much to be said for employing humor in the face of looming disaster. (There’s a reason so many comedians are Jewish…we know a lot about disaster.) On the local level, a pundit who regularly serves up excellent–and informative–snark is Abdul Shabazz. Abdul is a lawyer; he publishes Indy Politics and serves up astute commentary with a penetrating wit as he surveys Indiana’s legislature and the Hoosier political environment.
A recent edition considered “Rino Season in Indiana.”
There’s a new sport in Indiana politics, and it’s not deer season or turkey season, or even rabbit season.
It’s RINO season.
No Quarter PAC has burst onto the scene with all the subtlety of a foghorn and the emotional range of a campaign mailer written entirely in bold. Their grievance is simple: twenty-one Indiana Republican state senators voted against a congressional map President Donald Trump wanted, and as a result, Indiana remains 7–2 instead of the allegedly holier 9–0.
Apparently, 78 percent Republican control is now considered a rounding error.
As Abdul points out, there’s nothing wrong with primaries. “If Republican voters want to replace incumbents over redistricting strategy, that’s their call. Parties have internal debates all the time…But this isn’t just a debate about maps. It’s about discipline… about turning every procedural disagreement into a loyalty test.”
As he notes, in Indiana politics, there’s apparently no shortage of hunting licenses.
If you want some excellent snark in which to marinate your daily political depression, subscribe to both of them.
I agree that a sense of humor is a must-needed attribute when dealing with all religions. Is that what you said? 😉
My great-grandmother, whose farm is under the Patoka Reservoir in French Lick, always warned me about getting involved with Southern Baptists. She was very wise.
And speaking of religious hypocrites within the Indiana Republican Party, I served up a rather lengthy APRA request yesterday to our beloved Lieutenant Governor, Micah Beckwith. I didn’t realize he hosted an “anti-woke committee” at the statehouse. I’d like those notes. But the main reason I sent a Freedom of Information Request to Micah has to do with TPUSA’s Club America program “demanded” into every high school in Indiana. It’s a MAGA indoctrination program aimed at malleable young minds across the country, but specifically in Red States. They all come with a warning from the respective governors: don’t interfere with this after-school club, or there will be consequences.
So, while Beckwith is running around the state and the Midwest, clamoring about “woke indoctrination in schools,” he is using the governor’s office to force MAGA indoctrination of Christian Nationalism and cult-like (fascist) politics.
In typical religious fashion, how’s that for hypocrisy? Only sarcasm and humor can attack these low-IQ zealots.
We have reminders of clergy going after politicians that attack the sovereignty of our democracy in Bonhoeffer who challenged Hitler in his first two weeks . His speech was cut off mid air. Im glad to see the push back against MAGA topology because of what’s recorded in history. It means we have a vibrant democracy.
The main problem is that positions of power corrupt and elected officials no longer are representing the people once elected. Mark Levins comments of politicians being good managers however went out the window starting with Obama who stated that $3 trillion spent over three years was a sign of poor management. Barack lied to us and the next two administrations continue to blow out budgets.
Whats the difference of a large mega church that supports Trump and buys votes for their constituency and administrations that allow illegals in, give them housing and soc security cards allowing them to vote. Both are buying votes. Minneapolis has a $ billion scam with kickbacks going into politicians campaign funds and foundations.
John S. I see you have swallowed the lies about non citizens voting despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This makes all your other comments suspect, at best.
I tip my hat to Abdul Shabazz, say “Amen!” to Phil Gulley, and offer a sincere “Thank you” to Sheila Kennedy for giving me something worth reading every morning as I drink my coffee.
Robin Williams on a talk show was asked why the Germans have such a poor sense of humor. He responded, ” Did you ever think that maybe you killed all the funny people?”
I could say, would say “Amen,” but I’m an atheist. Still, I can say “Rock on!”
Keeping it short, I am.
Unfortunately comedy is wasted on White Christian Nationalists (WCN). They really don’t get satire, sarcasm, or just plain funny. I remember a time when it was said that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. That has changed radically. Orange Jesus gets offended when anyone makes a joke at his expense and his followers do the same. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all and they seem to want to stand in line to massage his ego.
The WCN can’t see that they’re being used by the likes of the Ellisons, Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Musk, none of whom owns a sense of humor. The tech bros are ruining our world. In fact, I’m worried about the future of humor in the US altogether. We should have seen this coming, though when Andy Borowitz had to label his work as “Satire” because readers were getting upset at his short commentaries.
This is the result IMO of too much investment in STEM education! Bring back liberal arts, although come to think of it, we probably need to relabel it to Arts and Crafts to get rid of the liberal connotations.
I had to laugh at Don Lemon being excoriated for filming some disruption at a church in Minnesota where the pastor was associated with ice. And all of the wackadoodles said that Lemon was going to prison for that. And my issue is, that pastor should be on his way to prison. Because he’s using the church’s pulpit to express political viewpoints which is a big no-no. And that particular church and all churches who are extolling the virtues of immigrant control, and bending a knee to the maga crew, should lose their tax exempted grifting, and be taxed like every other for-profit and for power entity. The church, flails in hypocrisy. In the Hebrew and Greek scriptures, the theme is to treat The alien resident resident as yourself. And subject to all of the benefits of being a resident of any particular foreign country where the alien resident resides. In other words, there should be no difference whether a person foreign born as an alien resident or not.
The alien resident who resides as an alien with you should become to you like a native of yours; and you must love him as yourself, for you became alien residents in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:33, 34; Deuteronomy 1:16; 10:12-19) This provides a lesson in compassion, empathy and love for one’s neighbor. Respecting that person’s life!
Luke 10;
29 But, wanting to prove himself righteous, the man said to Jesus: “Who really is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jerʹi·cho and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows, and went off, leaving him half-dead. 31 Now, by coincidence, a certain priest was going down over that road, but, when he saw him, he went by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise, a Levite also, when he got down to the place and saw him, went by on the opposite side. 33 But a certain Sa·marʹi·tan traveling the road came upon him and, at seeing him, he was moved with pity. 34 So he approached him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine upon them. Then he mounted him upon his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two de·narʹi·i, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and whatever you spend besides this, I will repay you when I come back here.’ 36 Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?” 37 He said: “The one that acted mercifully toward him.” Jesus then said to him: “Go your way and be doing the same yourself.”
So not accomplishing any of this, then those claim to practice these things but fall woefully short, can’t be called a Christian, or a Jew, or even a Muslim for that matter.