Another very thoughtful comment from Frank Bruni. Let me be clear, I'm not a fan of Mr. Trump and am not defending him. However, his use of 2 Corinthians is not unusual. Many scholarly theologians talk about it in the same way. It weakens your other points to bring that up but the rest of it, especially the Calista Gingrich part is brilliant.
12
'A Prayer for Donald Trump" is telling. On some level, Frank Bruni (and other similarly situated fanatics) may actually worship Donald Trump. Mr. Bruni's vitriolic specious worldview suggest an angst, a sense of liberal despair, decay, exhaustion. They continue to invent facts (fiction) in search of a problem that does not exist. Many now believe the lunatic left will quietly recede into oblivion when their inane conspiracy propaganda runs its course. However, much the same as past pretend president obama, these confused ideologues really do inhabit an alternate reality. The rest of responsible normal adults will come to appreciate the Trump Administration, how the policies are transforming history for the good. Moreover, President Trump may be remembered as one of America's greatest presidents. It's a great time to be living in America, to witness the American Restoration..
2
As a Roman Catholic, I'm disgusted by the trumpists who taunt anyone who didn't vote for trump--sitting right next to me at daily Mass. What a ludicrous joke. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
trump becomes more dangerous by the hour. He is certainly very aware that, as he so boldly stated, he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and get away with it.
We know Republicans will not stop trump, and I doubt Mueller will either. trump's support of human rights violations in Russia, Saudia Arabia, the Phillippines--the list goes on and on--shows us what he plans to do to the American people as well.
We're going to need a bit more than prayer.
trump becomes more dangerous by the hour. He is certainly very aware that, as he so boldly stated, he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and get away with it.
We know Republicans will not stop trump, and I doubt Mueller will either. trump's support of human rights violations in Russia, Saudia Arabia, the Phillippines--the list goes on and on--shows us what he plans to do to the American people as well.
We're going to need a bit more than prayer.
21
Yes C. Morris, Trump and the core of his administration ooze the quote,
" Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." (Samuel Johnson) Thus the red hats, the shallow words and deeds ( and misdeeds); and, the campy " Make America Great Again" campaign. Now this base and thoroughly hollow man will add a crown of thorns to the image of him wrapped in a flag... and wallow in himself and parade his self-authenticated martyrdom. There are none so blind as those who will not see...
" Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." (Samuel Johnson) Thus the red hats, the shallow words and deeds ( and misdeeds); and, the campy " Make America Great Again" campaign. Now this base and thoroughly hollow man will add a crown of thorns to the image of him wrapped in a flag... and wallow in himself and parade his self-authenticated martyrdom. There are none so blind as those who will not see...
11
Mr. Bruni, I marvel at your spectacular style of stripping Trump, and "Baring all of The Would Be King's Nothingness" for all to see Your factual analysis, laced with gut-level comedy regarding Trump, is special. The country is waiting with bated breath for the Senate Intelligence Hearing, starring James Comey, who will undoubtedly render "tremendous testimony, the likes of which we've never witnessed . Like you said, "Trump should Pray, and do so ..ceaselessly.
6
That the Western Wall, Judaism's most holy site, doesn't belong to Israel is not a "widely held" position among Jews. In fact, it is ludicrous.
3
The insecure and anxious DJT looks not to God but to himself for guidance. If he has ever been on his knees I suspect he was crawling around blow up pictures of the Inauguration counting the little people figures.
He is, however, a long time con man and knows the virtue of continuing to work the mark. He needs to keep the strong support from the religious extremists in the US who will ignore anything to have a Supreme Court in their control. So more religion derived political theatre for them. Otherwise business as usual as the US continues to give lip service to protecting the "righteous" while being arms dealer to the world.
Pray for peace.
He is, however, a long time con man and knows the virtue of continuing to work the mark. He needs to keep the strong support from the religious extremists in the US who will ignore anything to have a Supreme Court in their control. So more religion derived political theatre for them. Otherwise business as usual as the US continues to give lip service to protecting the "righteous" while being arms dealer to the world.
Pray for peace.
9
on coronation day, trump was sitting in the national cathedral while a choir sang "how great though art." trump was smiling, thinking that they were singing about him.
11
What Mr. Trump needs is a Magician, who will make the Russian investigations disappeared the same way magicians make a rabbit disappeared during a show. Prayers will not do that.
The U.S.A is the one that needs prayers.
The U.S.A is the one that needs prayers.
7
As always, I have no words. You said all that could be said for today. Newt's wife going to the Vatican makes me want to scream in horror. But don't blame her so much, in the American Catholic Church, $ talks. Annulments are not free.
11
Never was this statement more appropriate than regarding Trump's self-appointed mission to bring healing to the Holy Land:
"Fools rush in where angels dare to tread."
"Fools rush in where angels dare to tread."
4
I meant "Fools rush in where angels FEAR to tread."
6
I predict that in 50 years, if there's still a free press or a United States, the best seller of the year will be: "Living Through The Fake Presidency. Donald Trump and his Unpresidented Populist Snake Oil."
9
Beware the "genius" of kissing up to the Saudis. The Saudis are no friend of democracy or decency. If this happens to ramp up terrorist activity, the Republican fear-mongering will be well-served.
This is a strategy of scoundrels. But, is this surprising?
This is a strategy of scoundrels. But, is this surprising?
13
It is obvious, Trump uses religion to appeal to the Evangelical & Catholic Vote & is very successful, as the majority voted for him.However , if you really want a Bible Thumper, Pence is in the wings. Given an opportunity , he will do away with the separation of Church & State, Women's choice will disappear as young girls will die using wire hangers to abort their unwanted pregnancies, while birth control will be outlawed,along with Gay Rights.Our Forefathers fear of a State Religion will be ignored & Christianity will be the Law of the Land, which will mean that Evolution will be banned in Schools. If you think it can't happen, then elect Pence.
13
Well, maybe with Newt and Callista out of the country, we won't have to listen to his bloviations on CNN, at least for a few more years.
11
Maybe we could get Trump to read the Bible if we had a one-page, bullet-point translation. With his name sprinkled in.
9
I pray Trump won't come back.
12
I am not Catholic but I do understand that in the Church you must be a practicing Catholic to partake in Holy Communion. Trump is a very immoral man who has never considered communion to be important and who is going to be taking communion with the Pope himself. He has never repented and asked God for forgiveness and he doesn't strike me as someone who's going to do so now. All I can say is the Church has really lowered the bar for this man
10
Seraglio, proper definition of all Trump properties and lifestyle. That is why he made Saudi Arabia his first trip representing the American people. He emulates the lifestyle of the " Creeps in Sheets" & wants us to know about it and in reality laughs at American values of any sort of fairness. When he travels where he travels and who he spends time with has the responsibility of representing all Americans, once again he fails.
3
Prayers for the President of the USA?
Always
Always
4
It will be interesting to see if Trump gets a bolt of lighting sent his way when he enters the Holy See. An unapologetic serial adulterer and proud groper of women who thinks he is in no need of any forgiveness, maybe the demon that possesses him will be cast out in the presence of Pope Francis.
9
Every notion that nature cares what Trump does is fantasy.
2
Bruni......that's Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
12
It's too late for prayers. And they wouldn't help anyway.
Donald Trump is on a mission to self-destruct, and we should let him.
After all. He wants to be a martyr.
Donald Trump is on a mission to self-destruct, and we should let him.
After all. He wants to be a martyr.
10
To paraphrase; 'The last refuge of a scoundrel is religion'.
14
I wish I still believed in Hell.
13
Trump creates a living hell in every move he makes and in everyone he takes into his den of delusion and self interest where he is worshiped by himself and where he searches for worship from us all. He is a fool and a tool for the selfish exploiters dressed up as conservatives and the Christian right that is so wrong and so non Christ. He and they are bizarre and deluded and hateful and vengeful and autocratic and demonstrably self centered and arrogant.
14
The greatest support for Trump came from the bible-belt. This should surprise no one. Those who will suffer most from his policies live in the bible-belt. They will be greatly surprised.
10
Now, Mr. Bruni, wasn't Newt Gingrich sleeping with Callista, while second wife was dying of cancer? Or, was that, with the second wife, while his first was dying. From what I have come to believe, about Newton, over the past 25 years, it might vey well have been in both instances. So, will the Numbers Game continue?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
13
Beautifully done, Ben Wiseman!
1
A prayer for Trump? No prayer will save him from his fate.
Just look at the body language of Mr. Trump, his daughter Ivanka, and even Kushner. They look worried, afraid, and scared.
The appointment of a Special Counsel is terrifying them. There might not have been a collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, but I can assure you that Mr Trump and his family are not "clean" when it comes to Russia. If they were, Mr comey would still be director of the FBI.
What Mr Trump needs, is a Magician. Someone that will make everything disappears, a magician that will make us forget about Russia.
Just look at the body language of Mr. Trump, his daughter Ivanka, and even Kushner. They look worried, afraid, and scared.
The appointment of a Special Counsel is terrifying them. There might not have been a collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, but I can assure you that Mr Trump and his family are not "clean" when it comes to Russia. If they were, Mr comey would still be director of the FBI.
What Mr Trump needs, is a Magician. Someone that will make everything disappears, a magician that will make us forget about Russia.
13
My own theory, shared by many I think, is that the GOP and Demo's are equally at fault with the prize for most destructive going clearly to the GOP. As a people we are manipulated and managed by the 1% and corporate masters. Inequality continues and seems to be accelerated by the GOP continuing effort to shift wealth upward.
We no longer seem to have a government capable of governing. When do we wake up?
And another thing: the press re: Saudi 20 billion $ investment in US infrastructure, and Blackstone's pledge of $100b for the same, means very likely that there is a profit motive in US $ that we citizens will pay to these interlopers. Trump's 'infrastructure' plan is a commercial venture only, if it actually exists.
We no longer seem to have a government capable of governing. When do we wake up?
And another thing: the press re: Saudi 20 billion $ investment in US infrastructure, and Blackstone's pledge of $100b for the same, means very likely that there is a profit motive in US $ that we citizens will pay to these interlopers. Trump's 'infrastructure' plan is a commercial venture only, if it actually exists.
6
But he looked so pretty, doing that curtsy. And, that was an extremely gaudy necklace, just his taste. This just gets better, and more hilarious.
17
One quick point... Trump did not so much chose Pence, and Pence was the first person who was asked and did not say "thanks but no thanks".
6
A prayer for America in the age of Donald Trump?
We need some kind of prayer which reconciles at least Christians (and hopefully other religions) and atheists. Trump seems a prime example that Christians, no matter centuries of describing evil and combatting it, have failed in accurate description of such not to mention location of such and success in its overcoming. We need a heroic Christianity, one of Jesus not having died on the cross and gone to heaven but having died on the cross and descended to hell to do perpetual battle against evil for the redemption of the human race.
As for the atheists, they must recognize that for all the metaphysical errors of Christianity, at the heart, with the story of good against evil, is a very real, material situation: It is easy to replace the term evil with irrationality, senselessness over much of existence. Atheists will never adequately replace Christian or other religious metaphysical views unless really coming to grips with the irrationality of humans, natural disasters and the like. By all means embrace science, by all means create a purely materialistic and sensible theory, but above all get to work on that project because so far whether religion is ascendent in the world or not we still get people like Trump rising to pinnacle of power...
How difficult is this to grasp? We need a prayer calling for a lucid and sensible project against evil, senselessness, irrationality. A clear description of such and method of overcoming.
We need some kind of prayer which reconciles at least Christians (and hopefully other religions) and atheists. Trump seems a prime example that Christians, no matter centuries of describing evil and combatting it, have failed in accurate description of such not to mention location of such and success in its overcoming. We need a heroic Christianity, one of Jesus not having died on the cross and gone to heaven but having died on the cross and descended to hell to do perpetual battle against evil for the redemption of the human race.
As for the atheists, they must recognize that for all the metaphysical errors of Christianity, at the heart, with the story of good against evil, is a very real, material situation: It is easy to replace the term evil with irrationality, senselessness over much of existence. Atheists will never adequately replace Christian or other religious metaphysical views unless really coming to grips with the irrationality of humans, natural disasters and the like. By all means embrace science, by all means create a purely materialistic and sensible theory, but above all get to work on that project because so far whether religion is ascendent in the world or not we still get people like Trump rising to pinnacle of power...
How difficult is this to grasp? We need a prayer calling for a lucid and sensible project against evil, senselessness, irrationality. A clear description of such and method of overcoming.
2
I agree, we all need to get into some serious prayer. Some of my friends in Canada are trying to help me figure out how we can pray simultaneously to Allah, Yahweh, and God he Father.
While we hope Trump wins a trifecta on this foreign visit, we are somewhat mortified he seems to be ignoring Shiva, Krishna, and all Hindu Gods in neighbouring India. That would have made it a Superfecta. Also, Trump has wisely left Buddhism alone for the time being, given Ivanka's potential market for trinkets in China, not to mention Jared Kushner's sister's hopes of selling New Jersey real estate to Chinese millionaires.
But, on the subject of religion, sin, and atonement - given the faint Shakespearean tilt to your column today - I could not resist paraphrasing Macbeth's lines ---
"Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash the cheating ,
Lying, and groping clean from my hand? No, this my hand
will rather the multitudinous Holy See incarnadine,
And make America's blue states red."
Ashis
Calgary, Canada
While we hope Trump wins a trifecta on this foreign visit, we are somewhat mortified he seems to be ignoring Shiva, Krishna, and all Hindu Gods in neighbouring India. That would have made it a Superfecta. Also, Trump has wisely left Buddhism alone for the time being, given Ivanka's potential market for trinkets in China, not to mention Jared Kushner's sister's hopes of selling New Jersey real estate to Chinese millionaires.
But, on the subject of religion, sin, and atonement - given the faint Shakespearean tilt to your column today - I could not resist paraphrasing Macbeth's lines ---
"Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash the cheating ,
Lying, and groping clean from my hand? No, this my hand
will rather the multitudinous Holy See incarnadine,
And make America's blue states red."
Ashis
Calgary, Canada
6
I say we don't let him back into the country. He has more than half the populace terrified... doesn't that count for something?
12
A man who would never odder a prayer for anyone, unless he could profit from the praying.
2
If God gave advice today he might say to Trump,( Go and live alone and repeat all day "forgive me,I'm sorry" to all the people on earth that you have caused pain.)
2
Is anyone ready just in case he declares one, two...all of the religions #FAKE NEWS?
5
Trump. Once again, creating a staged, yet shapeshifting character for us to believe in, the truth be damned.
7
Trump's going to sop up by osmosis ye olde-time religion by visiting the aptly-named holy land, where he can talk meaningfully about those two, or was it three Corinthians, you know, the whole ballgame.
He's just referred to terrorism without coupling it with "Islamic", like Obama used to do. Penting up his rage or was it compassion or common sense? We pray his newly applied humility will allow him to meet the pope without dressing him down. The Pope's a popular guy, too, but a "disgrace" all the same because he dared to question Trump's religion. Trump thinks the pope is too liberal and the fact that he wears his nightgown all day means he has no stamina.
We pray Trump gets through his trip to Saudi without mentioning how they blew up the World Trade Center. But you never know. The Saudi's are such strong, superior, rich men who know where a woman's place is, except they go around in their nightgowns all day, too. Everybody lacks stamina.
Then in those socialist countries, Europe and that beautiful city, Belgium, will be more like home where Trump can lord it over everyone. We pray for them to not pay attention to the White House lawyers in the wings brushing up on impeachment, as in how to defend against it.
We also pray nobody tells him anything remotely secret because it'll be on the front page of the failing New York Times next edition.
Poor Melania. How does she put up with it? Now, there's somebody with stamina.
He's just referred to terrorism without coupling it with "Islamic", like Obama used to do. Penting up his rage or was it compassion or common sense? We pray his newly applied humility will allow him to meet the pope without dressing him down. The Pope's a popular guy, too, but a "disgrace" all the same because he dared to question Trump's religion. Trump thinks the pope is too liberal and the fact that he wears his nightgown all day means he has no stamina.
We pray Trump gets through his trip to Saudi without mentioning how they blew up the World Trade Center. But you never know. The Saudi's are such strong, superior, rich men who know where a woman's place is, except they go around in their nightgowns all day, too. Everybody lacks stamina.
Then in those socialist countries, Europe and that beautiful city, Belgium, will be more like home where Trump can lord it over everyone. We pray for them to not pay attention to the White House lawyers in the wings brushing up on impeachment, as in how to defend against it.
We also pray nobody tells him anything remotely secret because it'll be on the front page of the failing New York Times next edition.
Poor Melania. How does she put up with it? Now, there's somebody with stamina.
13
Lovely! Thank you for making my Sunday!
5
I thought Bobby Jindal's one accurate remark was "we are the party of stupid"
15
Exactly. Anti-intellectual, not anti-elite.
1
Trumpah 6:8: And what does the LORD require of you, but to obstruct Justice, to Tweet unkindness, and to walk narcissistically with your megalomania.
92
Mr. Bruni,
On one hand, you must have asked yourself whether Trump's abject lack on anything resembling authenticity is worth a column. By now, pretty near every American is convinced that Trump is just not what he purports himself to be.
Whether someone sticks with him and his twisted politics or whether he or she is so revolted by his words and actions past and present, we are forced to either dismiss his pathology in favor of some greater goal, such as tearing down the federal government in one case or working diligently to neutralize him—indeed remove him from office in the other.
Trump's 2016 newfound spirituality, and his proclamation of it when necessary, is no different virtually anything emanating from the tongue of this man. It is dependably as false as anything else associated with Trump; another manifestation of a deep, nearly complete detachment from reality.
On the other hand, what makes this column worthy is that it sets one to considering how world leaders, spiritual or secular, should deal with a Donald Trump. The Saudis have dragged out the enough pomp and circumstance as for it to be almost humorous in the "optics" of it all.
How Israel and the Vatican react to a demonstrable, mendacious charlatan who happens to occupy the most powerful office on the planet will be instructive.
The fact is that Trump is a world problem, not just an American one.
On one hand, you must have asked yourself whether Trump's abject lack on anything resembling authenticity is worth a column. By now, pretty near every American is convinced that Trump is just not what he purports himself to be.
Whether someone sticks with him and his twisted politics or whether he or she is so revolted by his words and actions past and present, we are forced to either dismiss his pathology in favor of some greater goal, such as tearing down the federal government in one case or working diligently to neutralize him—indeed remove him from office in the other.
Trump's 2016 newfound spirituality, and his proclamation of it when necessary, is no different virtually anything emanating from the tongue of this man. It is dependably as false as anything else associated with Trump; another manifestation of a deep, nearly complete detachment from reality.
On the other hand, what makes this column worthy is that it sets one to considering how world leaders, spiritual or secular, should deal with a Donald Trump. The Saudis have dragged out the enough pomp and circumstance as for it to be almost humorous in the "optics" of it all.
How Israel and the Vatican react to a demonstrable, mendacious charlatan who happens to occupy the most powerful office on the planet will be instructive.
The fact is that Trump is a world problem, not just an American one.
20
Events we've all observed give lie to the claims Trump makes about how picked-on he is and how unfair the press are to him. All of it is earned. He's the biggest hypocrite of them all and deserves our derision.
9
Trump, much as a chameleon, defies description, although Mr. Bruni has hit the nail squarely where his religiosity is concerned. What do Americans want? Trump can provide. What do Americans believe? Trump can answer. On any given day, the president can be whatever Americans want him to be. On his terms, of course.
3
Maybe we should all stop cataloging and agonizing over every utterance and personality disorder of Trump.
While we wring our hands and "share" the latest outrage to come out of his mouth, his Administration is quietly dismantling environmental, education, voting rights, reproductive rights, and labor law. They are loosening financial regulation and pollution enforcement. Their "voter fraud" commission is itself a fraud.
The focus needs to be on the actual policies being implemented, not on the clown whose purpose it to distract us from the real destruction being carried out behind the curtain.
While we wring our hands and "share" the latest outrage to come out of his mouth, his Administration is quietly dismantling environmental, education, voting rights, reproductive rights, and labor law. They are loosening financial regulation and pollution enforcement. Their "voter fraud" commission is itself a fraud.
The focus needs to be on the actual policies being implemented, not on the clown whose purpose it to distract us from the real destruction being carried out behind the curtain.
11
You pray for him.
I know others who deserve it much more and will pray for them.
I know others who deserve it much more and will pray for them.
9
Frank, as Trump-bashing goes, not very creative. It's rather like a bad college essay. A long-planned diplomatic trip is not a 'retreat', and certainly not Nixonesque. Please.
3
Trump: “In America,” he said, “we don’t worship government. We worship God.”
Me: I worship neither government nor God (whatever that is). In fact, I don't worship anything. What I do try to keep in mind, always, are the rights of my fellow humans and the Constitutional rights of all people. I try to give others respect. I'm not always successful, but I try. I have faults, I'm not perfect, I have my own biases. But I try, every day, to overcome them and to learn from my mistakes. I don't see that Trump does any of that. He's self possessed and dismissive of anyone who does not adore him. He is using the god of Christians to enable his own agenda. Not because he believes, but because they do. If these folks thought about that, and were honest with themselves, they'd be able to see Trump for the hypocrite that he is.
Me: I worship neither government nor God (whatever that is). In fact, I don't worship anything. What I do try to keep in mind, always, are the rights of my fellow humans and the Constitutional rights of all people. I try to give others respect. I'm not always successful, but I try. I have faults, I'm not perfect, I have my own biases. But I try, every day, to overcome them and to learn from my mistakes. I don't see that Trump does any of that. He's self possessed and dismissive of anyone who does not adore him. He is using the god of Christians to enable his own agenda. Not because he believes, but because they do. If these folks thought about that, and were honest with themselves, they'd be able to see Trump for the hypocrite that he is.
11
If only more people Had followed this example, we would not be in this toxic mess.
2
"Callista Gingrich as America’s next ambassador to the Vatican"?? Mon Dieu!
America--more accurately the electoral college--has elected Donald Trump as its president, who is the King of the Profane. And now the man who knows no shame is suddenly showcasing himself as a really, really religious person as he visits all the religious capitols of the world.
So, why do I have this sneaky feeling that Trump's get-out-the-US-quick tour is his way of exploring business opportunities for himself in the religious realm, such as hotels and golf courses in the the world's most religious cities --the Vatican, Jerusalem, and Mecca. Followed perhaps by a ghost written book about Trump's new-found spirituality, or how his phenomenal success signals that he, as the Great I-AM, has been chosen by the gods to lead the world.
Or maybe it's more crass than this, and Trump is planning on getting into the indulgence-selling business and wants the pope's blessing, perhaps promising a cut of the action.
This is more than embarrassing and ludicrous for our country, but I can't think of the right word to describe Trump's latest maneuver as a healer of religious conflict in the world--oh, and a seller of military weapons to Saudi Arabia.
The gods must be crazy
America--more accurately the electoral college--has elected Donald Trump as its president, who is the King of the Profane. And now the man who knows no shame is suddenly showcasing himself as a really, really religious person as he visits all the religious capitols of the world.
So, why do I have this sneaky feeling that Trump's get-out-the-US-quick tour is his way of exploring business opportunities for himself in the religious realm, such as hotels and golf courses in the the world's most religious cities --the Vatican, Jerusalem, and Mecca. Followed perhaps by a ghost written book about Trump's new-found spirituality, or how his phenomenal success signals that he, as the Great I-AM, has been chosen by the gods to lead the world.
Or maybe it's more crass than this, and Trump is planning on getting into the indulgence-selling business and wants the pope's blessing, perhaps promising a cut of the action.
This is more than embarrassing and ludicrous for our country, but I can't think of the right word to describe Trump's latest maneuver as a healer of religious conflict in the world--oh, and a seller of military weapons to Saudi Arabia.
The gods must be crazy
2
She's a devout Roman Catholic!! Problem with that?
1
Nope--maybe the problem is with the adultery. Of course, forgiveness is always possible, but the optics are lacking!
1
I just watched & heard Presidents Trumps speech in Saudi Arabia, the first thing the CNN commentator said was Trump spoke from a Tele Prompter, & you can sense the disappointment from the commentator & their guests that Trump didn’t act like a buffoon , but Presidential. He made courageous valid points without pointing fingers at his Saudi hosts, who knew he was talking about them,the shoe fit them & they knew it.All in all ,I feel it was a great speech, whether is will have positive results time will tell.
I have not be a Trump fan, and after this speech I haven’t changed my mind about the Republican Platform that is reactionary. However,he scored a 90% with this speech, give credit when credit is due, the tele prompter did not do anything negative to demean the message.Shame on you CNN.
I have not be a Trump fan, and after this speech I haven’t changed my mind about the Republican Platform that is reactionary. However,he scored a 90% with this speech, give credit when credit is due, the tele prompter did not do anything negative to demean the message.Shame on you CNN.
5
Wow. You clearly have such diminished expectations of this president that you are willing to allow the bar to be set very, very low. I too heard his speech, and it sounded like a third grader reading something he didn't understand that had been written by an adult. Great speech? Hardly. I actually laughed out loud when I read your comment.
7
Rpberta,
I was just watching MSMBC, which if anything is a Liberal Channel. In polls taken, the majority of watchers gave Trumps speech high marks. It's not to late to watch it.
Personally, I don't care if he's the devil, if he can impress ,the Sunnis whom were in the audience, to come together to abolish Terrorism, he deserves credit.
Unfortunately, humans love to hold onto resentment,
which drains their soul.
I was just watching MSMBC, which if anything is a Liberal Channel. In polls taken, the majority of watchers gave Trumps speech high marks. It's not to late to watch it.
Personally, I don't care if he's the devil, if he can impress ,the Sunnis whom were in the audience, to come together to abolish Terrorism, he deserves credit.
Unfortunately, humans love to hold onto resentment,
which drains their soul.
2
"It illuminates perhaps his greatest gift, politically speaking, which is his readiness to strike any pose he deems necessary, no matter how ludicrous, and his certainty that he can sell it.
Bingo Mr. Bruni and Bravo! An authentic Donald Trump does not exist, he has no soul, no social conscience. He has no concept nor emotional attachment to the word God. In his world the word is spelled god.
An answer to the question, What is a Donald Trump? is epitomized in Mary Howitt's poem "The Spider to the Fly". This cunning and clever spider put on his mask of the compassionate humanitarian and asked the large evangelical population; "Will you not walk into my parlor?" They walked and appointing Mike Pence closed the deal.
Mastering the art of using flattery and charm to disguise his true intentions is his "greatest gift" and served him well in his private life. Now, his on-going thirst for power has catapulted into a world of reality where the majority live.
He'll never survive.
Bingo Mr. Bruni and Bravo! An authentic Donald Trump does not exist, he has no soul, no social conscience. He has no concept nor emotional attachment to the word God. In his world the word is spelled god.
An answer to the question, What is a Donald Trump? is epitomized in Mary Howitt's poem "The Spider to the Fly". This cunning and clever spider put on his mask of the compassionate humanitarian and asked the large evangelical population; "Will you not walk into my parlor?" They walked and appointing Mike Pence closed the deal.
Mastering the art of using flattery and charm to disguise his true intentions is his "greatest gift" and served him well in his private life. Now, his on-going thirst for power has catapulted into a world of reality where the majority live.
He'll never survive.
Preaching to the choir again. Haven't you noticed that the super uber religous, with the possible exception of Pope Francis, don't lead lives grounded in facts and reality. It's the same for the zealots in all the big religions -- let's destroy the earth we have now because we're sure to get something even better in the afterlife. Trump, not giving a hoot about any silly afterlife repercussions, has a religion based on take what I can from any loser who lets me. But tell that to the evangelicals. The religious people who are grounded in the compassionate and caring side of their religions need to step up and publicly denounce this president at the pulpit and get off their abortion is the hill to die for at the cost of everything else attitude.
4
If you watched the recent showing of "The Young Pope" -- you saw the ability of that Pope to pray evil people dead. It was best demonstrated with the Pope recognizing the evil of a nun who was in Africa to supposedly help the poor villagers of a community but who in actuality was ripping them off and the Pope on the way back to Rome "prayed" for her and quite soon we saw her drop dead back in Africa. Perhaps Pope Francis can "pray" Trump out of our lives by praying for the US to be rescued from the scourge of him and his awful family.
2
I cannot judge the state of the President's soul.
A carping reporter who uses his privileged position
to rant against the President should look to his own soul.
"The powers that be are ordained by God."
A carping reporter who uses his privileged position
to rant against the President should look to his own soul.
"The powers that be are ordained by God."
2
At this point I raise a practical question.... Is God an unnamed source?
1
Michelangelo's post-it reminder-----adjust size of hand on left
4
If the Pope would reject Callista Gingrich as ambassador, that would be demonstrating the courage of his convictions, wouldn't it?
3
This is the Trump who attended Marble Collegiate in order to ogle Marla Maples while still married to Ivana. He did find a use for "religion" in this one instance.
Now he appoints Gingrich's former mistress, Calista, who is now his third wife to be the US representative to the Vatican. I guess this is Trump's way of sticking his finger in the eye of the Pope and the Catholic church communicants who voted for Trump.
Now he appoints Gingrich's former mistress, Calista, who is now his third wife to be the US representative to the Vatican. I guess this is Trump's way of sticking his finger in the eye of the Pope and the Catholic church communicants who voted for Trump.
6
Mr. Wiseman appears to have included imagery which Bruni would find fits his base needs. Lets title it, "Thumb Obturates An Obvious Space."
Pray for us you must mean.
53
If there were ever a time that we truly needed a miracle that time would be right now.
Can the pope perform exorcisms?
Can the pope perform exorcisms?
15
Trump nominated an adulteress as the ambassador to the Vatican. Did I get that right? Is this how he sticks a thumb in the eye of the pope?
If you read The Blaze it's readers perceive moves like this to show the world how strong and superior Trump is. I don't see strong, just a disrespectful jerk.
If you read The Blaze it's readers perceive moves like this to show the world how strong and superior Trump is. I don't see strong, just a disrespectful jerk.
18
Yes, you got it right, and it's beyond disrespectful, revealing once again (not that we need it) this awful man's complete insensitivity to ANY cultural norms.
4
The title of this op-ed piece reminds me of a line in "Fiddler on the Roof." Someone was asked to give a prayer for the czar: "May God bless and keep the czar...far away from us!" Team Trump and the whole grifter dynasty might be advised to stay where they're headed...or maybe go mooch on Putin.
14
Excellent from FB as always.
I wrote about Trump turning his Detroit black church event into a similar, racially hideous spectacle which mocked black people and Christianity at the SAME TIME!
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/09/06/disaster-in-detroit-fear-of-a-bla...
Now his mendacity and phoniness is on a global scale. How nice.
David Anderson, J.D.
NYC
I wrote about Trump turning his Detroit black church event into a similar, racially hideous spectacle which mocked black people and Christianity at the SAME TIME!
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/09/06/disaster-in-detroit-fear-of-a-bla...
Now his mendacity and phoniness is on a global scale. How nice.
David Anderson, J.D.
NYC
2
..,"like the reportedly imminent nomination of Callista Gingrich as America’s next ambassador to the Vatican. She’s Newt’s third wife, who was sleeping with him when he was still married to his second. Time and, it seems, annulments have washed the couple clean."
How can anything or anybody wash Newt Gingrich clean???
How can anything or anybody wash Newt Gingrich clean???
17
Elmer Gantry anyone? Funny how fiction becomes reality
7
The almighty $ is our lord.
Jesus, who planned his entire life on earth before he was born, was born in a barn. He owned the clothes on his back when he was executed for driving the profiteers from the temple. With his infinite wisdom and 20/20 foresight, I can picture him hanging on the cross, every breath an agony, thinking "Boy, this is going to sell a lot of t shirts".
His congregation is the NRA. Eat, drink and be merry 'cuz you ain't seen nuthin' yet.
Jesus, who planned his entire life on earth before he was born, was born in a barn. He owned the clothes on his back when he was executed for driving the profiteers from the temple. With his infinite wisdom and 20/20 foresight, I can picture him hanging on the cross, every breath an agony, thinking "Boy, this is going to sell a lot of t shirts".
His congregation is the NRA. Eat, drink and be merry 'cuz you ain't seen nuthin' yet.
3
When I heard on NPR that Calista Gringrich was going to be Ambassador to the Vatican.....I thought Jeeez, I guess all pretense is officially out the door.....
9
When you're mentally ill with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, there is no God other than you. Empathy, compassion, and humility are just not part of your personality. Instead, there is an empty, needy self requiring veneration and constant adoration. There is a grandiosity that leaves no room for anyone else. Religion is only a material transaction not unlike a donation that will provide a Papal dispensation. So, give the Saudis the home of radical Sunni "Islamic terrorism" more weapons and it's a huge success. Let's see what frankincense and myrrh he has for the Israelis and the Pope?
16
Donald Trump's God is one who forgives gropers, and people who rip off other people, and liars, and manipulators, and all those things.
Isn't Donald lucky to have his special God?
Isn't Donald lucky to have his special God?
7
Fifteen minutes at the Holocaust memorial is just long enough for a photo op, without any risk of taking in any new information.
8
15 minutes is more than he needs. Trump already knows more than all the curators there
Let's put into a bit of perspective the 3 countries the Grifter-in-Chief is visiting. 1.Saudi Arabia, the very bastion of medieval malignancy in the post modern world run by major supporters of the very terrorists we are fighting against in the M.E. 2. Israel, a post-modern practicer of apartheid that we support to the tune of $2-3 billion a year. 3. The Vatican, while headed by a apparently wonderful human being, nevertheless, is mired in a retrograde hierarchy of men, excluding women, well, because they can. It's one macho spectacle after the other and totality devoid of purpose other than, well, spectacle.
18
An old Irish blessing for the dear President.
May the sun shine warm upon your face from the window of your prison cell, and rains fall soft upon your fields in the prison court yard . And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand, so that you do no more damage.
Amen
May the sun shine warm upon your face from the window of your prison cell, and rains fall soft upon your fields in the prison court yard . And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand, so that you do no more damage.
Amen
12
I pray the pope punches him in the stomach.
8
Thanks for that laugh William...I needed that!
4
Thank you, William; I needed that laugh!
While we wait for the meek to inherit the Earth, I guess "God's Will" is to put us all through Hell on Earth first.
5
The Episcopal Church adds a prayer for "our President, Donald." How I choke on that one every week.
1
Hypocrisy, hypocrisy....how to rule otherwise. Machiavelli, you are the father of all mightiest....
2
How about Kaddish for Trump?
2
I don't care if Trump is religious or not. What I mind is the toadying to religious voters, the feigning of belief, the mockery of faith and the pretense of having even a cursory knowledge of the Bible. I'd rather Trump just admitted that he has no use for religion and does not adhere to any belief, but the belief in himself. His supporters supposedly love him because he "tells it like it is," yet they accept his bogus belief, and don't question his hypocracy. They sit in church on Sunday praying for guidance and redemption, while he plays golf. Trump knows no God but Trump.
36
You are so right! Trump makes a mockery of the "faithful" with his actions. Their support for this immoral man makes them hypocrites.
1
One day he's a anti-terrorist hawk, the next he's doing huge deals with Saudi Arabia; one day he wants a health care law that insures more people, cheaper, the next he's cutting Medicare and Medicaid; one day he wants to help the working and middle classes, the next he's cutting taxes on the rich only.
To everything, there is a season.
To everything, there is a season.
17
One of your best articles -- giggled several times. However, bringing down Trump is the least of my worries. I'm after those in Congress with their heads in the sand, a bucket, or certainly not with the hearts of the people.
15
Paranoia is defined as delusions of persecution or grandeur. Or maybe both.
8
"Trump has been flamboyantly chasing salvation from the moment he stepped out on the campaign trail. That’s largely why he picked Mike Pence"
No, Trump chases adulation, not salvation.
His "choice" of Pence was not his and no different than his other appointments; all recommendations of the Mercers and the other crazy billionaires running Trump. They wish to install a corporate-run Theocracy, and Pence is Plan B when Trump supporters abandon him.
No, Trump chases adulation, not salvation.
His "choice" of Pence was not his and no different than his other appointments; all recommendations of the Mercers and the other crazy billionaires running Trump. They wish to install a corporate-run Theocracy, and Pence is Plan B when Trump supporters abandon him.
11
"Jerry Falwell Jr., told the crowd, 'I do not believe any president in our lifetimes has done so much that has benefited the Christian community in such a short time span as Donald Trump.' ”
Well, more than a statement about Trump, this remark is a clear statement defining Falwell's notion of the meaning of "Christianity". It's so wide of the mark one wonders if Falwell has his very own peculiar translation of the Bible.
Well, more than a statement about Trump, this remark is a clear statement defining Falwell's notion of the meaning of "Christianity". It's so wide of the mark one wonders if Falwell has his very own peculiar translation of the Bible.
25
That's because christianity is not what it pretends to be.
All religions were man-made to control people.
All religions were man-made to control people.
6
Mr. Donald Trump's presidency, like the campaign preceding it, is symptomatic and exploitive of the dysfunction of our national political institutions. While many voted for "change" in 2016 as they had in 20012 and 2008, their dreams of a substantive redirection of Washington, DC. aways from elitism and plutocracy toward populist democracy have been denied.
Mr. Trump's reading and manipulation of the cauldron of seething frustration within the America's electorate is evidenced by his approval rating "floor" in the low double digits. Mr. Trump's presidency is a 21st-century validation of President Lincoln's about being able to fool people; some of them long-term others short term but not all indefinitely.
Mr. Trump's reading and manipulation of the cauldron of seething frustration within the America's electorate is evidenced by his approval rating "floor" in the low double digits. Mr. Trump's presidency is a 21st-century validation of President Lincoln's about being able to fool people; some of them long-term others short term but not all indefinitely.
2
I regret the Pope giving Trump an audience; but then he is a better Catholic than me when it comes to forgiveness. My only hope now is that the Pope granted the audience in order to directly tell Trump his selection of Ambassador to the Vatican is an insult to all Catholics and thus will not be welcomed.
7
The cynicism just oozes from Trump's Odyssey. Saudi Arabia gave its highest award,the Saudi gold medal to a demagogue whose Islamophobic campaign rhetoric was an abomination. The moral and ethical dichotomy between Pope Francis and the raw narcissism of Donald Trump is Manichean. Wouldn't it be great if the Pope spontaneously offered to wash his feet? The symbolism of Masada 73 A.D. to the state of Israel, is an absurd contrast to the solipsistic preoccupations of Donald Trump, who apparently can't spare more than 15 minutes to honor the victims of the greatest mass genocide in World history. Donald Trump is a cartoon character who personifies the squalid underbelly of self absorbed American excess, not the presumed gravitas of the presidency.
8
Referring to Melania Trump, Frank Bruni asks, “Will her husband be forgiven his trespasses?” But Donald Trump was raised in the Presbyterian Church and their version of The Lord’s Prayer says, “And forgive us our debts.” I suspect that Mr. Trump may pray for that all the time.
5
Trump preys
5
Give the faithfully-disposed some credit. Within 2,000 years, give or take, they will have hammered POTUS45/25 into something worthy of tithing for. What do they have to lose?
Trump is incapable of piety; therefore, prayer is beyond anything he's likely to do.
2
Nixon got also "out of,town". About a month later, he was also out of office.
Sometimes, God's work isn't all mysterious.
Sometimes, God's work isn't all mysterious.
5
Yes, a prayer for trump -- may he fail spectacularly in all that he does.
3
The image that leapt to my mind when reading this article was "Paper Moon." Trump degrades the Bible even more than Moses and Addie did by using fake piety to sell Bibles to the recently bereaved.
2
Darwin found it difficult to reconcile his Christian beliefs with biological fact. The fact of DHT is enough to reinforce such doubt in anything Homo sapiens has or will come up with in the realm of the spiritual.
2
"Facts are turning out to be as important as attitudes. Every hour brings some fresh mortification for his administration."
They denied Jesus, too. Are we missing the Big Picture?
"I am the only one who can save you."-Donald J. Trump
They denied Jesus, too. Are we missing the Big Picture?
"I am the only one who can save you."-Donald J. Trump
2
Remember during the campaign when Donald went into a church for a photo op? He brought a film crew to show God he really did drop to crisp $50 bills into the collection plate. Always angling.
As for the rest, the conspicuity of Trump blasphemies should set the very ground beneath his feet aflame.
As for the rest, the conspicuity of Trump blasphemies should set the very ground beneath his feet aflame.
2
A prayer for the United States is needed more.
5
this man who treated religion with little regard to its sanctities has clothed himself in vestments that cloak his true self. His first foreign foray takes him to three of the great religions holiest venues. He chose a veep who refuses to be in the same room with a single woman because his faith prohibits him. Strange and odd. What has this country come to in have chosen a bigot and a funds to lead this blessed land.
2
Mr. Bruni, I had to laugh at the opening lines of your new op-ed! Hilarious!
5
A long-planned trip is not a 'retreat'. The whole premise of the column is off, and the Trump-bashing is not very creative. Is this the best you can do?
I miss Trump already. No howls of laughter for >24 hours.
6
Not even for that bizarre bow/curtsy that he did after getting a doggie collar from the King of Saudi Arabia?
3
A prayer for Donald Trump? You must be kidding. Crooked lying Trump is irredeemable; the only thing he believes in is himself, however shallow his neuronal activity may be. He became a sneaky thug in his youth, witness his firing a teacher about some disagreement, and the need to send him to a 'military' school to see if there was a remedy for his 'entitled view' (that of a vulgar bully) of the world. Obviously, nothing worked, as he kept cheating on anybody who dared come close, and whose distinct god is called Greed. Plus the 'racism' instilled by his father early on. Do you really think that pope Francis may break Trump's wall of iniquities (lust, anger, avarice, vainglory and hubris)? Do we think his trampling of Human Rights, while being praised by the Saudis (a dictatorship belittling all women), will change? No way Jose'. We might as well open our eyes to what's going on, and start thinking for ourselves. Incidentally, have you yourself ever witnessed the power of pray? Didn't think so.
13
It is aggrevating to know that Trump is allowed to fly directly from an Arabic airport to Israel and I am not.
11
You, on the other hand, are allowed to pay for the flight. Enjoy.
6
You forgot the mortal sin of two scoops of ice cream. Oh, the horrors!
2
That's the Prosperity Gospel in operation; not sin, but...selection.
1
Mr. Bruni wrote "One of them is splenetic. The other is ascetic. One sins. The other redeems. Cue the metaphors and clutch your rosary beads. [...] Methinks he doth genuflect too much."
Surely I am not the only reader to hear an echo of Tom Lehrer's _Vatican Rag,_ a song from his astonishingly still relevant 1965 masterpiece of political satire entitled _That Was The Year That Was._
Who's next? Let's not see all the same hands!
Surely I am not the only reader to hear an echo of Tom Lehrer's _Vatican Rag,_ a song from his astonishingly still relevant 1965 masterpiece of political satire entitled _That Was The Year That Was._
Who's next? Let's not see all the same hands!
5
I'm reminded of the quote by Napoleon, "Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich".
41
If he could just fashion his orange topper into a halo, he might make a move for the second coming; although just going - far, far away - would be my choice for the ever self-angelical Don.
3
Next Prayer: Relocate an Embassy?
Psalm 87
On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord.
He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel.
Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, “Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.” And the Most High will personally bless this city."
When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.”
Psalm 87
On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord.
He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel.
Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, “Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.” And the Most High will personally bless this city."
When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.”
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen wrote:
"The Antichrist will not be so called; otherwise he would have no followers...he will come disguised as the Great Humanitarian; he will talk peace, prosperity and plenty not as means to lead us to God, but as ends in themselves... He will have one great secret which he will tell to no one: he will not believe in God...he will deceive even the elect."
Nuff said?
"The Antichrist will not be so called; otherwise he would have no followers...he will come disguised as the Great Humanitarian; he will talk peace, prosperity and plenty not as means to lead us to God, but as ends in themselves... He will have one great secret which he will tell to no one: he will not believe in God...he will deceive even the elect."
Nuff said?
11
What profit a man if he gains the world and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36
Some rich people don't need prayers, just good lawyers.
Is there a gospel of greed and gluttony?
www.thewaryouknow.com
Is there a gospel of greed and gluttony?
www.thewaryouknow.com
2
The Prosperity Gospel?
"Lawyers" wrote the prayer instructions in every religion, Abrahamic, at least: In the beginning was the word, and the word is whatever the "lawyers" say it is...for a price.
Interesting link, btw.
"Lawyers" wrote the prayer instructions in every religion, Abrahamic, at least: In the beginning was the word, and the word is whatever the "lawyers" say it is...for a price.
Interesting link, btw.
1
Save your prayers until after Levenworth prison, I suggest. The number of traitors that will be cellmates there are too numerous to count. Turncoats will not be tolerated even in time of Fox News and Religious views that includes ignoring 1/2 the bible.
7
As a self proclaimed deal maker extraordinaire what deal is he looking to for
He is purposefully ignorant of history and culture and who aligns with who which was evident by the leak to the Russians via Israeli intelligence.
I am not a Middle East expert but neither is anyone on this trip.
He is in a Saudia Arabia to laud the Muslim culture. He has made a "deal". This could mean a hotel, luxury Ivanka store or a gift to the Kushner family for bailing out the real estate.
But let's assume it is political.saudia Arabia and Israel have a common enemy in Iran. They don't want to play with the Russians by attacking Isis in Syria because they aren't going to side with Russia and Iran proxy, Syria and Assad. Why would they? Isis is just a spawn of Wahhabism.
Then over to Israel to smooth things over about the leak, never mind insulting them by dissing a trip to Massada. Does he now have to go back on his promise to Saudia Arabia that he'll smooth things over with Israel and Palestine? Bibi will say "sure" and then get as much as he can and before Air Force I is in the air, not follow through.
And the trifecta is concluding with the Pope. It will be his ultimate photo op when the Pope is kind and forgiving.
All religions are political and a power struggle but it makes me sick to think of my Pope and my religion which teaches forgiveness, administering to the poor, welcoming the unwelcome do just as Jesus did, would have to listen to a man who daily goes against 9 of 10 commandment
He is purposefully ignorant of history and culture and who aligns with who which was evident by the leak to the Russians via Israeli intelligence.
I am not a Middle East expert but neither is anyone on this trip.
He is in a Saudia Arabia to laud the Muslim culture. He has made a "deal". This could mean a hotel, luxury Ivanka store or a gift to the Kushner family for bailing out the real estate.
But let's assume it is political.saudia Arabia and Israel have a common enemy in Iran. They don't want to play with the Russians by attacking Isis in Syria because they aren't going to side with Russia and Iran proxy, Syria and Assad. Why would they? Isis is just a spawn of Wahhabism.
Then over to Israel to smooth things over about the leak, never mind insulting them by dissing a trip to Massada. Does he now have to go back on his promise to Saudia Arabia that he'll smooth things over with Israel and Palestine? Bibi will say "sure" and then get as much as he can and before Air Force I is in the air, not follow through.
And the trifecta is concluding with the Pope. It will be his ultimate photo op when the Pope is kind and forgiving.
All religions are political and a power struggle but it makes me sick to think of my Pope and my religion which teaches forgiveness, administering to the poor, welcoming the unwelcome do just as Jesus did, would have to listen to a man who daily goes against 9 of 10 commandment
Great piece. Mr. Bruni should follow up with a piece about Trump
and the Seven Deadly Sins.
Greed - check
Wrath - check
Gluttony - check
Pride - check
Envy - check
Lust - check
Sloth - check
and the Seven Deadly Sins.
Greed - check
Wrath - check
Gluttony - check
Pride - check
Envy - check
Lust - check
Sloth - check
18
Trump and religion have one thing in common: they are both fraudulent.
18
Thank you, Wiliams, for calling my father a fraud, a clergyman who devoted his life to helping poor people, women, sick people, grieving people, injustice, fighting against discrimination against black people, gay people, women...(he even met with that other fraud, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to discuss non-violent protest, and was put in jail for a week for marching, fraudulently I guess, for Civil Rights in the south.
You seem to know as much about faith and religion as the Jerry Falwells; two sides of the same coin.
First, make sure there are no serious human problems around money, love, business....before you start castigating areas of life that have enriched lives and helped desperate people, before you go and condemn something.
You seem to know as much about faith and religion as the Jerry Falwells; two sides of the same coin.
First, make sure there are no serious human problems around money, love, business....before you start castigating areas of life that have enriched lives and helped desperate people, before you go and condemn something.
"Trump and religion have one thing in common: they are both fraudulent."-William
But, useful...? Have you ever been told "the truth" before? Did it help? Human socio-neurological evolution would suggest, not.
But, useful...? Have you ever been told "the truth" before? Did it help? Human socio-neurological evolution would suggest, not.
I totally agree, however, if Trump goes, can you imagine things improving with the darling of the Christian Right?
1
This may be his last 'Hail Mary'...the end is nigh!
All the green check mark folks sharing their profound observations 12 to 24 hours before comments by the hoi polloi are published. Week after week, month after month, year after year. Great job Times comments editors in perpetuating this echo chamber.
Donald Trump is not Owen Meany who taught the World how to love, Trump loves himself only.
I am also curious what Pope Francis is going to tell him ? Will he wash his feet ?
Trump is seeking God now you say Frank. if there is one God is busy, does not discriminate.
Reminds me of a poem by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
"Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads! Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee! e is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the path maker is breaking stones He is with them in sun and in shower" and his garment is covered with dust..."
I am also curious what Pope Francis is going to tell him ? Will he wash his feet ?
Trump is seeking God now you say Frank. if there is one God is busy, does not discriminate.
Reminds me of a poem by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
"Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads! Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee! e is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the path maker is breaking stones He is with them in sun and in shower" and his garment is covered with dust..."
4
"It illuminates perhaps his greatest gift, politically speaking, which is his readiness to strike any pose he deems necessary, no matter how ludicrous, and his certainty that he can sell it.
Bingo Mr. Bruni and Bravo! An authentic Donald Trump does not exist, he has no soul, no social conscience. He has no concept nor emotional attachment to the word God. In his world the word is spelled god.
An answer to the question, What is a Donald Trump? is epitomized in Mary Howitt's poem "The Spider to the Fly". This cunning and clever spider put on his mask of the compassionate humanitarian and asked the large evangelical population; "Will you not walk into my parlor?" They walked and appointing Mike Pence closed the deal.
Mastering the art of using flattery and charm to disguise his true intentions is his "greatest gift" and served him well in his private life. Now, his on-going thirst for power has catapulted into a world of reality where the majority live. We see through this veil and our answer to this cunning spider' s invitation;
“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair
-can ne'er come down again.”
Bingo Mr. Bruni and Bravo! An authentic Donald Trump does not exist, he has no soul, no social conscience. He has no concept nor emotional attachment to the word God. In his world the word is spelled god.
An answer to the question, What is a Donald Trump? is epitomized in Mary Howitt's poem "The Spider to the Fly". This cunning and clever spider put on his mask of the compassionate humanitarian and asked the large evangelical population; "Will you not walk into my parlor?" They walked and appointing Mike Pence closed the deal.
Mastering the art of using flattery and charm to disguise his true intentions is his "greatest gift" and served him well in his private life. Now, his on-going thirst for power has catapulted into a world of reality where the majority live. We see through this veil and our answer to this cunning spider' s invitation;
“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair
-can ne'er come down again.”
"A Prayer for Donald Trump"
Let's see, how about "pray for the repose of the soul of the dearly departed." Nope, can't do that one, too early.
Hmmm, "forgive him for he does not know what in God's name he's doing." Close!
One more. " I believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and thank God DJT is Protestant." Got it.
Let's see, how about "pray for the repose of the soul of the dearly departed." Nope, can't do that one, too early.
Hmmm, "forgive him for he does not know what in God's name he's doing." Close!
One more. " I believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and thank God DJT is Protestant." Got it.
10
Nobody must have told Trump that the Liberty U speech required mandatory attendance, or since it is a fact, he must have ignored it.
16
But what happens if the prayers seem answered?
What if he returns with money for infrastructure - yes from one of those islamists but hey god moves in mysterious ways. Then what? Do we thank the lord or do we recall how the devil disguises himself?
Or more simply put. If a foreign country invests in America it is because it wants a return. Whether it is influence or whether it is simply their money back with interest from the tolls we will pay, it is not a gift, it is a sale.
What if he returns with money for infrastructure - yes from one of those islamists but hey god moves in mysterious ways. Then what? Do we thank the lord or do we recall how the devil disguises himself?
Or more simply put. If a foreign country invests in America it is because it wants a return. Whether it is influence or whether it is simply their money back with interest from the tolls we will pay, it is not a gift, it is a sale.
Mr. Bruni unjustly suggests that Trump's plan to spend only 15 minutes in Israel's Holocaust Museum reflects badly on the president's interest in a pivotal tragedy of the 20th century. President Obama, by contrast, visited the institution for an hour.
If we recall that our current president has an attention span measured in nano seconds for any topic disconnected from himself, then surely everyone would agree that Trump has offered to make a major sacrifice by remaining in the museum for 15 minutes. For Mr. Obama, on the other hand, one hour represents only a tiny fraction of his attention span. Any fair comparison, therefore, would praise President Trump while denouncing Mr. Obama.
If we recall that our current president has an attention span measured in nano seconds for any topic disconnected from himself, then surely everyone would agree that Trump has offered to make a major sacrifice by remaining in the museum for 15 minutes. For Mr. Obama, on the other hand, one hour represents only a tiny fraction of his attention span. Any fair comparison, therefore, would praise President Trump while denouncing Mr. Obama.
9
Trump tromps into the Vatican and chooses that moment to introduce his Ambassador designate, Callista Gingrich, to the Pope.
My fervent hope for Francis' reaction: "Gee, which one of you is wearing essence of brimstone?"
My fervent hope for Francis' reaction: "Gee, which one of you is wearing essence of brimstone?"
13
The solicitude with which Trump courts religious conservatives would make a reverse mortgage shill blush.
Trump is the fictional Fonzi personified right down to both pomp and pompadour.
For them, "Happy Days" are here again.
They don't call them "believers" for nothing.
Trump is the fictional Fonzi personified right down to both pomp and pompadour.
For them, "Happy Days" are here again.
They don't call them "believers" for nothing.
7
What religion should I follow to share in the riches Trumps presidency promises to bring? I used to be a jew, but my shul went frommy and is led by AIPACers. During services one day, I overheard a devout congregant asking god to "kill Obama." We quit when they interrupted services to ask for more money, raised the rent on the soup kitchen, causing it to leave and didn't support the social action committee. Judaism will not flourish this way, especially if Kushner keeps pulling the strings.
12
The synagogue that I belong to in Charlottesville is the opposite of the one that you describe. We are progressive in our politics and do much work in the community, helping our poorer citizens. We wring our hands and decry the current occupant of the White House as a fraud and incompetent fool.
3
i am so saturated by this terrible mess of an administration, that as a lapsed catholic, even i am turning towards the heavens for mercy. dear god, please lock him up.
12
Bravo ... "The angels wept" not upon reading this piece.
1
Trump would have called Jesus a "loser" "for having gotten captured (and tortured)"
In fact, Trump is the sum of every thing Jesus urged mankind to not be and to reject.
In fact, Trump is the sum of every thing Jesus urged mankind to not be and to reject.
15
"And I definitely pray" Yes, we are praying too, that God intervenes and ends this nightmare. God, I won't be so presumptuous as to think I know what is best here, but Lord you've got to do something for all the poor, alien, orphaned and lost of the world. Oops! You already did in sending your son, not only to save us but to show us how to live and not only to show us how to live, but so that we can be a blessing to the world around us in caring for the poor, alien and orphaned all over the world. Yes, the best thing Trump, our so called president has done has forced everyone to pray asking for help from a higher power! Thankfully, HE is a higher power and all this is helping us all to get reacquainted.
2
I credit Bruni for not attempting to mask his utter hatred for President Trump and all things spiritual. It is not an insult. Consider the source.
1
Your comment wasn't clear. Did you mean Bruni's contempt for all things spiritual or Trump's contempt for all things spiritual. If you meant the latter, I agree with that part of your comment. As for your comment on Bruni's hatred for Trump, I think you mistake hatred for Trump's conduct as candidate and President with hatred for Trump himself. I have contempt for Trump but hatred is a different concept. I also don't know whether we can hold him responsible for his personal attributes or whether we are seeing the early stages of dementia. I have seen dementia in relatives and, believe me, his behavior isn't far off what I have observed. Even though we know Reagan had dementia, his behavior wasn't this extreme, maybe because he had surrounded himself with people who could keep government organized and sane even if we didn't agree with his policies.
3
Socrates in N.J. said it best of all: "let us prey." Brilliant.
4
Speaking of wrestling with the spirit, try as I may, I cannot find one redeeming quality in Donald J Trump, not one.
5
Frank, Trump is neither worthy of nor deserving of a prayer. It is like praying to be sick to your stomach.
4
"Who is God to you? God is the ultimate, he answered. Nobody, no thing, there’s nothing like God. The angels wept.”
Not sure if the angels wept from laughter or disdain and embarrassment.
I keep thinking of the one line from scripture, “you reap what you sow”.
4
I found Trump's answer to What is God to you? To be relatively sophisticated from a philosophic viewpoint. What would Bruni's answer be? Doubless Trump is a sinner, but might not Bruni be guilty of pretension, lack of humility, and uncharitableness?
1
Let me posit an idea. Donald Trump and the Biblical Anitchirst have the same mind set. They both have the attitude that peace in the Middle East will be easy.
1
In the play "Fiddler on the Roof" the townspeople went to their Rabbi with, what they think, is an impossible theological quandary. "Rabbi is there a prayer for the Czar?" The Czar, being an enemy of the Jewish people, presents a problem for the Rabbi, but after a minute he comes up with "God, please bless and keep the Czar...as far away as possible.".
4
If Trump prays, it is to himself.
There is no room for religion or gods in the world of the child-man who believes ONLY HE can fix things. (Has anyone informed him that his services are needed on Mt. Olympus?)
But contrary to Trump's first commandment, this is not all about him. Our attention must turn to the apparatchiks who do worship him.
If America is going to survive, we must do a better job educating Americans. We must make our government work for ALL Americans. And for those who have a good education, hate Obamacare and love the Affordable Care Act, we must provide legal guardians to prevent them from harming themselves.
Frank, please turn more attention to saving America, addressing the problem of people who vote against their own interests, people who are blind followers of a con artist whose spiel is filled with the bright flashing neon-word, "SUCKERS!"
There is no room for religion or gods in the world of the child-man who believes ONLY HE can fix things. (Has anyone informed him that his services are needed on Mt. Olympus?)
But contrary to Trump's first commandment, this is not all about him. Our attention must turn to the apparatchiks who do worship him.
If America is going to survive, we must do a better job educating Americans. We must make our government work for ALL Americans. And for those who have a good education, hate Obamacare and love the Affordable Care Act, we must provide legal guardians to prevent them from harming themselves.
Frank, please turn more attention to saving America, addressing the problem of people who vote against their own interests, people who are blind followers of a con artist whose spiel is filled with the bright flashing neon-word, "SUCKERS!"
4
Each faith disagrees on the particulars, but we all agree that the Lord works in mysterious ways; Donald Trump, Ebola virus, and tornados being good examples.
6
Well, perhaps not all.
Trump, if the truth is to be told, is much more the typical Christian than not. Sporadic attendance: Check. With regard to hot-button issues, scientifically and biblically ignorant: Check. Lusting after women: Check. Fumbling through his pockets when the offering plate is heading his way: Check. Opportunistic liar, inattentive during the sermon/mass, frequent if not continuous hypocrite: Check, check and...check. So, why shouldn't the religious right stand four-square behind him? He's their mirror image.
Two Corinthians. There you have the sum total of Trump's theological knowledge. No, not the contents of the text that is Second Corinthians, just the two words: Two Corinthians.
Like I said. Mirror image.
Two Corinthians. There you have the sum total of Trump's theological knowledge. No, not the contents of the text that is Second Corinthians, just the two words: Two Corinthians.
Like I said. Mirror image.
1
Trump has managed to insult the Pope, Muslims, and Jews, so one can say he is not an equal opportunity religious insulter-in-chief. Surprised when Trump was asked "Who is God to you". He didn't answer "myself". After all, Trump worships only Trump. Of course the bragging has already begun about the Saudi deals that have been made and how jobs will be flowing like communion wine.
While I know it is an insult to Jews that Trump insists in spending only 15 minutes at Yad Vashem, honestly I am relieved Frank. Less chance of some horribly embarrassing gaffe occurring (fingers crossed). Trump will probably tell the Israelis that Obama is somehow to blame for him sharing sensitive information gathered by one of their operatives with the Russian ambassador. That's the modus operandi of the Republican Party in general right now, blame Obama.
The visit to the Pope is another breath holder. Will he try to be his pal and slap him on the back? As an aside, Calista Gingrich as Ambassador the Vatican? I thought it was a joke when I first read about it, but then I realized with the Cabinet choices Trump has made this was just another in your face appointment.
In the past few days I have fantasized that with Trump's troubles back home, he will have Air Force One divert to Moscow when it is headed home, and Trump will ask his pal Putin for political asylum. After all, Trump was chosen by Putin to be his guy in Washington, and he should be his responsibility.
While I know it is an insult to Jews that Trump insists in spending only 15 minutes at Yad Vashem, honestly I am relieved Frank. Less chance of some horribly embarrassing gaffe occurring (fingers crossed). Trump will probably tell the Israelis that Obama is somehow to blame for him sharing sensitive information gathered by one of their operatives with the Russian ambassador. That's the modus operandi of the Republican Party in general right now, blame Obama.
The visit to the Pope is another breath holder. Will he try to be his pal and slap him on the back? As an aside, Calista Gingrich as Ambassador the Vatican? I thought it was a joke when I first read about it, but then I realized with the Cabinet choices Trump has made this was just another in your face appointment.
In the past few days I have fantasized that with Trump's troubles back home, he will have Air Force One divert to Moscow when it is headed home, and Trump will ask his pal Putin for political asylum. After all, Trump was chosen by Putin to be his guy in Washington, and he should be his responsibility.
7
Frank, say a prayer for us, the American people...
4
Father forgive those tiny hands for they knew not what they did because the Devil made him grab all those young women. He's been treated so unfairly by the media; it's not him; it's the Devil.
Such a Christian and nonjudgemental commentary!
As Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".
As Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".
2
Those of us who do not stand up, whether we are journalists, or not, to call out the egregious behavior of this abomination of a human being, who somehow won the Electoral College, are complicit in the actions that he has taken, in a lifetime of scamming and cheating anyone who has crossed his path. The so called evangelicals who voted for him are hypocrites of the highest order.
3
In the spirit of the words of Yaweh:
Donald Trump, Thou Shalt Release To The American People Your Back Tax Returns ! And Shalt Thy Children and In laws !
Donald Trump, Thou Shalt Release To The American People Your Back Tax Returns ! And Shalt Thy Children and In laws !
94
I'm surprised Trump had even considered visiting Masada at all. It's not a place he could build a hotel or casino, or license his name to something, so why would he bothering going?
3
Happy Sunday from the Caribbean....a pleasant piece for a Sunday morning. Frank, I did not know you were so closely aligned with the spiritual and/or Christianity. Feels like a Clinton era Maureen Dowd column. Thanks. Been learning to pray since last November. Namaste all the way! Be blessed, my friend.
2
I am convinced Trump was put on this earth by divine force. Is he the Antichrist or False Prophet that I was taught in schools? I'm not sure. Is he a wake up call to our democracy as an indication of what our future world might develop into if there are no checks and balances. Possibly, or at least I hope so.
I'd like to think our world is at a cross roads and with the advent of the computer the technical achievements mankind has made in the last fifty years are absolutely breathtaking. Is it possible we can capture carbon monoxide in the air and make the oceans less acidic. Learn to live a more harmonious life? I hope so. Or are we descending in Pottersville where gambling, opiate addiction and scandal are the words of the day. All directions seem to point to that, but I hope not.
Hope is a big deal. Every sane person hopes for the best. The Bible teaches to hope too. Trump on the other hand hopes for more wealth, power, and selfishness. Kind of like Gollum's obsession with the ring. That story ended on a nice note when the smallest and least significant "hobbits" of all things saved the world because of their unshakable moral fiber. Where is our backbone these days Mr Ryan and Mr McConnel?
I'd like to think our world is at a cross roads and with the advent of the computer the technical achievements mankind has made in the last fifty years are absolutely breathtaking. Is it possible we can capture carbon monoxide in the air and make the oceans less acidic. Learn to live a more harmonious life? I hope so. Or are we descending in Pottersville where gambling, opiate addiction and scandal are the words of the day. All directions seem to point to that, but I hope not.
Hope is a big deal. Every sane person hopes for the best. The Bible teaches to hope too. Trump on the other hand hopes for more wealth, power, and selfishness. Kind of like Gollum's obsession with the ring. That story ended on a nice note when the smallest and least significant "hobbits" of all things saved the world because of their unshakable moral fiber. Where is our backbone these days Mr Ryan and Mr McConnel?
6
My hope is that the meeting of this Pope and Trump leaves the President with an better understanding of humility and 'leading by example'. We are all capable of being forgiven and being touched by spirituality.
No one needs it more than this President who looks like a man torn by nearly absolute power. The world needs our President to be healed in a righteous way.
No one needs it more than this President who looks like a man torn by nearly absolute power. The world needs our President to be healed in a righteous way.
1
A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Don Trump
Mean, mean pride
Though his mind is absent
Put him down as arrogant
He reserves a lame defense
Riding out the day's events
What you say about his company
Is what you say about GOP
Catch the deal, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift
The world is, the world is
Lies and egos deep
Maybe as his skies are wide
Today's Don Trump
He gets by on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you
Mean, mean stride
Today's Don Trump
Mean, mean pride
Though his mind is absent
Put him down as arrogant
He reserves a lame defense
Riding out the day's events
What you say about his company
Is what you say about GOP
Catch the deal, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift
The world is, the world is
Lies and egos deep
Maybe as his skies are wide
Today's Don Trump
He gets by on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you
2
Frank, if you want to pray, pray for the people and institutions of the United States. As for Trump, pray that the Grim Reaper exists and is very angry with Trump.
4
I never thought mixing religion and politics was ever a good thing. But since Donald Trump's presidency, I sincerely believe the one statement my mother used to say, in earnest, is needed now more than ever, "never underestimate the power of prayer". Holy mackerel, the only prayer I can imagine is NOT for Donald Trump, but rather, for this nation, and that prayer is that he will be gone from his position, sooner than later. This man not only tests my faith but pushes it to the limits more than during 9/11.
4
Perhaps Trump will agree to larger openings for refugees in his Great Wall in exchange for the Holy Father's promise of accelerated beatification of Saint Donald. It's all part of the art of the deal.
Okay, Mr. Bruni. I read the title of your column--I thought, "My! we're in for some solemn stuff here." Prayer, by and large, is a pretty solemn subject.
True confession: I shook with laughter. I really did. That about the helicopter landing on Masada! Oh my goodness! And various other things. I don't remember what all. Mr. Bruni, you sank the knife home. Bravo. Hey! the lines of John Dryden (three centuries ago) come to mind:
"At mighty villains who the State oppressed
They durst not rail--perhaps they laughed at least
And turned 'em out of office with a jest."
("They" would be the ancient Greeks.)
Let me cut to the chase. Maybe Mr. Trump prays. Maybe not. Maybe his prayers are effectual. Or maybe not.
WE--who are not Mr. Trump--are bidden in Scripture to pray for our leaders. "The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord," it says in Proverbs, "and He turneth it whithersoever He will." The President--like him or not--wields enormous power and sakes! I think (meaning nothing snide or disrespectful) this President needs all the prayer, all the divine guidance he can get.
True confession. I feel sorry for the President. That perpetually harried, unhappy look. To me it says, "I am out of my depth. I am in deep water here. Very deep water!" Nothing in his previous life has prepared him for the job he has. And he's in it now. Like President Harding, he's STUCK in it.
The upshot? Pray for President Trump. He needs it. We all need it.
True confession: I shook with laughter. I really did. That about the helicopter landing on Masada! Oh my goodness! And various other things. I don't remember what all. Mr. Bruni, you sank the knife home. Bravo. Hey! the lines of John Dryden (three centuries ago) come to mind:
"At mighty villains who the State oppressed
They durst not rail--perhaps they laughed at least
And turned 'em out of office with a jest."
("They" would be the ancient Greeks.)
Let me cut to the chase. Maybe Mr. Trump prays. Maybe not. Maybe his prayers are effectual. Or maybe not.
WE--who are not Mr. Trump--are bidden in Scripture to pray for our leaders. "The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord," it says in Proverbs, "and He turneth it whithersoever He will." The President--like him or not--wields enormous power and sakes! I think (meaning nothing snide or disrespectful) this President needs all the prayer, all the divine guidance he can get.
True confession. I feel sorry for the President. That perpetually harried, unhappy look. To me it says, "I am out of my depth. I am in deep water here. Very deep water!" Nothing in his previous life has prepared him for the job he has. And he's in it now. Like President Harding, he's STUCK in it.
The upshot? Pray for President Trump. He needs it. We all need it.
2
If there is any eternal justice, it will be manifest when Donald Trump and Jerry Falwell, Jr., along with the holier-than-thou Father Pence and the rest of their carnival barking evangelical ilk, find that the elevator at Trump Tower goes down not to the ground floor, but indeed continues to descend into the depths of Dante's Inferno. Then, perhaps then, they will all have such glowing orange hair, so richly deserved for their great sin of religious hypocrisy.
4
Really I wish Trump would go overseas and stay there. Forever.
5
Hilarious! We laugh at, rather than grieve for, those in high places who should know better but who are shameless hypocrites--wherein may lie the joke, on us. Speaking of which, Twitter should give a prize for the best tweet of the week.
"If I were Trump, I'd probably get out of town, too."
--- and stay out.
--- and stay out.
2
I am not a religious person. If I were asked about God or the devil, I would say that I do not believe in either. BUT, I was raised to be truthful, thoughtful and kind by my also not religious parents, and to follow the golden rule. So, while I likely could not win votes from the religious right, and the donald can, I would better represent their values. Many of the so called religious righgt are hypocrats, bigly.
4
Frank, this is one of your best columns. I can't even imagine what Pope Francis and President Trump will talk about when they meet.
3
Trump knows something about the Church the rest of us don't know:
it never really stopped selling indulgences.
it never really stopped selling indulgences.
2
Never forget trumps carrying around his mothers bible, as if somehow by osmosis, spirituality will travel through the leather bounds to his heart. I'll never forget him proclaiming that he can't reveal his favorite biblical verse because it is too personal, but yet he says to the world that he would date his daughter if she weren't related!
3
This president is the ideal darling of the religious right. He embodies _everything_ they stand for....the gospel of prosperity, the subjugation of women, the enslavement of the working poor, the withholding of justice, and a staunch refusal to believe in science.
No matter what the rest of We, the People, want to believe, there are enough of those on the other side of We, the People who believe, like the sitting administration, that this is okay.
The only way this is going to get fixed is if the scientific side of We, the People, can educate enough of the other side to bring them _not_ to the left of center, but back to the center...where civil discourse and an exchange of ideas can once again take place. Extreme polarization of our politics has brought this nation to the brink of destruction. The only question that truly remains is whether or not we can keep ourselves from going over the edge of this sadly flat world we have re-created.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
No matter what the rest of We, the People, want to believe, there are enough of those on the other side of We, the People who believe, like the sitting administration, that this is okay.
The only way this is going to get fixed is if the scientific side of We, the People, can educate enough of the other side to bring them _not_ to the left of center, but back to the center...where civil discourse and an exchange of ideas can once again take place. Extreme polarization of our politics has brought this nation to the brink of destruction. The only question that truly remains is whether or not we can keep ourselves from going over the edge of this sadly flat world we have re-created.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
4
I pray that the President, his family, and his advisors would humble themselves before God, seek and receive His forgiveness, and that they would then receive wisdom and courage. I believe that prayer for our elected officials is always appropriate and needed.
The reality here is that Trump sold his soul to Satan to get to where he is. Satan is really unhappy now because (1) Satan now knows that Trump will fail to deliver on the agreement and (2) Trump never had a soul to sell anyway. Trump will burn in Hell, but fortunately he already has a deal in place to build Trump's Hell Plaza and plans to tweet from there for the rest of eternity.
1
This is the kind of intellectual putdown of Trump and Christians that gave us Trump. Yes, we all know that Trump is a fake Christian, which is just another part of his con game. But how do we deal with a con artist in the Oval Office? Not by telling his victims how stupid they are to fall for his con. Try a different strategy, Mr. Bruni. Say you believe that he has good intentions. Express hope that he can, indeed, bring adversaries of different religions and interests together when so many others have failed. Admire his "non-traditional" style and his child-like temperament. Expect great things from him. What do you have to lose?
1
We have to lose everything that our country has stood for.
I agree with the first half of your comment. This Sunday snarkfest is wearisome and counterproductive. But as a person who's female, who needs healthcare, and who works for a living, I have a great deal to lose from a Trump presidency. He is fronting for anti-democratic elements of the national community and his policies and theirs deserve to be resisted.
Trump to Lester Holt:
"I don't stand by anything."
Any questions?
"I don't stand by anything."
Any questions?
6
A correction?
Marble Collegiate Church is not part of any Presbyterian denomination. It is part of the Reformed Church in America a Dutch denomination descended from the Dutch state church and founded in 1628 with the Collegiate Church. While the Reformed and Presbyterian systems share a Calvinistic heritage we draw upon different sources for our doctrines. Presbyterians came here from Great Britain primarily from Scotland and use The Westiminster Confession and Westminster Catechism to profess and teach, The Reformed have the Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Confession and The Canons Of The Synod of Dort The Reformed arrived from The Netherlands, France and Germany.
My mother had been Methodist Episcopal when she was younger and Norman Vincent Peale was her pastor at Bushwick Methodist Episcopal Church in Brooklyn. He accepted a call from Marble but there is no proof that he ever accepted Reformed doctrinal standards. He mentored Robert Shuler, the founder of the Crystal Cathedral in California which is now defunct.
Marble Collegiate Church is not part of any Presbyterian denomination. It is part of the Reformed Church in America a Dutch denomination descended from the Dutch state church and founded in 1628 with the Collegiate Church. While the Reformed and Presbyterian systems share a Calvinistic heritage we draw upon different sources for our doctrines. Presbyterians came here from Great Britain primarily from Scotland and use The Westiminster Confession and Westminster Catechism to profess and teach, The Reformed have the Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Confession and The Canons Of The Synod of Dort The Reformed arrived from The Netherlands, France and Germany.
My mother had been Methodist Episcopal when she was younger and Norman Vincent Peale was her pastor at Bushwick Methodist Episcopal Church in Brooklyn. He accepted a call from Marble but there is no proof that he ever accepted Reformed doctrinal standards. He mentored Robert Shuler, the founder of the Crystal Cathedral in California which is now defunct.
2
While my concerns about this President are countless, and my outrage boundless, I lay this one squarely at the feet of these so-called christians. The phrase, "you can't blame a guy for trying" comes to mind. And you really can't blame a guy like the great orange one for trying. It's who he is, at his core, and it's what he does. He's a salesman. And if we're being honest, many politicians spout things that either they may not believe, entirely, or are new ideas or positions they're trying out, because they've come to understand that these things are important to the electorate, even though the pol may not have appreciated this previously. But the willingness of evangelicals -- these so called christians -- to cast aside all they claim to believe, the standards to which they have held Dems and others for decades, in order to embrace the candidate who is the complete anti-thesis of all of their so called beliefs is, well, breathtaking. More important, it reveals their dirty little secret -- that they are hypocrites who "worship" their god and peddle his "teachings" as a cover for their own bigotry, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, greed. Because the teachings of these evangelicals often bear no resemblance to the teachings of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is a metaphor for the way we should live our lives, the so-called president's evangelical supporters have fallen woefully short of that mission, and by supporting Trump, they've been unmasked.
5
Trump will receive the welcome from each host in direct proportion to how much they need him.
The Saudis heap praise and lavish fanfare because they need the $100mill weapons deal and the strategic clearance to oppress their own people and Yemen.
The Israelis need the US as much as ever, even though they have been snubbed at every turn. The reception will be lukewarm.
But the Vatican... what does Francis need from Trump? Nothing, so Trump would be lucky to get out of there without a papal tongue-lashing. The welcome visuals will be perfunctory at best.
The trip will end on a low note, and then the prez will return to multiple investigations and a Congreve that can do nothing but gape.
We're all looking forward to 2018, some with hope, some with fear.
The Saudis heap praise and lavish fanfare because they need the $100mill weapons deal and the strategic clearance to oppress their own people and Yemen.
The Israelis need the US as much as ever, even though they have been snubbed at every turn. The reception will be lukewarm.
But the Vatican... what does Francis need from Trump? Nothing, so Trump would be lucky to get out of there without a papal tongue-lashing. The welcome visuals will be perfunctory at best.
The trip will end on a low note, and then the prez will return to multiple investigations and a Congreve that can do nothing but gape.
We're all looking forward to 2018, some with hope, some with fear.
1
Trumps only religious belief is in trump and be believes that god was made in the image of trump. He needs no one to pray for him.
He only uses religion to convince a voting block of people, who also “say” they are religious, to vote for him, despite the fact trump cannot possibly have the “values” these “religious’ people say they believe.
As the pastor of every church that voted for trump says as the Sunday benediction: “Go forth and grab her in the ….”
I think I have made my point.
He only uses religion to convince a voting block of people, who also “say” they are religious, to vote for him, despite the fact trump cannot possibly have the “values” these “religious’ people say they believe.
As the pastor of every church that voted for trump says as the Sunday benediction: “Go forth and grab her in the ….”
I think I have made my point.
1
Well, if news reports out of Saudi Arabia are to be believed, Trump has already been rolled by the Saudis. Even if Trump hadn't leaked Israeli intelligence to the Russians and dissed them over Masada, the Israelis would not be pleased.
And by openly taking the side of the Sunnis over the Shi'a, Trump has put himself in the middle of one of the nastiest religious civil wars since the death of Muhammad.
But for me, the capper will be the meeting with Pope Francis. I can't even imagine how it will go. But my money is on the Pope to come out looking the better of the two.
And by openly taking the side of the Sunnis over the Shi'a, Trump has put himself in the middle of one of the nastiest religious civil wars since the death of Muhammad.
But for me, the capper will be the meeting with Pope Francis. I can't even imagine how it will go. But my money is on the Pope to come out looking the better of the two.
1
"Trump has been flamboyantly chasing salvation from the moment he stepped out on the campaign trail."
Does anyone believe this? Does anyone believe that's why he chose Mike Pence as his running mate?
It seems to me that some of Trump's advisers, who, perhaps, didn't think the Donald himself was enough to garner votes, chose Mike Pence. I've read that it was Paul Manaforte, which would catapult the choice into the realm of the incredible.
Trump pretty much ignored and insulted Pence early in the campaign. Now, it often looks as if Pence stands behind Trump as a bobble-head waiting for the president to go down in flames.
Trump knows as much about religion as he does about anything, which is to say not much. There's no moral depth to the man. He's all about winning, whatever that means at a given moment.
Does anyone believe this? Does anyone believe that's why he chose Mike Pence as his running mate?
It seems to me that some of Trump's advisers, who, perhaps, didn't think the Donald himself was enough to garner votes, chose Mike Pence. I've read that it was Paul Manaforte, which would catapult the choice into the realm of the incredible.
Trump pretty much ignored and insulted Pence early in the campaign. Now, it often looks as if Pence stands behind Trump as a bobble-head waiting for the president to go down in flames.
Trump knows as much about religion as he does about anything, which is to say not much. There's no moral depth to the man. He's all about winning, whatever that means at a given moment.
3
Seeing someone as small-time as Trump play on the international stage is nothing short of confounding. Every day I ask myself: Is this really happening? I'd say, only in America, but sadly, it has happened before in other countries, and it never ends well. As for Trump's spiritual salvation, the first step toward forgiveness is to ask for it. And we all know that isn't happening.
1
Francis and Trump share other objectives: both seek to change entrenched mulishness, and both still may either fail or succeed. In any event, both probably realize that what they attempt is very hard.
As to Yad Vashem, Johnny Carson once made a monologue joke about Lincoln’s assassination that fizzled by quipping “too soon, huh?” (the quip killed). Trump is not an Armenian, and may think that as outrageous as it might be to some, it could be time to move on. One might disagree, but it’s a legitimate consideration.
Frank’s lampooning of Trump’s spirituality has some merit. It seems to have come on him like the apparition that causes some as children to be “born again”. But Trump’s epiphany isn’t altogether convincing. Then, as one ages and starts to face the inevitability of that final dirt nap that binds all of us regardless of material possessions, it’s not unusual that some start to see value in religion. As a Jesuit priest once asked me decades ago in his attempt to co-opt a distaff soul, “what do you have to lose?” Trump COULD be legitimate on this issue.
But Trump’s trips to the seats of religious excess are timely. Religion always was the excuse for so MUCH division, so much killing in the name of God. By pointing out through equal consideration of all religions that none may have ALL the answers he also announces to the world that solving America’s – and the world’s – challenges may lie in focusing on matters other than JUST “my little wine”, “my little cracker”.
As to Yad Vashem, Johnny Carson once made a monologue joke about Lincoln’s assassination that fizzled by quipping “too soon, huh?” (the quip killed). Trump is not an Armenian, and may think that as outrageous as it might be to some, it could be time to move on. One might disagree, but it’s a legitimate consideration.
Frank’s lampooning of Trump’s spirituality has some merit. It seems to have come on him like the apparition that causes some as children to be “born again”. But Trump’s epiphany isn’t altogether convincing. Then, as one ages and starts to face the inevitability of that final dirt nap that binds all of us regardless of material possessions, it’s not unusual that some start to see value in religion. As a Jesuit priest once asked me decades ago in his attempt to co-opt a distaff soul, “what do you have to lose?” Trump COULD be legitimate on this issue.
But Trump’s trips to the seats of religious excess are timely. Religion always was the excuse for so MUCH division, so much killing in the name of God. By pointing out through equal consideration of all religions that none may have ALL the answers he also announces to the world that solving America’s – and the world’s – challenges may lie in focusing on matters other than JUST “my little wine”, “my little cracker”.
4
RL:
I think you are way over-estimating Trump's religious awakening as the motive behind the choice of itinerary. In fact, it wasn't even his idea, but one his trainers saw as politically advantageous.
I think you are way over-estimating Trump's religious awakening as the motive behind the choice of itinerary. In fact, it wasn't even his idea, but one his trainers saw as politically advantageous.
1
Trump fakes religion just enough for the Evangelical pharisees, like Junior Falwell, to proclaim him their man. His unfamiliarity with little detail is often unintentionally hilarious. Instead of Second Corinthians, he cited as his favorite Biblical verse "two Corinthians," you know, like "Two Corinthians walked into a bar..."
Then there is the little issue of putatively devout Catholic Callista Gingrich, she of the eight year adulterous affair with the Amphibian of the House, being named Ambassador to the Holy See. Hopefully Francis will try "get thee to a nunnery" on her and reject her nomination, as is his right as head of state.
Oh, and by the way, Jeff Sessions is NOT a communion wafer...
Then there is the little issue of putatively devout Catholic Callista Gingrich, she of the eight year adulterous affair with the Amphibian of the House, being named Ambassador to the Holy See. Hopefully Francis will try "get thee to a nunnery" on her and reject her nomination, as is his right as head of state.
Oh, and by the way, Jeff Sessions is NOT a communion wafer...
2
@Richard Luettgen: Your comparison of Trump with the Pope is ludicrous.
1
The Sistine Chapel illustration at the top of this column brought back memories of how, years ago, Garry Trudeau saw how Trump would want to be portrayed on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel: it's in this article. Look for it. Perfect then, better now. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/06/23/how-doones...
13
Thank you New York Times for this pithy passage. Trump has created his owm kind of Reality TV theater of menace. I 've commented on other editorials about theater arts' utilitarian use - an Erwin Piscator approach to make plays which have you think as you feel. Opposed to Brecht there is less historification & alienation. As people yap, and bray or voice informed comments, the idea of the use of dramatic arts to convey poetic, multidimensional responses to the whirligig news pronouncements, tweets, news leaks, deceit, mendacity, fraudulence, fake news, alternative news seems to be unthinkable for many. Words, imagery & orchestrations of behavior in stage craft can be compelling, instructive, inspiring.
1
As a former Roman Catholic, now a happy atheist, I really can only smile about the incredible hypocrisy of people like Trump, Gingrich and Fallwel, just to mention the three hypocrits mentioned in this column.
Since I was born and raised in a Roman Catholic family and went to RC schools for the first 16 years of my life, I pretend to know what Christianity stand for.
These people are not Christians. They constantly violate all the basic rules of Christianly. The truly amazing thing is that so many Americans who proclaim themselves to be Christians faal for these charlatans.
Since I was born and raised in a Roman Catholic family and went to RC schools for the first 16 years of my life, I pretend to know what Christianity stand for.
These people are not Christians. They constantly violate all the basic rules of Christianly. The truly amazing thing is that so many Americans who proclaim themselves to be Christians faal for these charlatans.
68
Their religion defers life itself to an after-death experience to be earned by suffering now.
A Trump prayer:
God, grant me the apathy to accept the things I don't care to change,
Money to change the things I can,
And complicit Republicans who pretend not to don't know the difference.
God, grant me the apathy to accept the things I don't care to change,
Money to change the things I can,
And complicit Republicans who pretend not to don't know the difference.
38
One of the things I like best about your column is how clearly you capture the essence of Trump's inanity with regard to religion. I struggle to understand the public's inability to understand the contradictions and idiocy of this man we unfortunately call president. I cannot imagine what Pope Francis might even say to this man -- your comparison to television couples is perfect. They could not represent more different personas.
8
No doubt, TRUMP says whatever gets applause. [I'd love to see him at a Pro-Choice rally.] But much of his success comes from people of faith who have abandoned all forms of critical thinking. There is absolutely no evidence of a god-fearing man in TRUMP, yet these people put their faith in him. Why? Because Hannity sells pickup trucks, beer, and End-of-Days gold using him as his mascot.
18
To be fair, Trump's answer about God is no different than that of the greatest theologians. It is just not wrapped up in incense and silk to obscure the fact that they've got nothing but fantasy.
11
The pope and the president are both pro-choice so that she should be a big similarity between them. The pope should not be speaking about secular matters. He is a socialist and he lives behind Vatican walls.
The pope a socialist? Could you also give some arguments why he should not talk about secular matters?
2
It continues to astonish me that self-identified Christians virtually all describe themselves as 'God-fearing' while in nearly the same breath describe God as all love and all forgiving. Why fear then?
Me? I'm Trump-fearing. But I have good reasons for it.
Me? I'm Trump-fearing. But I have good reasons for it.
25
Good question. Comes down to translation. To "fear" God, actually means, in Biblical terms, to "hold God in awe". Your comment on Trump is not Biblical, I surmise.
2
A prayer a Christian and an atheist can agree on in the age of President Trump?
One concept Christianity has gotten correctly is the concept of evil. Christians have had difficulty pinpointing the nature of evil and where it is located (for example lumping homosexuals as evil) but Christians are correct that existence seems plagued by an elusive and cunning and hostile force. The concepts of demons, body snatchers, spirits of possession point to a common story of an elusive, difficult to recognize, hostile force which becomes most recognizable when it enters a human body for an instant and plays a cruel joke--then you see its face. Perhaps one day medicine might declare these manifestations the symptoms of a type of viral or bacteriological infection, for the action of evil seems often an under the surface, running process. The point for religious people is that a stronger form of Christianity is required: We need to consider Jesus as not having died on the cross and gone to heaven, but to heroically, right now, be battling evil at the core, the hellfire of existence.
As for secularists/atheists, wake up! A strong modern theory of evil must exist in the absence of religion, a project of naming irrationality, senselessness, wanton outburst, petty "I am going to do it my way whether it makes sense or not" orneriness, vindictiveness, foolishness, stupidity...We need an exact description of evil, manifestations of such and project of location. Before it consumes us.
One concept Christianity has gotten correctly is the concept of evil. Christians have had difficulty pinpointing the nature of evil and where it is located (for example lumping homosexuals as evil) but Christians are correct that existence seems plagued by an elusive and cunning and hostile force. The concepts of demons, body snatchers, spirits of possession point to a common story of an elusive, difficult to recognize, hostile force which becomes most recognizable when it enters a human body for an instant and plays a cruel joke--then you see its face. Perhaps one day medicine might declare these manifestations the symptoms of a type of viral or bacteriological infection, for the action of evil seems often an under the surface, running process. The point for religious people is that a stronger form of Christianity is required: We need to consider Jesus as not having died on the cross and gone to heaven, but to heroically, right now, be battling evil at the core, the hellfire of existence.
As for secularists/atheists, wake up! A strong modern theory of evil must exist in the absence of religion, a project of naming irrationality, senselessness, wanton outburst, petty "I am going to do it my way whether it makes sense or not" orneriness, vindictiveness, foolishness, stupidity...We need an exact description of evil, manifestations of such and project of location. Before it consumes us.
I think it is wrongheaded to continue to vilify Trump, the air has been purple with sarcasm and criticism of the man ever since he announced for the Presidency. I think this is what he feeds off of, and we are doing no good in continuing to rake him over the coals. Start to find some good in what he is doing, there is some, and find what that may bring. It may be what we need. Give him and his stuff a chance, be positive for a change. Be the change you want to see come about.
Actually no, there is I good in anything he is doing: rolling back climate regulations to allow fossil fuel companies to make money (not their employees) at the expense of clean air and water; defunding American health care aid throughout the world that was fighting Ebola and Zika epidemics, providing birth control and education, fistula repair, maternal health, etc; speaking at events intended for the celebration of other people (coast guard, CIA, etc) and spewing on about how aggrieved and attacked he is; eating up more security money than other presidents on his relaxation trips to his private resorts (Mar a Lago; New Jersey) rather than staying in DC as he promised; threatening to undo National Monument designations of federally-owned land -- as NO president has ever done -- to give economic windfalls to private interests in OUR land (oil drilling, cattle, logging)... the list is endless and not a good thing yet.
I pray that Trump will remain in office causing complete gridlock with the GOP goal of destroying healthcare, the environment and civil rights. And I pray that by 2018 this country will come to its senses and vote the bums out.
36
I thought that he was ending his trip in Rome so that the Pope could perform an exorcism on him. Whatever demons, Russian or otherwise, that inhabit him make him incapable of seeing or caring about the great damage that he has brought upon the people of this country and of the world. If Congress took full responsibility for this nation's well-being, it would install a fully independent commission to investigate Trump and his associates and televise the proceedings because Trump's outrageous actions out-Watergate Watergate.
We do not know how religious President Trump is and it may surprise some to discover that he does pray regularly to God. We cannot know what is in one's heart and he may be private about his religious practices.
Was President Obama religious? I do not recall too many discussions about his religious devotion or his attending Church on a regular basis.
It seems that the media is only concerned about Mr. Trump and whether he is deserving of meeting with the Pope. The Pope meets with many people and does not discriminate. He meets with the famous and even the infamous.
Was President Obama religious? I do not recall too many discussions about his religious devotion or his attending Church on a regular basis.
It seems that the media is only concerned about Mr. Trump and whether he is deserving of meeting with the Pope. The Pope meets with many people and does not discriminate. He meets with the famous and even the infamous.
A prayer for Trump? That's a start, but I fear that an exorcism might be more appropriate.
23
First, trump really is the biggest hypocrite I ever saw. Just now he is in Saudi Arabia getting awards and royal treatment from the man he said was "ripping off America" and whose religion he wants to expel from America.
Second, I really would love to see the separation of church and state. I know trump would love to please the religious right and have evangelism established as our state religion however most Americans are not in favor.
Second, I really would love to see the separation of church and state. I know trump would love to please the religious right and have evangelism established as our state religion however most Americans are not in favor.
12
God is not shining his face on America. Trump, however, is our creation. He is the face we present to the world. The power he possesses to change our democracy was placed in his hands by us. Trump is the end product of a crude and crass culture and a false prophet to the religious right that embraces him. Yes, we have been clearly the path for such a man for a long time. God's mills ground slow but sure. In the end, all that can be said is that we deserve him.
11
Donald Trump is not seeking salvation, he's seeking votes, which explains why he selected the Christian ideologue, Mike Pence, as VP. Trump wanted to secure his hold on the (homophobic, anti-abortion, dictatorial) Christian Right, which has become a powerful force in the GOP. Silvery and obedient and calculating Mike Pence can help with that.
Mr. Bruni understands this, obviously.
But there's another surprise waiting not only for Donald Trump and Mike Pence, but also for the kind-hearted Pope Francis.
God is female. And she's watching and keeping the tally in her books.
Come on guys. Would a Guy God have invented polar bears and dolphins and birch trees and coral reefs and Baltimore orioles and whales and worms and rattlesnakes and kangaroos? And Saturn? Nah. Everything would have been a lot more standardized.
Judgment is coming. I rest in my faith.
Mr. Bruni understands this, obviously.
But there's another surprise waiting not only for Donald Trump and Mike Pence, but also for the kind-hearted Pope Francis.
God is female. And she's watching and keeping the tally in her books.
Come on guys. Would a Guy God have invented polar bears and dolphins and birch trees and coral reefs and Baltimore orioles and whales and worms and rattlesnakes and kangaroos? And Saturn? Nah. Everything would have been a lot more standardized.
Judgment is coming. I rest in my faith.
17
Hypocrisy is not the worst of sins but it has become the official policy of the Republicans and their party.
22
Gotta give a little credit where credit is due. At least Trump, Pence, Spicer, and Sanders didn't say that Trump was going on a Crusade to the Middle East. (Last I recall, Dubya failed on this test in 2001.)
1
Thank you for the lines below. We need a good laugh to keep perspective.
"I’m especially eager for his communion with Pope Francis, an entry in the annals of odd couples that ranks somewhere just above Oscar and Felix, and below Mork and Mindy.
One of them is splenetic. The other is ascetic. One sins. The other redeems. Cue the metaphors and clutch your rosary beads"
"I’m especially eager for his communion with Pope Francis, an entry in the annals of odd couples that ranks somewhere just above Oscar and Felix, and below Mork and Mindy.
One of them is splenetic. The other is ascetic. One sins. The other redeems. Cue the metaphors and clutch your rosary beads"
6
Trump loves to baffle. Once he locked himself in the Oval Office and did not leave for a very long time. The day goes by, the next one comes. There no tweets. Kushner began to worry. Suddenly the door opens and President comes out holding a light bulb in his hand.
- Look, smarty, that is a light bulb! I’ve just come up with it!
- Look, smarty, that is a light bulb! I’ve just come up with it!
As the antithesis of Jesus, it is truly difficult for me to understand this man's popularity among Christian Evangelicals, who are not stupid, not insincere and are seemingly forgiving to a fault. Puzzling indeed.
8
If Christian evangelicals aren't stupid, then it is worse than I thought! If they were stupid they might be forgiven but if they aren't, that means they are lying hypocrites and not worthy of the mantle of Christianity.
Donald Trump is despicable. Our entire country is lessened by his very existence, never mind his being President of our Beloved Republic.
That he was chosen to lead, rightly or wrongly, indicts all of us. We CAN be better than this. We MUST be better than this.
That he was chosen to lead, rightly or wrongly, indicts all of us. We CAN be better than this. We MUST be better than this.
20
"because his particular brand of spirituality is heavy on self-veneration."
Mr. Trump would seem to be on the way to Imperial apotheosis, joining the Pharaohs, Alexander the Great, (some of the) Ptolemies, sundry Roman Emperors in leveraging veneration of the human spirit into deification.
This approach has not been too successful for the potential divinity.
Mr. Trump would seem to be on the way to Imperial apotheosis, joining the Pharaohs, Alexander the Great, (some of the) Ptolemies, sundry Roman Emperors in leveraging veneration of the human spirit into deification.
This approach has not been too successful for the potential divinity.
8
The day after the election I ran into a man grinning from ear to ear. We struck up a conversation and he admitted that his candidate had won. He was driving a brand new Porshe which I later learned was in the $100,00 car category. I asked him how he could've voted for Trump, and he said that he was a single issue voter who was vehemently against abortion and that Trump would appoint a Supreme Court justice to overturn Roe v. Wade. I asked if was an evangelical Christian and he answered in the affirmative. I then pointed to his very car and said that I used to be an evangelical but that I am now decidedly not. He said that he would "pray for me" and I said don't bother, that I would "think for both of us." The prosperity gospel that white evangelicals embrace is so far removed from the Jesus of the NT that it makes me sick to my stomach. It is mostly talk, talk, talk.....with little or no regard for the social gospel championed by people like Mother Theresa. Didn't their L and S say that to be rich spiritually, one must become poor materially. Give me a break. The vast majority of evangelicals give a pittance of their wealth to the poor, with the tithes going mostly for the upkeep of the church building, the clergy, etc. The actual mission giving is a very small percentage of the average church budget. That 86% of evangelicals voted for this immoral, corrupt man is an indictment on their own morality and conscience. Their piety/lifestyle is pitiful and hypocritical.
3
Our country needs prayers more than Trump.
I shall not waste a moment of my life in prayer for him or the powerful Republicans who enable his reign as president.
I will humbly ask the Lord to "forgive those who voted for him, for they know not what they did. Please show them the light."
I shall not waste a moment of my life in prayer for him or the powerful Republicans who enable his reign as president.
I will humbly ask the Lord to "forgive those who voted for him, for they know not what they did. Please show them the light."
11
As a 14 year American expatriate living in Provence, my retirement dream life only gets better and better. My decision to accept the embrace of the welcoming arms of France in 2003 was in response to Bush's war in Iraq that was vehemently criticized by France.
Bush's America's response to France was to reject it's good advice and hatefully berate France with "freedom fries" slurs,etc.
Now more recently former French president Hollande's response to Trump's bragging about assaulting women was to say Trump made him wretch. Trumps response to that was to discourage Americans from visiting France, breaking an unwritten rule between heads of state to not trash each others countries.
Despite Hollande being gone, replaced by a gracious, intelligent new president, Emanuel Macron, Trump is not including France on his visiting itinerary this week. As I say, it only gets better and better.
For my part, may I, with the warmest possible regards, welcome all Americans to this summers beautiful weather throughout France, making sure to not miss the incredible and gorgeous Provence.
I'm writing this while looking out the window at the ancient village chateau and Mt. Ventoux where both local and vacationing cyclists pedal through the vineyards.
Our village, Vaison LA Romaine, is famous for its charming Tuesday morning Provencal market which won't soon be forgotten.
For those visiting Paris on their trip, don't forget to take advantage of discount TGV train tickets!
Bush's America's response to France was to reject it's good advice and hatefully berate France with "freedom fries" slurs,etc.
Now more recently former French president Hollande's response to Trump's bragging about assaulting women was to say Trump made him wretch. Trumps response to that was to discourage Americans from visiting France, breaking an unwritten rule between heads of state to not trash each others countries.
Despite Hollande being gone, replaced by a gracious, intelligent new president, Emanuel Macron, Trump is not including France on his visiting itinerary this week. As I say, it only gets better and better.
For my part, may I, with the warmest possible regards, welcome all Americans to this summers beautiful weather throughout France, making sure to not miss the incredible and gorgeous Provence.
I'm writing this while looking out the window at the ancient village chateau and Mt. Ventoux where both local and vacationing cyclists pedal through the vineyards.
Our village, Vaison LA Romaine, is famous for its charming Tuesday morning Provencal market which won't soon be forgotten.
For those visiting Paris on their trip, don't forget to take advantage of discount TGV train tickets!
12
Toujours Provence!
Several months ago I committed to re-reading the New Testament. In light of the current state of politics and especially the Trump Administration, what struck me was how the behaviors of the GOP and Trump himself are the antithesis of the fundamental teachings of Jesus and his apostles. Yet, there seems to be direct correlation between how evangelical one is and much one supports the behaviors of Trump and his party.
Jesus's ministry centered, in part, on condemning the religious hypocrisy of his day. Maybe it is time for the Second Coming......
Jesus's ministry centered, in part, on condemning the religious hypocrisy of his day. Maybe it is time for the Second Coming......
16
The power of positive thinking: until Trump arrived on the scene who imagined such a seemingly innocuous approach to living one's life could be employed to such devastating effect?
2
Great writing, Mr. Bruni. You’ve captured the hypocrisy of Trump and his followers.
My Mississippi Southern Baptist church in the 50’s and 60’s was visibly angry at the federal government for integration, and when the Nat’l. Council of Churches supported civil rights, Southern Baptists parted ways. Tribalism and racial resentment superseded any impulse to remain in a national community of believers.
This resentment of government remains, and red-state evangelicals feel victimized by Washington, gay marriage and abortion. Fox News and talk radio mined these resentments and directed their anger toward Democrats and minorities. The disappearance of jobs, stagnant wages, and rising costs reinforced their sense of victim-hood, as does removal of Confederate symbols.
None of this is assuaged by their religion, but exacerbated by it. Their ability to support an amoral, gluttonous reprobate like Trump, no doubt after ‘praying about it’, while professing Christian principles, is amazing. Their identity and worldview filters out reason, facts and evidence. Should they allow themselves to question GOP orthodoxy, including economic proposals that harm them, the devil could seize their soul, God won’t protect them, and they might not see their children in heaven. All that is literal to them.
Once Dr. Dobson declared that Trump was a ‘baby Christian’, then they did not have to consider voting for any Democrat who would have otherwise brought them economic relief.
My Mississippi Southern Baptist church in the 50’s and 60’s was visibly angry at the federal government for integration, and when the Nat’l. Council of Churches supported civil rights, Southern Baptists parted ways. Tribalism and racial resentment superseded any impulse to remain in a national community of believers.
This resentment of government remains, and red-state evangelicals feel victimized by Washington, gay marriage and abortion. Fox News and talk radio mined these resentments and directed their anger toward Democrats and minorities. The disappearance of jobs, stagnant wages, and rising costs reinforced their sense of victim-hood, as does removal of Confederate symbols.
None of this is assuaged by their religion, but exacerbated by it. Their ability to support an amoral, gluttonous reprobate like Trump, no doubt after ‘praying about it’, while professing Christian principles, is amazing. Their identity and worldview filters out reason, facts and evidence. Should they allow themselves to question GOP orthodoxy, including economic proposals that harm them, the devil could seize their soul, God won’t protect them, and they might not see their children in heaven. All that is literal to them.
Once Dr. Dobson declared that Trump was a ‘baby Christian’, then they did not have to consider voting for any Democrat who would have otherwise brought them economic relief.
8
One of my former colleagues once joked that he had been taught to believe that only Baptists and Republicans could go to heaven. I think they still believe that!
1
Bobby Jindal’s one memorable comment during his sorry candidacy was “Donald Trump has never read the Bible, his name's not in it.” turned out to be quite insightful. We’ve recently learned that his staff has discovered a way to get him to read necessary briefings, by sprinkling his name throughout. There is only one god in Trump’s life, and he is It.
278
The reason George Steinbrenner refused to allow trump to invest in the New Yankee Stadium is that he did not want it to one day be "Trump Stadium".
I am not certain there is anything to prevent trump from removing the cover of the Bible with a new cover and naming it "Holy Trump". Also, trump need only substitute his name for God everywhere it appears in the book.
I am not certain there is anything to prevent trump from removing the cover of the Bible with a new cover and naming it "Holy Trump". Also, trump need only substitute his name for God everywhere it appears in the book.
2
Now, however, it appears that Jindal was incorrect when he said that "we've got to quit being the party of stupid" Stupid seems to be a GOP asset now.
Francis will win this one . He will secretly tell Donald that Pilgrims and migrants are people to be protected as are the poor and the widows. Will he hear it, probably not since he hears and sees only what he wants reality to be. Remember the size of the crowds at the inauguration.
4
Lots of quotes in this column but does it really matter what Trump says? He'll say anything to anybody at any time because, like Willy Loman, he wants to be liked.
26
Nothing fails like prayer.
15
Much wisdom in few words. Wish I had said it.
Wrong!
Prayer works , it passes your time and if it does not give you what you ask for, you did not pray enough. Keep trying. God is on your side.
Prayer works , it passes your time and if it does not give you what you ask for, you did not pray enough. Keep trying. God is on your side.
Same old Presidential dartboard, but this model seems to enjoy the number of people tossing missives at him. Must know the value of publicity as well as being pretty sure no legal lines of the sort which get more than a slap on the wrist have been crossed.
The guy is no saint, but I doubt he is so dumb as to have broken the law.
The ones who we should be concerned with are those standing in the shadows passing around a sharp antique rumored to have been found in a box of artifacts from Caesar's ancient Rome.
I think we're stuck with the man until his term expires which in light of the supporting cast does not present the worst scenario.
I just hope he doesn't begin to publicly drool in his soup.
The guy is no saint, but I doubt he is so dumb as to have broken the law.
The ones who we should be concerned with are those standing in the shadows passing around a sharp antique rumored to have been found in a box of artifacts from Caesar's ancient Rome.
I think we're stuck with the man until his term expires which in light of the supporting cast does not present the worst scenario.
I just hope he doesn't begin to publicly drool in his soup.
5
I fear you are too optimistic about Trump being too smart not to get into legal trouble. He's been getting into legal trouble for years, he just denies, postpones, and uses his lawyers to get him off.
1
Check out the Dutch documentary on his ties to Russian mobsters and their money. Yes, he most likely has broken laws.
2
When it comes to prayer, it is starting to look like like trump doesn't have either a prayer or a clue. This trip make me wonder if he isn't visiting all major monotheistic religious hubs looking for salvation from somewhere and, suddenly, anyone's God will do---he isn't about to limit his options!
19
Interesting point and it fits as he even approaches his new job like someone ordering from a take out menu.
1
Good one Frank !
24
Religion, specifically Christianity, in the age of President Trump and how to articulate it? How to articulate secularism/atheism as well in the modern West?
We need a new Christian religion because the story of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and ascending into heaven is not a story worthy of a God let alone a worthy story today. What Christianity did seem to get more or less correct is the problem of evil: At the heart of existence there seems something wrong, something which is cunningly elusive, and which seems to perpetually plague all living things. A Christian story truly descriptive of a God and therefore a worthwhile religion would be a modified story of Jesus' life: God found himself in a losing battle with Satan and sent his only son to burn for an eternity in hell to offer the human race a chance at redemption. This is a story worthy of a God because of course no human could stand an eternity in hell--only a God can do that. The way the Christian story of Jesus stands now, it appears weak: Plenty of people have suffered more than Jesus did being crucified and these people were never sure of a heaven which awaits.
As for secularists/atheists in the modern age, they need to recognize the flaw in their thinking: They have not replaced the religious concept of evil with a modern update, thus are left flailing before irrationality, senselessness, petty power doing things "just because", vindictiveness, foolishness. The sane person "burns in hell" for reason.
We need a new Christian religion because the story of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and ascending into heaven is not a story worthy of a God let alone a worthy story today. What Christianity did seem to get more or less correct is the problem of evil: At the heart of existence there seems something wrong, something which is cunningly elusive, and which seems to perpetually plague all living things. A Christian story truly descriptive of a God and therefore a worthwhile religion would be a modified story of Jesus' life: God found himself in a losing battle with Satan and sent his only son to burn for an eternity in hell to offer the human race a chance at redemption. This is a story worthy of a God because of course no human could stand an eternity in hell--only a God can do that. The way the Christian story of Jesus stands now, it appears weak: Plenty of people have suffered more than Jesus did being crucified and these people were never sure of a heaven which awaits.
As for secularists/atheists in the modern age, they need to recognize the flaw in their thinking: They have not replaced the religious concept of evil with a modern update, thus are left flailing before irrationality, senselessness, petty power doing things "just because", vindictiveness, foolishness. The sane person "burns in hell" for reason.
5
Sorry Daniel - the reason some of us are atheists is simply that religion is not supported by the facts, that is, logic, observation, and history. We are not trying to replace anything with anything; we are just trying to understand reality.
9
For a reset of Christianity I recommend John B. Cobb's latest book, "Jesus' Abba". The book rejects the dominate atonement theology and presents God as loving, longing for relationship with us, rather than a distant, punative, arbitrary and omnipotent judge.
I am a non flailing atheist thank you very much.
1
For those who are interested in what Holy Father Francis' approach may be, I recommend reading Crux article by Austen Ivereigh on how Francis forges relationships first before agenda. Pax,jb
4
Forging a 'relationship' with a narcissistic sociopath like trump might confound even Francis.
At this point, GOD is his only hope. However, I'd bet that SHE is not pleased.
67
Perhaps the Pope could do us all a favor and perform an "exorcism" while Trump's at the Vatican. The world would be very very grateful.
81
Amen, Susan, Amen.
“God is the ultimate,” he answered. “Nobody, no thing, there’s nothing like God.”
Beautiful, Trump. Just Beautiful.
"God" as laundry detergent, tooth whitener, soft drink, stool softener.
Muller, be thorough!
Beautiful, Trump. Just Beautiful.
"God" as laundry detergent, tooth whitener, soft drink, stool softener.
Muller, be thorough!
64
A prayer for Donald Trump:
To paraphrase the Rebbe from Anatevka:
"May G-d bless and keep the Donald Trump far away from us."
To paraphrase the Rebbe from Anatevka:
"May G-d bless and keep the Donald Trump far away from us."
27
“Two Corinthians,” “God is the ultimate,” “Nobody, no thing, there’s nothing like God.”
Really! Give me a break! This guy has read the Bible as much as he has read the Constitution, which is next to nothing. Trump is winging it with religion as he is with the presidency.
Instead of Trump praying, we all should be praying that when his “reign” is over, he leaves with the nation and its hallowed institutions intact.
Really! Give me a break! This guy has read the Bible as much as he has read the Constitution, which is next to nothing. Trump is winging it with religion as he is with the presidency.
Instead of Trump praying, we all should be praying that when his “reign” is over, he leaves with the nation and its hallowed institutions intact.
220
It will be many years before the United States government returns to normal........if ever.
Better yet, 1 Corinthians 15:52 - “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Let's hope for the imminence of the last Trump.
Let's hope for the imminence of the last Trump.
1
Seems kind of peaceful today. So, I'm raising my hand to volunteer to have my taxes increased so that DJT can take on an endless "religious" crusade for the next 3.5 years. Foreign leaders can heap praise upon him, albeit in small bites so that he doesn't nod off, and give him gold plate watches and hair brushes.
So, again republicans, please don't cut my taxes ... raise them. Use this money to fund the president's perminant buddy abroad program. Give peace (and quiet) a chance!
So, again republicans, please don't cut my taxes ... raise them. Use this money to fund the president's perminant buddy abroad program. Give peace (and quiet) a chance!
22
Trump can just replay the National Prayer Breakfast and ask his company abroad to pray for Schwarzenegger's ratings, for what he is bringing on this trip.
So far, he and the Saudis are showing their shared love of the gaudy, as if that can gloss over the darkness with which he has painted Islam. From calling it a faith of hate, to suggesting a Muslim registry, to insulting the Khan family, to jeopardizing refugees with his arbitrary, discriminatory bans, Trump normalizes anti-Muslim prejudice.
Trump tries to hide behind Jared and Ivanka when it comes to treatment of Jews, but his own record speaks for itself. His campaign used ugly anti-semitic images and references. Trump chewed out a Jewish reporter who asked a fair question about hate crimes. His administration did not mention Jews as Holocaust victims. Showing an affinity for Netanyahu's political agenda on this trip cannot compensate for his indifference to Jewish people.
Pope Francis is a strong advocate for the environment, for the poor, the sick, the refugees and the immigrants. He is a vocal opponent of the death penalty. The Pope also rejected religious litmus tests for those seeking a safe country. So he and Trump are at odds over most moral challenges, which Trump will likely try to pretend can be overrode with empty words about faith.
The problem is not that Trump will see representatives of these three religions without his own religiosity; it is that he is an unrepentant moral failure.
So far, he and the Saudis are showing their shared love of the gaudy, as if that can gloss over the darkness with which he has painted Islam. From calling it a faith of hate, to suggesting a Muslim registry, to insulting the Khan family, to jeopardizing refugees with his arbitrary, discriminatory bans, Trump normalizes anti-Muslim prejudice.
Trump tries to hide behind Jared and Ivanka when it comes to treatment of Jews, but his own record speaks for itself. His campaign used ugly anti-semitic images and references. Trump chewed out a Jewish reporter who asked a fair question about hate crimes. His administration did not mention Jews as Holocaust victims. Showing an affinity for Netanyahu's political agenda on this trip cannot compensate for his indifference to Jewish people.
Pope Francis is a strong advocate for the environment, for the poor, the sick, the refugees and the immigrants. He is a vocal opponent of the death penalty. The Pope also rejected religious litmus tests for those seeking a safe country. So he and Trump are at odds over most moral challenges, which Trump will likely try to pretend can be overrode with empty words about faith.
The problem is not that Trump will see representatives of these three religions without his own religiosity; it is that he is an unrepentant moral failure.
24
If the Religious Right can believe Christ rose from the dead, they can believe
Trump is a man of God. Mankind's capacity for self-deception is bottomless.
Trump is a man of God. Mankind's capacity for self-deception is bottomless.
74
Trump to Pope Francis: "You know, padre, you're not the first Frank I've ever known. There was Frank Sinatra---he had lots of wives like me, sang in casinos like the ones I used to own, and didn't take guff from anyone, just like I don't. And then there was Frank Stallone. You know, Sly Stallone's kid brother? Well, if you need any fashion or grooming tips, just let me know. The first thing that needs to go is that dress...
23
I'm just so relieved he's left this continent for 9 days. I felt happy for the first time in an age this morning. No horrible misspelt tweets. No free floating hate. No re- explanations of an explanation by a frightened and worn out Palace court jester. No Trump relations hanging about pretending to have knowledge of anything other than making personal gain. The quietness and stillness is real.
He seems to be very popular in Saudi Arabia right now and I noticed the decor in the palace was very Trumpian and they are all mysoginistic. All men music concerts. I did see one woman at the reception. Perhaps he should stay there and never come home again.
He seems to be very popular in Saudi Arabia right now and I noticed the decor in the palace was very Trumpian and they are all mysoginistic. All men music concerts. I did see one woman at the reception. Perhaps he should stay there and never come home again.
144
He left your continent. Alas, he'll enter mine, including my country. For us, in Europe and Belgium, this is absurd theatre. With a president like this, one cannot be but anxious and scared about the future of the world.
2
He's all lied up in knots.
27
Even if President Trump aces his mighty Air Force One 9-day Hejira to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Rome and the Pope, Brussels and Macron and the NATO conference, and Sicily for the G7 Summit, may he come home to Washington to face the music of impeachment from office as his predecessor Richard M. Nixon did during Watergate in 1973. Trump is surrounded by a grotesquely yuge entourage on his ambitious trip. He is like unto the queen bee in a hive surrounded by drones feeding him honey. He's King Midas on his first (and last?) Presidential trip abroad. My prayer is that President Trump will be ousted from our 45th American Presidency for a basket of deplorable reasons, and may the Lord have mercy on us all.
42
Let's not forget that we are paying for the entire hive to travel with him to hold up his train.
2
"Early on, I recognized that Trump’s sense of self-worth is forever at risk. When he feels aggrieved, he reacts impulsively and defensively, constructing a self-justifying story that doesn’t depend on facts and always directs the blame to others."....To survive, I concluded from our conversations, Trump felt compelled to go to war with the world. It was a binary, zero-sum choice for him: You either dominated or you submitted. You either created and exploited fear or you succumbed to it.... This narrow, defensive worldview took hold at a very early age, and it never evolved. "When I look at myself today and I look at myself in the first grade,” he told a recent biographer, “I’m basically the same.” His development essentially ended in early childhood.'" From the ghostwriter of "The Art of the Deal" - Washington Post, 5/16/2017
72
The one and only good thing to come out of The Donald's election is the prospect of never again having to worry about the admonishments of the "faith-based" community towards politicians on the left. By their having cast their ballots en masse for a candidate who personally represents the antithesis of everything they supposedly hold dear these people have officially forfeited their right to lecture the rest of us about our values and life-style choices. Neither Hillary nor Bernie nor Barack Obama has spent as much time flouting all ten of the Lord's commandments as has our kitty-grabber-in-chief. In fact each of them- and most other progressives (myself included)- take our religious convictions a good deal more seriously than is clearly the case with Mr. Trump. Most of us believe in free will and in forgiveness of sin. Trump believes in the freedom to do as one wishes without regard to the consequences for anyone who does not share his surname. His embrace of religion is no more than a convenience, a means to a (secular) end. Those who support a politician who cynically name-drops their Messiah and pretends to share their alleged convictions are doing so at the risk of their eternal souls.
194
That should read "By THEY'RE having cast their ballots." Sorry.
7
This might have been better:
By casting their ballots en masse for a candidate, who personally represents the antithesis of everything they supposedly hold dear, these people ...
Great comment, nevertheless. Regards
By casting their ballots en masse for a candidate, who personally represents the antithesis of everything they supposedly hold dear, these people ...
Great comment, nevertheless. Regards
1
You were right the first time.
2
Trump's words are different from yours and mine. We use words to express our sincere beliefs, our feelings, to explain to others what we think is true. Trump uses words for an entirely different purpose. Trump tells us what he wants to be true. Perhaps it is in part to convince him, but mostly it is to convince us. To convince us to believe that which most benefits him, his ego, and his wealth. Until and unless you realize that there is no portion of 'truth' in his words, intentionally, you will not understand him.
77
There is much confounding about the election of Trump, but nothing more confounding than how or why those who claim to live by the scriptures could vote for a man who has lived a life in complete defiance of the teachings of Jesus.
719
Easy answer: Fundamentalists and evangelicals use the bible and scriptures thing as an elaborate smokescreen for bigotry, misogyny, and a variety hard-right views, all justified by "belief" in a Christian god. This is why bible-thumpers seem to not care about seeing the the world end in a calamitous way (see The Rapture) because, you know, it is written.
4
Because those who claim to live by the scriptures are hypocrites.
3
Two words... Mike. Pence.
2
Donald Trump's Prayer for Donald Trump (who else?) :
"Dear God, I thank you for the huge multitudes who have assembled before me since my glorious, sacrificing journey began and rightfully paid homage to their glorious political savior, Donald J. Trump, with red-capped heads reverently bowed. I further thank you for an amazing, but certainly deserved, recognition that although only in office for a brief time, I have thus far achieved as President such tremendous things that no previous President has done before in our nation's history. Lastly, I offer now an expected future thanks to you, in the year 2024, at the celebrated conclusion of my final term in office, when it shall be heralded that Donald J. Trump has been the Greatest President of All Time!
"Dear God, I thank you for the huge multitudes who have assembled before me since my glorious, sacrificing journey began and rightfully paid homage to their glorious political savior, Donald J. Trump, with red-capped heads reverently bowed. I further thank you for an amazing, but certainly deserved, recognition that although only in office for a brief time, I have thus far achieved as President such tremendous things that no previous President has done before in our nation's history. Lastly, I offer now an expected future thanks to you, in the year 2024, at the celebrated conclusion of my final term in office, when it shall be heralded that Donald J. Trump has been the Greatest President of All Time!
126
Only 2024? Oh ye of little faith.
The power of positive thinking, where reality is a matter of perspective, has taken hold of the Evangelical church. Called the prosperity gospel, it idolises those who have wealth and beauty as being blessed by God. As this is extended out, corporations who have no restrictions on environmental or worker treatment make more money, so it is God's will.
125
Gayle - pass the Pepto-Bismol please.
3
The Power Of Positive Thinking was first put forth by Norman Vincent Peale when he was pastor of Bushwick Methodist Episcopal Church. Its shallow me based doctrine appealed to many who no longer believed in a supernatural being as master of their salvation in favor of a cooperative effort. It has spread to all the Mainline denominations as well as others. It has given us Barney the purple dinosaur who proclaims with Peale that we're all OK.
The Christian right in America adopted Trump as their own. Being against abortion is apparently the key, more important than the risk of war, massive destruction and the possible loss of hundreds of thousands, even millions of lives. Apparently, it is difficult to care about the lives of the not yet born and the lives of the living at the same time.
Fundamentalists Christian preaches have been telling American Christians they are under siege for at least 100 years, probably more. It is part of the core message, to take the persecution of early Christians from nearly 2,000 years ago and transfer it into a society where they are not only not being persecuted, their religion and ideals are widely welcomed by a majority of citizens. If they were 99% of the population, presumably they would still find a way to push this message.
I would ask when the moral charade of many Christians in America will end, but I know it won't. When Trump fades from the scene, there will be no excuses, no reckoning of what was right and what was wrong about their support of him. The preachers and their flocks will simply move on to the next source of imagined threat while, in fact, the strength of religious beliefs are threatened not by "society" or "government" but my moral failure in their own ranks, the inability to articulate true standards and stick with them.
Fundamentalists Christian preaches have been telling American Christians they are under siege for at least 100 years, probably more. It is part of the core message, to take the persecution of early Christians from nearly 2,000 years ago and transfer it into a society where they are not only not being persecuted, their religion and ideals are widely welcomed by a majority of citizens. If they were 99% of the population, presumably they would still find a way to push this message.
I would ask when the moral charade of many Christians in America will end, but I know it won't. When Trump fades from the scene, there will be no excuses, no reckoning of what was right and what was wrong about their support of him. The preachers and their flocks will simply move on to the next source of imagined threat while, in fact, the strength of religious beliefs are threatened not by "society" or "government" but my moral failure in their own ranks, the inability to articulate true standards and stick with them.
264
modern christianity is mostly about the money. huge churches that attract upwards of 10,000 people on a sunday? support for war loving politicians? what has to do with the teachings of the prince of peace?
2
Hank, unfortunately you have well characterized the Christian support of Trump. Christian "values" preached in the New Testament as well as in the Old Testament and the Koran are cast aside for the "blessings" bestowed on "God's" chosen: the billionaires. Where is John the Baptist: a voice crying in the wilderness, a call for repentance and renewal. Christ"s warning (paraphrased) when you did evil to others you did it to me, be damned for eternity. Meanwhile we have to try to survive during the next almost 8 years.
1
It isn't abortion or morallity so much as being told, "you are wrong", that inflames Republicans.
1
"Melania, too. She opened a Trump rally in Florida in February with a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, speaking of daily bread despite her aura of nightly caviar."
You've gotten to an ugly place in yourself when you disapprove reciting of the Lord's Prayer.
You've gotten to an ugly place in yourself when you disapprove reciting of the Lord's Prayer.
7
The point Mr. Bruni is making relates to Melania's hypocrisy, not to the substance of the prayer itself. (On the other hand, I agree that The Donald is such a yuuge target that an attack on Melania seems almost gratuitous.)
78
Frank is talking about the hypocrisy and shamelessness behind such a recital. Not The Lord's Prayer itself, Mark.
Think about some of the phrases in The Lord's Prayer, and then ask yourself how the Trumps measure up.
"Give us this day our daily bread"....while trying to take it away from others, whether in the form of further accentuating income inequality with tax cuts for the rich, stripping healthcare benefits, or literally taking food away by cutting funding to Meals-on-Wheels, while living so lavishly themselves
"As we forgive those who trespass against us".....Forgiveness is not exactly Trump's strong suit, shall we say.....Twitter, Firings, etc.
"Lead us not into temptation"......do we even have to say anything here?
I do pray that we soon get delivered from evil.
Think about some of the phrases in The Lord's Prayer, and then ask yourself how the Trumps measure up.
"Give us this day our daily bread"....while trying to take it away from others, whether in the form of further accentuating income inequality with tax cuts for the rich, stripping healthcare benefits, or literally taking food away by cutting funding to Meals-on-Wheels, while living so lavishly themselves
"As we forgive those who trespass against us".....Forgiveness is not exactly Trump's strong suit, shall we say.....Twitter, Firings, etc.
"Lead us not into temptation"......do we even have to say anything here?
I do pray that we soon get delivered from evil.
27
Surely you must realize that Mr. Bruni is, (with a lot of wit, I might add,) pointing out the shameless cynicism of some craven Trump advisor sticking poor, wooden Melania up there to recite a prayer, the premise being that this is a devoutly religious family. Quite a JOKE. Trump's religion is power and money. Nothing else.
13
I have always gotten a bit of a chuckle over the Presidential need to toddle off to this or that church on Sunday to prove their religious bona fides, when clearly many of them weren't all that "god fearing" at heart. That said, at least they tried. They sat through the homilies and maybe even took something away from what their Preacher was preaching.
Then along comes Trump. The antithesis of a religious man, unless one believes that self-love counts as a form of worship. For this man to embark on a religious crusade to burnish he religious cred is beyond ridiculous -- but I'm sure that the Saudi's and the Israelis and the Pope all know this. After all, none of them have been seen washing the feet of the poor recently, have they?
Then along comes Trump. The antithesis of a religious man, unless one believes that self-love counts as a form of worship. For this man to embark on a religious crusade to burnish he religious cred is beyond ridiculous -- but I'm sure that the Saudi's and the Israelis and the Pope all know this. After all, none of them have been seen washing the feet of the poor recently, have they?
279
I think the Pope does this every Good Friday, actually. And he does seem to be genuinely concerned about the poor. But he seems to be the kind of guy who would pray in private and do his good works without a whole lot of fanfare. Trump, on the other hand, would be standing on the corner of the marketplace, rending his garments, pulling out his hair, loudly wailing "Mea Culpa! Mea Culpa" (as long as the crowds were big enough and the cameras were trained on him) and still not give a hoot about the poor.
9
The Pope has been seen washing the feet of the poor, quite literally. It's one of those things Popes do just before Easter.
4
Actually the Pope did wash the feet of the poor. Albeit well documented with photos.
2
For Trump a prayer will not do
Needs an incantation or two,
Evoking from Hades
Mistreatment of Ladies
To Beelzebub Trump might be true.
Needs an incantation or two,
Evoking from Hades
Mistreatment of Ladies
To Beelzebub Trump might be true.
286
The Pulitzer folks should invent a brand new category just for our friend Mr. Larry Eisenberg. Often his wise and precious postings are the only non-depressing part of the NYT . . . even when containing the word "Trump."
All Hail Larry!!!
All Hail Larry!!!
4
You get better every day!!
3
I sometimes wish I believed in divine retribution, because the president would be a prime candidate for a bit of the hellfire he’s condemned us to. But let’s not get too outraged about his visit to with the pope, the admittedly affable and progressive leader of a Church that consistently protected child rapists.
Saudi Arabia won’t object to the president’s objectification of women, since that’s practically a requirement for conservative societies everywhere. Our own Congress promised to defund Planned Parenthood, regardless of the cancer screenings and prenatal care they offer in addition to safe and legal abortions.
And we can only feel too bad about offending the political sensibilities of Israel, whose Prime Minister embarrassed President Obama by addressing Congress on behalf of the conservative forces of evil.
Let’s not worry about the sensibilities of the good folks at Liberty University, whose evangelical zealots eagerly await the End Times, and who, like Vice-President Mike Pence, deny evolution, and embrace irrational superstition.
There’s no argument that the president is an embarrassment on the world stage, but the world is a hot mess, and our president is merely a symptom of a larger disease that afflicts almost every country on this planet. He’ll find friends among all the so-called populists that are feeling emboldened to dissolve human rights, flirt with electing right-wing ultranationalists and build their own walls to keep the riff-raff out.
Saudi Arabia won’t object to the president’s objectification of women, since that’s practically a requirement for conservative societies everywhere. Our own Congress promised to defund Planned Parenthood, regardless of the cancer screenings and prenatal care they offer in addition to safe and legal abortions.
And we can only feel too bad about offending the political sensibilities of Israel, whose Prime Minister embarrassed President Obama by addressing Congress on behalf of the conservative forces of evil.
Let’s not worry about the sensibilities of the good folks at Liberty University, whose evangelical zealots eagerly await the End Times, and who, like Vice-President Mike Pence, deny evolution, and embrace irrational superstition.
There’s no argument that the president is an embarrassment on the world stage, but the world is a hot mess, and our president is merely a symptom of a larger disease that afflicts almost every country on this planet. He’ll find friends among all the so-called populists that are feeling emboldened to dissolve human rights, flirt with electing right-wing ultranationalists and build their own walls to keep the riff-raff out.
422
gemli: a remarkable and true and well-written commentary on our so-called President, especially accurate are many of the words you chose: "the president is an embarrassment on the world stage"; Mike Pence "denies evolution and embraces irrational superstition"; and much more. Thank you and I hope you will provide us with many more of your insights.
8
Gemli, too often I hear the defenders of Trump say he is no worse than any of the politicians who come into office with small wealth only to exit with great wealth or to reap the benefits of $400,000 speaking fees. Will we ever see a Harry Truman again?
2
So this disease is the inability to love one another?
The Trump Prayer
(feel free to sing these words to the tune of Albert Malotte's original)
Unheavenly father,
Which art in Hades,
Halloweth be my name.
My kingdom come,
My will be done,
On earth, as it is in Mar-a-Lago.
Give me this day all workmen's bread,
And forgive me my bankruptcies,
of which there have been so many.
And lead me into delicious temptation,
but deliver me from Mueller.
For mine is the kingdom,
And the power,
And the glory,
For ever.
Amen.
(feel free to sing these words to the tune of Albert Malotte's original)
Unheavenly father,
Which art in Hades,
Halloweth be my name.
My kingdom come,
My will be done,
On earth, as it is in Mar-a-Lago.
Give me this day all workmen's bread,
And forgive me my bankruptcies,
of which there have been so many.
And lead me into delicious temptation,
but deliver me from Mueller.
For mine is the kingdom,
And the power,
And the glory,
For ever.
Amen.
325
Perfect!
Bravo, Frank, bravo !
The man's very presence seems to diminish the stature of anything he's part of - amazing.
However, despite everything we've all learned from the news cycle of the last 2 weeks, we were reminded today that about half the country actually does believe this is a witch hunt, when we were told by a couple of a certain age who'd returned from their cruise to Italy, Monaco, etc. the following:
" Did you hear djt said he had bacon & eggs for breakfast, and a White House source leaked that it was really ham & eggs ?
Nancy Pelosi is calling for an investigation. "
These folks were somewhat taken aback at our own prompt news:
" While you were gone, his doctors determined djt has brain cancer; the results of his colonoscopy are back. "
These acquaintances probably won't be making political assumptions in social situations anymore, but you see the point of the anecdote - that people who are educated, and sometimes even retired from government service, are just as much a part of the problem as what are often derided as GOP'er know-nothings.
Pointing out that we should pay attention to the always-excellent Paul Krugman's warnings:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/opinion/whats-the-matter-with-republi...
and say a little prayer for ourselves.
The man's very presence seems to diminish the stature of anything he's part of - amazing.
However, despite everything we've all learned from the news cycle of the last 2 weeks, we were reminded today that about half the country actually does believe this is a witch hunt, when we were told by a couple of a certain age who'd returned from their cruise to Italy, Monaco, etc. the following:
" Did you hear djt said he had bacon & eggs for breakfast, and a White House source leaked that it was really ham & eggs ?
Nancy Pelosi is calling for an investigation. "
These folks were somewhat taken aback at our own prompt news:
" While you were gone, his doctors determined djt has brain cancer; the results of his colonoscopy are back. "
These acquaintances probably won't be making political assumptions in social situations anymore, but you see the point of the anecdote - that people who are educated, and sometimes even retired from government service, are just as much a part of the problem as what are often derided as GOP'er know-nothings.
Pointing out that we should pay attention to the always-excellent Paul Krugman's warnings:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/opinion/whats-the-matter-with-republi...
and say a little prayer for ourselves.
90
FOX News. it crosses all demographic lines.
You have a point, but PLEASE don't lump me or my husband (69 year old retired, educated whites who both had government support jobs) into that group. We haven't lost our minds yet.
Sue - Wasn't generalizing, just describing the specifics of the instance, where one of the couple is a retired civil service employee.
2
"The president intended his pilgrimage as a statement that the diverse peoples of the world can and should get along — and that he, Trump, had the stature and sway to point them toward peace. This was to be a moment of bold leadership."
This has my vote as the most satirical paragraph of the year, no--make that of the past several centuries.
It's as believable a vision for this president's foreign trip as writing that Donald J. Trump was going to abdicate all his worldly possessions, resign from the presidency, and enter a monastery.
First, Trump hasn't shown any leadership, second I've seen no signs of stature or sway, and finally, I don't ever think I've ever heard him utter the question, "why can't we all get along?"
In fact, it's a pretty well known fact he got elected by his hard-core supporters because--not in spite of--his extreme divisiveness, churlishness, and "my way or the highway" approach to life.
I'm most interested in his meeting with the Pope, who he somehow managed to insult after the Pontiff had the temerity to mention man's inhumanity to man in conjunction with Trump campaign promises.
If Trump really wanted to cement himself with his evangelical base (instead of paying lip service to the cracker and the wine) wouldn't that have been the time to turn the other cheek?
This has my vote as the most satirical paragraph of the year, no--make that of the past several centuries.
It's as believable a vision for this president's foreign trip as writing that Donald J. Trump was going to abdicate all his worldly possessions, resign from the presidency, and enter a monastery.
First, Trump hasn't shown any leadership, second I've seen no signs of stature or sway, and finally, I don't ever think I've ever heard him utter the question, "why can't we all get along?"
In fact, it's a pretty well known fact he got elected by his hard-core supporters because--not in spite of--his extreme divisiveness, churlishness, and "my way or the highway" approach to life.
I'm most interested in his meeting with the Pope, who he somehow managed to insult after the Pontiff had the temerity to mention man's inhumanity to man in conjunction with Trump campaign promises.
If Trump really wanted to cement himself with his evangelical base (instead of paying lip service to the cracker and the wine) wouldn't that have been the time to turn the other cheek?
245
Remember, Evangelicals are not Catholic, they are from their own world.
4
Sorry, Mr Bruni, Pope Francis may be a sublime practitioner of liberation theology, Trump may require a miracle.
40
Dear Perverted God of Mammon....it has not been easy for me. As you know I started off in Brooklyn, my father gave me a small loan of a million dollars. But I fought through that poverty and hardship and I made something out of myself....I took and took and took until I wanted to take even more....I grabbed women by the genitals out of respect for Adam's rib....I dedicated my entire life to me, myself and I and putting my name in big gold-plated letters....I sacrificed my entire life for my own paper-thin skin and endless ego so others could have much, much less than me and then I marketed the hell out of that sociopathy to the cruelest, poorest and most deplorable Americans I could find...and they bought it like hotcakes off the griddle so I could profit and become their sick Prophet...and then I proceeded to drive America off a Trumpian cliff...but something strange happened...the 'separation of powers' angels tried to stop me...and I am deeply wounded, confused and hurt....oh Lord of Mammon...why is this happening, Lord...why am I so persecuted...why me, Lord of Mammon...why me...who has done so much greed for the world....why me, Lord ?
Let us prey, my Lord.
Faithfully yours,
Donald Trump, Predator-In-Chief
Let us prey, my Lord.
Faithfully yours,
Donald Trump, Predator-In-Chief
561
Hey, our kitty-grabber-in-chief started off in Queens. Leave Brooklyn out of it!
59
What Frank missed in this column is that the Predator-in-Chief is all about money. So inking a "yuuge" deal with the Saudis is an intentional ploy to shut up critics and earn mammon, the only currency that has any meaning to Mr. Trump and his enablers.
31
Stu...let's go to the videotape evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXyii642UlM
Brooklyn it is !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXyii642UlM
Brooklyn it is !
5