• Evangelical Journalist
“By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.”
~ OSCAR WILDE
2
Politicians use whatever vehicle is available to promote their visibility and agenda. When Obama announced his support for gay marriage, he immediately held a private meeting with Baptist ministers at the white house telling them to continue to support him even though they disagreed with his support for gay marriage. Until he announced that support, right before 2012 elections, he was against gay marriage. Was he a hypocrite? Did he suddenly see the light? Or was he shoring up his base - Baptists throughout the South?
I had no problem with him meeting with these ministers; it's politics and there was an election. I did have an issue with his suddenly supporting something he had always opposed, but again, it's politics.
This is no different. I don't believe for one minute that Trump is religious, much less an evangelical. But then, I don't believe that Obama really approves of gay marriage. Either way, this country has recognized the rights of humans to commit to each other legally to celebrate love. That is a good thing.
1
There doesn't need to be a 400+ page book on Trump's spiritual biography - it is simply 'NONE".
2
This story is absolutely amazing!
The current crop of evangelicals, along with organizations such as the Christian Broadcasting Network, are doing more harm to Christianity's future than anything else I can think of.
The absolute, utter hypocrisy is almost impossible to measure. The idea that a story isn't newsworthy because Brody's audience doesn't want to hear about it is stunning in its imbecility. The Stormy Daniels story concerns one of the Ten Commandments, for heaven's sake. I thought those were actually important to Christians.
I clearly know nothing about modern-day Christianity. I think I will thank God (my version) that I don't.
7
Now the reports are that trumpty is getting a sweetheart deal and loan of .5bn from China. Business as usual with trumpty and his syndicate of grifters, money launderers, and hypocrites. While many may call him a moron or worse, trumpty has proven himself to be a skillful navigator of the dark forces in our world including Russian and Chinese oligarchs and the radical "christian" right. This article on David Brody, and the Christian Broadcasting Network, in tandem with the latest news on the deal with China, paints a clear portrait of how trumpty succeeds in hoodwinking those who support him and his policies as well as with those who see him as a conduit to more power and money for themselves. We get the leaders we deserve and when nearly 40% don't vote we end up with this. Shame on trumpty, but even more, shame on us.
3
A real journalist is neutral
An evangelical journalist writes from an evangelical view point which is biased and skewed to their beliefs - propaganda.
5
From what angle does a Secular Humanist write?
2
By calling David Brody a journalist and the CBN a news organization, the New York Times is making itself part of the problem, as well as admitting kinship with people who are almost the exact opposite of itself. In fact, Brody, Pence, and the CBN are part of a well-organized and well-funded conspiracy to overthrow the Constitution of the United States. I am promised a land where I won't be forced to live according to the rules of someone else's religion, and these people are doing everything they can to take that right away from me. I want my country back.
But I'm doing Christians a disservice: it's easy to think of Evangelicals as Christians, when of course they aren't any such thing. I know lots of Christians and they don't support lying, bigotry, hate, dishonesty, or stomping on poor people. It's easy to why liars like these so-called Christians would support the liar-in-chief. We should call them CHRINO instead of Christian -- Christian in Name Only.
4
Food for thought...
Trump claims he supports Israel because he moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem.
If so, why send Robert Jeffress and John C. Hagee, both evangelical Christians that have debased Jews, to speak at the opening ceremony?
Both men see Israel and Jews as a means to a end, bringing about the Second Coming of Christ.
What’s up with the mixed message?
1
Thankfully the evangelicals are losing ground in their membership, having dropped over the past decade from 23% in 2006 to around 17%.
I'm very weary of this evangelical tail wagging the secular dog, and claiming they have a special pipeline to and from God.
Get religion out of politics.
4
For all the talk of liberal smugness and elitism, there is absolutely nothing that is more smug and elitist than conservative evangelicals who are convinced they "know" God's truth and are the annointed purveyors of that truth.
6
Ask trump to quote even one passage from the Bible. He can't.
Maybe he's rehearsed one by now.
Hypocrites all.
3
Of all the risible assertions in this article, this takes the prize: "(Brody's) new book, 'The Faith of Donald J. Trump,' ... outlines what he calls the president’s spiritual biography in more than 300 pages." Trump's spiritual biography could be written on the back of a matchbook from a strip club.
6
Religion: Poor man's crutch and a swindler's weapon
4
It took Brody 300 pages to describe trump's spiritual journey? I could have described it in a few sentences.
2
I can describe it in two words: shameless pandering.
5
To many, the word "Evangelical" has become synonymous with a Politician in Pastor's Robes.....
A more apt description of "Evangelical" is one who would dictate what others can or can *not* do, based on the Evangelical's point of view (wrongly believing that gosh, God's on their side).
3
Government has always, it seems, been an example of hypocrisy, but this administration has reached new heights. Tho Trump has little idea of the "big picture", his administration is using the example of the theocracy ruling Iran as an excuse for exerting American will on change. We are turning into a theocracy, despite the growing number of Americans who are leaving organized religion. If Trump is removed, and we wind up with Pence, we are really in trouble. The "christian" Right has as one of its tenets the imposition of their canon. Despite being an atheist, I say, "god help us all".
2
What amazes me is not the information in the article, which is fact based. No, it is the tone and the POV of the writer.
Ms. Dias writes the article with a disdain for the white house for trying to get its message across via a platform that might just allow it to. She seems to find that somehow wrong.
As an independent this is what infuriates me the most. The constant assumption that everyone else who may not share the same beliefs as you is always doing something 'wrong'.
It's time we started having actual conversations in this country, or we will fall into the ash heaps of history.,
2
It's not that different beliefs are inherently wrong. It's the hypocrisy evidenced by how evangelicals condemn other religions as pagan sects, for example Catholicism by Robert Jeffress. Yet they accept Trump's obvious lack of religiousness because he's giving them unprecedented access to influence government policy.
Hypocrisy is not living what you preach.
2
Journalists report what is happening or what happened without fear or favor. Public Relations staff sell a predetermined idea or story and carefully select information that fits the predetermined story. What CBN does is PR - not journalism.
4
Fake religion hand in hand with fake news.
What else would one expect from an administration built on Reality TV.
Are we winning yet?
Doesn't feel like it.
4
I recall the New York Times and 60 Minutes did a whole program during the second term of George W. That all America's evangelicals were so angry that they were Bamboozled by George W and Vice President Dick Cheney. They followed him and believed everything he said and thought he was the second coming of Christ. And we needed to go to war to get rid of all the Muslims. And they got so angry when George W announce that American Muslims are not our enemy and actually stood up for them. All the American Evangelical leaders then started to tell their followers the George W stab them in the back... They gave millions of dollars and all their votes for anything George W was spewing out. And they said they were bamboozled and they will be more careful to the next candidate that says they are a true Christian...
1
He’s not a journalist who wants to ask tough questions, but that doesn’t mean the Times has to follow his example. How about asking: Do any of the sex scandals give him pause? Does he think Christian voters should make voting decisions solely on “abortion, Israel and religious freedom” issues? How did those become the top evangelical issues—and how does that square with Jesus’s priorities?
3
Is this the same Trump connected journalist writing lies and being warned for the last time by the coffee pushing Avenatti? Now that the press has been awaken and got a good whiff of the pungent behavior of the prostitute’s lawyer how about some serious reporting from the NYT telling us who is bankrolling this shakedown.
1
I'm sorry to say this but all the Evangelicals turning a blind eye to this corrupt, money grubbing, lying, sex offending administration is a disgrace.
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This is consistent with the Hannity-Trump relationship.
Evidently the Trump White House has co-directors of their propaganda ministry.
3
'The access has been phenomenal,” Mr. Brody said later in an interview. “I’m very appreciative to God for allowing it.”'
God? I don't think so. Trust me on this. I talk to God all the time and He tells me that he simply loathes Christian Evangelicals. As does Jesus. The Virgin Mary? Well, we know what Christian Evangelical Protestants say about her behind her back.
In fact, the only big guy up there who likes you lot and lot is the son of the rich self-made Tarsus tent-maker, murderer, turncoat, ambitious hypocrite and general Trump lookalike Paul. He likes you. As does the guy downstairs. Name begins with S.
2
There are few things as disgusting as the so-called "evangelical " movement in the USA. A nastier concoction of race hatred and selective moralising would be difficult to find. In a way, Trump perfectly represents the evangelical movement. He embodies it. The word shame springs to mind.
3
This is just awful. Like when Obama used to have all kinds of unsavory people to the White House. I don't remember the NYT attacking Obama's White House on that subject. JStreet an anti Israel Jewish organization, for instance.
1
The story about Stormy is not about sex. It is a story of a con. Trump did not believe Evangelicals would vote for him if they knew the truth so there was a cover-up. The cover-up was specifically directed at obscuring the truth from Evangelical women. Since the action was directed towards them, it seems logical they should know about it.
“for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:”
–Isaiah 28:15
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If there has been any article that shows why non Evangelicals would want to show little respect for Evangelicals this is it. Ignoring facts on the ground, this ‘ journalist ‘ would like even agree that speaks the word of God, not man. Prophet not journalist.
If God and Donald Trump are respected by the same person in the same breath, I’m outta there before my next breath.
Hypocrite. Slanderer. Unrepentant power mongerer trampling on the poor and less fortunate.
Show some respect for other, non Evangelicals- call out lies, breaking of most of the Ten Commandments in public in our faces, stealing, and lack of respect for God ( “Thou shall have no other God before me”)
Trump’s God is money and unrelenting self adoration. CongressIona’s Republicans god is themselves. What would a Jesus think of that?
Who this group’s god is anybody’s guess, but it certainly not the same God that wrote the Ten Commandments.
Shame shame shame.
I respect anybody’s right to practice their religion. Please don’t tell me how great yours is. It isn’t as things stand.
And it doesn’t look good for the future. You might consider repenting.
1
Trump is not in the least religious nor of any faith, any more than he is a long-time Republican.
I am not particularly religious either, but I can tell who are: members of my Catholic family, who believe in monogamy, no divorce, no lying, and faith in your country. My grandfather, three uncles, and father all served in wars from WWI to WWII to the Korean war.
This service is something which Trump claims to support, but has no idea of what it comprises.
He also has no idea of what real religious faith comprises. Although I have left the Catholic church, I certainly respect what my relatives believe in, because I was raised that way.
2
Good post. People who are truly religious live their faith and that means being kind, tolerant and caring.
Churches that line up behind Trump aren't Christian. They are the opposite.
3
US foreign policy towards Israel has been taken over by evangelical Christians.
1
Because of Trump and the adoration that Evangelicals have lapped upon him while simultaneously selling out their core principles of faith for temporal political benefit, I am done with Evangelicals for good.
As someone that was raised a Protestant, I am disgusted by how these Evangelical “Christians” have sold their souls to Trump and turned their backs on their core Christian values. It’s not only disgusting, it’s pathetic. In my view, it just reinforces the unfathomable depths of hypocrisy which I’ve witnessed in the Republican and Conservative religious right over my lifetime.
Please, Evangelicals – just do us all a favor and be honest with yourselves and your God, and just stop claiming to be “Christians”. You’ve proven that your not. Trump is anathema to Christian value, yet you hold him up as your hero. You’re worshipping a golden idol while lost out in the desert, and you’re loving it.
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It's a propaganda "news" station just like FOX and it's about power, not religion.
2
The evangelicals finally have awoken to the fact that all life is politics. To behave otherwise is naive. It gains them a distinct advantage to be engaged and support politicians who will represent them and to fight for their interests. The liberals cynically attempt to paint evangelicals as hypocrites for becoming active in politics, but they have no compunction about transporting busloads of black voters--organized via inner city churches---to the polls.
1
Religion has no place in public policy. Ever hear of separation of Church and State?
Btw, preaching "family values" and then lining up behind a lying bigot who brags about sexually assaulting women is the very definition of hypocrisy.
1
If you want to “enjoy a closeness to the WHite House that is foreign to most reporters” take a lesson from Brody: start recognizing that the world is not black and white and differences of opinion take different forms. Stop being mud slingers, show a bit of respect and you too might experience that “closeness.”
So, Mr Brody, you apparently believe you're on a mission from God no less fervently than the Blues Brothers did. But their logic - creating havoc in order to save an orphanage -is more understandable to me than yours.
Isn't the Christian mantra 'What would Jesus do"? I wonder. Would He think of 'Israel, abortion and religious freedom' as the principal spiritual issues for Christians in our time? Or would He focus, yet again, on succouring the weak, forgiving the prostitute, throwing out the merchants from the Temple, and separating politics from religion - none of which would remotely lead HIm to support the likes of Trump or Pence?
Christianity, it seems, can be anything we want it to be. "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."
1
Having been on both sides of the evangelical fence, I am now decidedly on the non believing side. I know the mindset, beliefs, lingo, and so on of the evangelicals and have some in my family and my wife's. For years I always had respect for their belief in the mythology of the bible because I found them to be, for the most part, honorable people who tried to live according to their ethics and beliefs. This all ended when they voted for trumpty and now, despite all the hypocrisy, continue to support him and his administration by their unwillingness to denounce the lies, hate and non christian policies coming out of DC. I have no tolerance for anyone who, while claiming to be a christian, continues to support trumpty. In my book they are the problem.
1
Brody is likely sincere in relating both the elation of his conversion experience and his belief that he is doing God's will. This evaluation can include an affirmation that, on some level, Brody is indeed carrying out the Divine Plan. But the Plan may not be as elementary as he imagines it to be. Emotion is just emotion, nothing more, no matter how pleasant or compelling it may seem. It does not, in itself, provide a reliable insight into ultimate truth.
A useful quote about the process of knowing truth comes from Swami Vivekananda, who is credited with introducing Hinduism to the West when he attended the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 and thereafter toured the country lecturing. He stated: "We do not travel from falsehood to truth but from lower truth to higher truth."
What he meant is that, at any point in our conscious evolution, we are given exactly the truth that our minds are prepared to utilize. The validity of that truth lies precisely in our capacity for comprehending and applying it. Tomorrow, after having mastered today's simple truth, one moves on to something more challenging and, presumably, a little further down the evolutionary path.
Theocracy is hazardous to all humans regardless of the religion involved. The trend in cruel hypocritical “religion” increases the hazards presented by the theocratic tendencies of our current crop of Constitution hating hypocrites who disingenuously call themselves Christians.
We need a wall in this country.. a wall between church and state!
2
An evangelical journalist seems to be a contradiction.
To be fair, not all evangelicals are fanatics and not all journalists are devoted to the truth but realpolitik has shown evangelicals are not a trustworthy bunch and genuine journalists go where the evidence is.
So perhaps this guy is more a propagandist than a journalist. The burden of proof is on him
5
how horrific that Brody has not adopted or fostered one living soul! Could he not pass the basic background check to adopt an American unwanted child? where does mr. Brody think all The Unwanted infants that are dropped in dumpsters or safely brought to a fire station? There are no orphanages in America anymore. There are no State homes. They stay the Pediatric Wards for months just waiting for a foster family. And then they go into residential homes where four to six kids sleep in one room of a four-bedroom house and have residential aides on every 12 hour shift. It is unlikely that they ever have the experience of a parent or family. There is no one standing in line or waiting for a long time to adopt or Foster. Mostly the majority of Americans adopting are lgbtq...
evangelicals are the highest population using in vitro fertilization. Cost between 30 to $60,000 per treatment. To adopt a child in America it can be as low as $3,000 as high as 12,000 but also all the healthcare, dental and I care is paid for and in most States they have the choice with private or public school and higher education paid by the state, taxpayers.
in letters from Paul and John in the Bible Old and New Testament all mandate if a child is without parents you must take that child in and bring up as your own... if a woman is barren make sure she is matched with a child who is lost their parent.
6
As a non-believer, I never thought I'd live to see the day a non-religious president would be elected. And yet here we are. Has anyone ever seen Trump darken the doors of a church? Is he on record professing any personal faith? He's clearly just playing to the evangelicals who give him power. Too bad. A legit atheist would laugh them out of the building.
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How come everyone asks how Evangelicals can vote for Trump, yet no one on the left asks the more important and interesting question for a future Democratic victory: how come they did not vote for Hillary?
10
Easy, she supported women's reproductive rights.
1
We know why they didn't vote for Hillary,
- Abortion - as in she's pro-choice
- woman
- inclusivity
- didn't favor one religion over another
- didn't blur the boundaries of church and state
There's more...
...but I think it's clear now why evangelicals didn't vote for Hillary and won't vote for Democrats.
1
Because she wasn’t a power grabbing hypocrite professing to do good then slamming the poor and middle class into oblivion.
1
Donald Trump is basically a televangelist.
If you look at it that way you can see his appeal to his followers.
The sleazy made for TV look,...hair and tan and teeth.... the dramatic histrionics of his empty speeches and appeals.... and the us/them posture.
The scandals/sins fit right in with Swaggert, Jim Bakker, a few others.
Like a televangelist he seeks pledges/donations.
Think about his appeal and the televangelist playbook.
42
Try to separate Trump from what his administration is actually doing. Some of it seems fine by me. Most of it actually. Although I would still cross to the other side of the street if I saw Trump coming towards me on the pavement.
Vote these Evangelicals back to the biblical age. Remember in November.
29
So he's the James Guckert ("Jeff Gannon") of this administration?
1
Trumps typical audience white war mongers i am a Christian bunch only in lip service not in daily deeds to help the poor or promote peace in America.
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“Our audience isn’t going to want me to really ask about Russia or Stormy Daniels. They are just not going to want me to ask.”
How about asking der fuhrer if it’s Two Corinthians or 2nd Corinthians? As I recall, mr big brain doesn’t know.
WWJD? Pretty sure we all, including the deluded deplorables, know the answer to that question.
20
As Woody Allen wrote (but probably not first) if Jesus/God came back and saw what's been done is his name, he/she (modernized for obvious reasons) would never stop throwing up.
I'm not a fan of tossing - but I understand the inclination.
10
I don’t think He’d throw up; He’d start smiting people.
How quickly these holy rollers toss aside their Sincerely Held Beliefs for political expediency.
33
Evangelicals don’t KNOW god. They know how to tell other people how they should be living. Period.
33
I’ve never even heard of this Brody and I could care less that Trump paid $130,000 to cover up an affair with a porn star. What’s money for anyway? I don’t see what the big deal is. They both got what they wanted. Besides, who wants to talk to and take questions from anyone who just turns around and spits in their face?
1
How long would you last in a job where you did only what you "want"?
1
The pathetic nature of the pure dissonance is astounding to witness. What a phony bunch of malarkey these people are pushing.
15
80% of white evangelicals voted for Trump. That kind of voting number pushes past malarkey to group consciousness whether you believe or not. They “believe” they are doing “their” God’s work. It’s a powerful mindset that the Dems have no counter to, especially in the the South.
1
This is the same journalist who is a regular panelist on all the Sunday news shows, and has been for years. Why turn this into some kind of fetish?
Steve Bannon of Breitbart was news. This isn't. If Alex Jones is seen going in and out the back door, then you'll have a story.
2
Good choice of phrase
Over 50 people shot down a la Kent State, today, as "Christians," prayed, and these "Christians," not only lack the guts to speak out, they positively celebrated.
Oh, well. If they're right, they'll have a sterner Judge to speak to than me.
15
I hope the next president is an atheist. Keep religion far away from the Oval Office.
24
A duo of blind faith.
6
I watched 60 Minutes last night and enjoyed the segment on Pope Francis. Francis has been criticized at length by Catholic arch conservatives (Ross Douthat of the NYT for one) precisely because Francis has dared to challenge the nonsense they spew as “orthodox theology.” I am with Francis.
16
The vast majority of evangelicals view Trump as their "King Cyprus" and hero keeping Jerusalem and the Holy Land free from Muslim participation. Horrendous.
11
Who thinks life under Christian sharia would be any different than life under Muslim sharia?
1
As much as GOP leadership, the Christian right is showing its true convictions. Surprise, surprise...
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"...no man who is profligate in his morals or a bad member of the civil community can possibly be a true Christian."
-George Washington
20
Would the NY Times please tell us what Trump's churchgoing habits were before he started running for office. It seems to me that this a very relevant "metric" to know given how Trump is now such a religious man.
14
I suspect my feline is more religious than this man. He is an obvious liar and unfortunately we had gullible folks who bought it hook line an sinker.
16
His religion as is the GOP is money power and forced sex.
2
The so called Evangelical "Christians", are either a bunch of hypocrites, or more likely, a bunch of ignorants clinging to a book that they do not even understand.
26
I don't understand the term "evangelical journalist." Would such a person approach reporting in a different manner than a journalist?
I also don't understand the term "white evangelical." If the term means people like Mike Pence and Trump supporters, is "white" necessary?
8
Brody himself says that his journalism is done through a Christian lens, making him an “evangelical journalist.” Further, the specific term “white evangelical” may be relevant because while Trump enjoys the support of most white evangelicals, evangelicals of other races (particularly blacks) seem less than enamored with him to say the least.
1
because thrre is a huge group known as black evangelicals. it is well known that the black evangelicos allow anyone to join their churches Across the Nation. But the white evangelicals, and even Googled it, the leaders implore a segregation and will not let any non-white become a pastor in their churches! the term- evangelicals came from black baptists...
There is no usual access to a president.
The alleged direct access granted to CBN or other conservative lobbyists by current administration, is at least as questionable as the exact same direct access granted to Silicon Valley lobbyists by the previous administration.
4
“The access has been phenomenal,” Mr. Brody said later in an interview. “I’m very appreciative to God for allowing it.”
Right, because God has nothing better to do than sit around making arrangements so Mr. Brody can have “phenomenal” access to this administration.
Whenever I hear evangelicals or any holy roller Christian speak like this, I find it self-serving, presumptive, and decidedly not Christ like.
The fact that evangelicals have yoked themselves to a man without a single Christian cell in his entire body tells me all I need to know about their religion.
34
This may have been referenced elsewhere in these comments. But I could see where Trump will help evangelicals reach their ultimate goal...Armageddon and the return of Christ.
Opening the embassy in Jerusalem, revoking the Iran deal...just a few of the ways where evangelicals can “push” the world a bit closer to the Rapture.
After all, they are convinced that they will already be in Paradise while the rest of us, the ones deemed unfit, will be down here in the Final Battle.
12
Is this really unusual though? Rather cynically, politicians always use whatever media outlet they can that could snare them a few extra votes, and as Evangelicals make up a distinct voting bloc with large numbers it seems like an obvious move to make friends with Christian news companies. Similar to the way certain parties target millionaires or people on the poverty line, or bankers, service workers, immigrants or racists (subtly) etc etc.
11
The problem is there exists no “Christian”news. Or Muslim or Jewish news.
There is news . This is Fox fake news on steroids sold to the unquestioning.
I pity them.
3
Except those other groups you mention don't claim that God is dictating their actions.
Today 95% of the news media is rabid in their dislike of President Trump.
That's not what journalism is about--opinionated and subjective.
Both Fox and CBN are that 5% that view the other side.
And the media wonders why it has lost credibility with the American public!
The media is doing just fine here in the real world where facts matter.
15
It's important for you people people to pass yourselves off as David rather than the Goliath you are, isn't it?
The American public is better than this Bible-thumping, and will remember it long after your smugness has faded.
8
Excuse me, but, as a newspaper reporter, (no connection with any NYT-connected entity), forced into early retirement by injury on the job, I must point out your lack of understanding about how newspapers work.
On one side are reporters, and newsroom editors who work do not put their personal or organizational ideologies into their work.
The struggle to write neutral stories is our honor - we don’t care how the pol vote, says, how close the match with our feelings. We care about honesty. We ARE the 4th Estate, who will do everything in our power to uncover misuse of office and expose it to the light of day.
In New York City, most of the members of Congress are Democrats. Do a search of the Times. Count the number of corrupt Democrats and Republicans the Times has helped remove.
More Ds than Rs based on numbers, for numbers give the Ds extra local power enticing corruption.
Then there are the executive editors who have no say what reporters uncover, they write their opinions as EDITORIALS, so labeled. Opinion based on fact. The Times goes to great lengths to hire politically diverse Op-Ed columnists. One of the best was Nixon’s chief speech writer. Read the column Bill Safire wrote to run upon his death.
CBN cares nothing for diversity. It is the self-appointed voice of Evangelicals and its mission is not to uncover, but to make its faith national law. Truth matters not.
I hope the Constitution continues to grant its right to speech and my right to reject its attempts.
12
The mainstream media, academia and Hollywood, which together have a dominant position in our culture, sneer with impunity at conservative Christians. The Obama administration tried to shove contraceptive coverage down the throat of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
When you're at war, you look for any allies that can help.
1
"And when you have cut down all the laws and the Devil turns on you, what then?"
2
That is a factually inaccurate version of the fallout from the Hobby Lobby and related cases.
Nobody ever “shoved contraception down anybody’s throat” - its coverage is just a tiny inclusion in the Affordable Care Act.
A store fought the section of the Affordable Care Act saying that EMPLOYEES must be given the right to have all their medical care covered, including prescription of contraceptives.
In an unfortunate break with the almost 250-year old ‘brick wall’ separating religion from government, the courts held the EMPLOYER had the right to set coverage guidelines, based on its religious beliefs - what an obscenity!
Each individual should have the power to make life-shaping decisions, and a corporate employer is neither an individual nor a religious organization.
Assuming they are true to their vows, there is no harm offering the Franciscan Little Sisters the right not to ir to have their insurance cover contraception. Lay employees of the organization deserve the right to plan their families or fo as they wish. They have taken no vows, and would be discriminated against if the order,
represented by its religious, not employees, were hired on the basis of their faith.
I also hope the Little Sisters do see gynecologists regularity, do they do not fall prey to cancers of female reproductive organs that strike women down regardless of their sexual activity or lack theof.
14
I'm sorry but Christians have sold themselves to the devil to get their hateful agenda passed. Religious freedom as long as it's their specific religion; which is why this dangerous alliance of secular and theocratic was so shunned by our founding fathers. The democracy needs a reset while there is still time.
1
Matthew 5:3-11. Otherwise know as the "Sermon on the Mount". Jesus's own words. Read them.
6
Instead of quoting from a book of fiction I invite you to read the US Constitution which defines this country as secular. Sorry if you don't like that but those are the facts.
14
There are evangelicals and Evangelicals and Donald Trump has no idea of the difference. The man is one of the most ignorant individuals to ever hold a position in Washington. He is simply an egotistical, draft dodging coward. The evangelical world has joined the powers of the "underworld."
15
In both his public and private lives Donald Trump has represented a virtually daily repudiation of the teachings of Jesus. The thirty pieces of silver which the leaders of America's evangelical movement have accepted in return for supporting and even venerating such a man will cost them dearly, and for many years.
56
A friend living in the Tampa area says there is a peculiar attitude he heard day in-day out from self-identifying Evangelical Christians.
They believe, as do I, that Trump has publicly broken all but1.5 or 2.5 of the Big 10 Commandments apparently left in place by their religion;
There is absolutely NO reason to believe he has murdered.
He loves and respects his father, but has never commented on his mother.
As for the others, the only other ones open to interpretation regard whether he has placed himself ot his money above his deity. And whether his faith requires weekly church attendance before playing 18 holes. Then again, one will hear much prayer on the golf course, asking many a deity to take personal action controlling the flight of hard rubber balls.
But he may lie, steal, commit adultery with impunity, my friend is told. Because of his proclaimed faith “we forgive him” and apparently indicate that is enough for their deity.
Strangely, that was not the faith the latinized name Jesus, given rabbi yeshuah bar yaccob, ha nazarrini, believed in.
He, like other members of the Pharetic (anti-pristly) party, believed that in order to obtain divine forgiveness, a violator of the law (which he accepted though Paulus (born saul ha tarsan<? Tarsus is a Latin name of a town where Aramaic was probably spoken a century after yeshua’s crucifixion.>) one must first be forgiven by the injured party, and, if financial losses occurred, that restoration be offered.
Is it it just me who wonders about the non-elected totally unqualified people who have access to and are influencing the president. Ivanka and Jared we’re given high powered senior adviser positions that they have zero qualifications for. Apparently Trump chats with Sean Hannity nightly if not more often. Mr Brody certainly violates the concept of separation church Andy state.
19
So much for separation of church and state. Be clear, evangelicals want to create a religious society, Like people in other parts pf the world. This makes them anything but patriots.
30
That’s the difference between Populism, where only the majority, often the perceived majority have rights, and Democracy, where all share the same rights, the minorities are given equal protection by Rule of Law.
The Nazi and Klan movement claimed a populist position
The authors if the Constitution and Bill of Rights (not included because Jefferson was in France as ambassador during the Constitutional Convention) were on the right track, though they still accepted black slavery and no votes for women, positions we still have some progress to make good on eliminating.
2
Evangelicals clearly believe that what they actually say and do does not matter and is of no consequence as long as they believe in their very own god. That god of theirs tells them they are superior to the rest of everyone else and that "he" gave them rules to impose on everyone else. As long as they're doing their best to enforce those rules on everyone else they can do whatever it is they want to do. They've been forgiven in advance; it says so right there in their bible. Factual information that gets in the way is fake news. David Brody does his best to insure that none of the facts get in the way at the White House.
18
God is like the water in all beverages. No matter how much you color, flavor and package it, it’s still all just water. Better luck trying to convince a Coke drinker to drink Pepsi.
1
Speaking of the goverment's throwing its weight behind one view of religion, per pmbrig's earlier post, how many people are outraged by the choice of Christian anti-Semites to preach at the opening of the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem? Let me count the ways:
1. Prayers upon a new embassy is not a proper governmental function. Some may disagree, but wait for the next!
2. The prayers were exclusively non-Jewish for a country with a prominent Jewish minority (us) in a predominantly Jewish country (israel). That looks to me like an insult. I wonder how that would go over in Saudi or Iraq?
3. The praying persons were known anti-Semites. That is a gross insult to all Jews and all decent people.
Good job, Trumpie!
19
Clarification: "the next" means point 2, not the next embassy opening. Sorry for the confusion.
3
They also hate Mormons and black people. Don't be unfair.
4
Maybe Mr. Brody can give Donald Trump advice on how to refer to a name of a Bible chapter that comes up three times, like Corinthians......Trump’s phony biblical experience is almost laughable, except it’s insulting.
18
Brody attributes his access to Trump as coming from god. Trump possesses just about every sinful attribute there is. Why are these religious zealots so sure he is a gift from god and not a temptation of the anti-Christ?
23
They say we mere mortals can’t expect to understand how god works.
3
What’s the difference, all coming from the same place.
2
All the evangelical Christian leaders are false Christs foretold in John's Revelation leading a gullible cult of millions taught to follow them blindly as they confuse faith with hypnotic bliss. The followers believe they are holy for following the holiness of God. The followers are arrogant believers confusing the holiness of God, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the saints and the rare truly holy with themselves. Their egos are satisfied by their following false idols. They are fools led by charlatans simply to vote because politicians are the greatest sinners so why would they vote for more sinning like wars and killing?
9
The horror of an evangelical journalist. Will the nation survive? I’ve never heard of him so I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have a huge audience, but, hey he’s an evangelical so send him to jail.
1
Yuk! When I hear tv evangelists ranting and raving in their hypocrisy, I think that hell will be a little bit hotter for them.
18
What is it about the major religions of the world that makes their leaders push the message that their beliefs are meant for the entire country. Why should a believer in another faith have to adjust their actions because they are inconsistent with the tenets of another faith? Evangelicals are the threat they think they see in other religions.
22
Early believers in the Messiah struggled mightily with false gods and idolatry that were part of the fabric of the Roman Empire. That was 2,000+ years ago.
The worship of false gods and idolatry is back. And just as before in those long ago days, the worst offenders (in God's eyes) were the hypocritical religious leaders. Still the case, sadly.
25
When Mr.Brody talks about the liberal mainstream media and chides them for reporting the news he should remember that Jesus , whom he worships,was indignant and chased the crooked money changers from the Temple.Mr.Brody's emphasis on "soft" news is hypocritical.How is it possible that a devout Christian could admire a man who has no respect for women, including his wives, and constantly insults people and degrades anyone who was not born here.Mr. Trump's language is so crude that children cannot listen to it, what about it appeals to the CBN?
13
Evangelical has now taken on a more applicable definition...
"Religious Hypocrite"
And Mr. Brody "finds his calling at the White House"?
News flash -- that ain't the Lord calling.
34
The Evangelical support for Trump is breathtaking hypocrisy.
43
Evangelical journalist? Isn't that an oxymoron?
16
I’ve met some fine ones, who left their beliefs at home.
You would never know what they were, religiously, unless asked.
2
"Evangelical" in this sense is actually a misnomer -- i.e., the application of a word for something it is not. The far right has been doing this for decades (e.g., "Family Values") in an effort the seduce people into narrow, us-versu-them thinking by appealing to what are, in fact, values widely shared.
For a genuinely Christian (i.e., inclusive) sense of the word, and for organizations committed to that sense, I recommend googling either "Repairers of the Breach" and/or "Moral Mondays."
7
American Evangelicalism is a poison on the country, it has zero to do with the teachings attributed to "Jesus".
27
Why would the New York Times tailor an article like this one for the sideshow of snake handlers that not only foster silly, superstitious nonsense about their imaginary friends, but also confuse their 'god's' munificence with the current national malaise ?
5
From the tone of many comments here, Evangelicals seem widely despised whether or not they support TRUMP.
That they DO support TRUMP is no mystery since by doing so they find life easier in certain matters which they would not have been able to otherwise achieve unless they gave up what made them "evangelicals" to begin with.
1
Those evangelicals just can't get enough of the porn star action of Donald J Trump. They remain mute about the porn star, playmates and others since they are fake christians all.
14
No different than Sean Hannity, Chris Ruddy or David Pecker. Trump might as well have "Bribes Welcome!" in neon on the White House roof.
11
Welcome to the new morality: Self-interest is the highest virtue; it doesn't matter how you accumulate wealth and power and political influence, as long as you get more than your nearest competitors; keep spewing sugar-coated words for public consumption, but do your dirty work out of sight from the corrupt media; find scapegoats to fire up your minions and bond them together against common enemies; and whenever you appear on television, dress conservatively, with a proper hair style, look earnest, and smile when delivering your most deceitful messages to counterbalance the liberal do-gooders trying to poke holes in your magnificent charades.
9
Mr.Brody loves Trump more than Jesus and loves Money more than Bible. May be Trump is calling this puppet a "Fake Evangelical" in his absence. Money and power is the goal of so many Evangelical leaders.
4
Jesus has nothing to do with it, quite the contrary. Today's evangelism is sham cover for bigotry, racism, and patriarchy. Like trump, they profess to be the opposite of what they are.
26
One cannot be a journalist and a fundamentalist evangelical. One cannot be a decent human being and a fundamentalist evangelical. These people wish permission to persecute any all and who won't adopt their hatefully bigoted beliefs that diminish the rights of all but straight white men. These bigots make me wish for fire and brimstone...for them.
19
Brody isn't a journalist. He's a lobbyist. CBN is nothing more than a PR arm for Pat Robertson, and it's an insult that Brody shills for this president under cover of "journalism." David Brody is just Sean Hannity with a nicer veneer.
22
This is from the web site of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C.:
“Rather than suppressing news, the Nazi propaganda apparatus instead sought to tightly control its flow and interpretation and to deny access to alternative sources of news.”
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007655
16
He is not Godlike. He is devil like- just like Trump who cares nothing for the people unless they are wealthy and can make him money. This guy is not a Christian. Jesus would tell him to get out of the Temple. So sickening
11
The crybaby in here is thicker than frozen molasses.
1
Trump's god is Mammon.
Those who follow Trump, follow Mammon.
May they all rot.
9
Where's the megaphone for Santa Clause's truth - the naughty list? So many presume to speak for God; many surely on the naughty list.
The only reporters closer to trump are the Russians. Look at all the news we got about trump from Russian media that we'd be clueless about otherwise - like Russian intelligence officers (one with economic and travel sanctions) visits Pompeo and others here in the US; phone calls between trump and Putin; and the big daddy of 'em all - trump laughing with Russians in the Oval Office as he proclaims he's rid of that Comey nag and then feeds them Israeli secrets.
Imagine - Christians lying to other Christians in praise of one of the most ungodly men on Earth. "president’s spiritual biography in" 300 pages?! Really?
Religious freedom to evangelicals seems to be never having to say I'm sorry.
Today two cult leaders that prayed on behalf of America at the opening of our embassy in Jerusalem, while civilians are being slaughtered 40 miles away - imagine the tears shed there Ms. Nance. West Jerusalem is not enough. They want it ALL?
Contrast this rabble taking over our country with Pope Francis' all too brief showing on 60 Minutes yesterday. I almost felt like converting to Catholicism based on the brief excerpts of his candid and wise messages to all.
Brody "decided" to follow the absolutism of one religion from another. What does that say? I came to Santa and I'll stick to following him and staying on his good list, getting news from the Times.
6
Brody says he tolerates Trump because Jesus is in danger and any cost to pay for access to the President is acceptable.
Preacher or puppet?
5
Truly revolting. The Founding Fathers would have fainted.
10
"The access has been phenomenal,” Mr. Brody said later in an interview. “I’m very appreciative to God for allowing it.”
Well, isn't that special. He might be surprised to find out how fast that god-given access would disappear if he were to start behaving like a serious journalist.
12
I just can’t read this. I’ve had my fill of this administration and its evildoers.
14
They will fit right it they have no interest it truth only point that support their theology. Fake journalist are the Perfect fit in the Fake Trump White House.
4
I don't think God has anything to do with this Administration -- the Devil, maybe? It's laughable, really -- if evangelicals think this crook is anything but a lying, cheating ignorant and yes, hateful man, they are about as far from God as you can get. Their day of reckoning will come as well and it won't be in Israel for the rapture.
52
If God were only a vengeful God, who kept strict account of human behavior, most of us should’ve got what we deserved long ago. But He gave us a second chance, and we lived to tell the tale—and spread the news.
1
So spread the news trump has has many multiple chances
At some point giving guys like him another just ain’t worth God’s or anybody else’s time and effort
This one is going straight to....
Humility that’s where it’s at
I see these fraudsters having none of it
2
I hope you don't think Trump and company are spreading any kind of news. All they are spreading is lies and hate speech.
4
Or, a completely alternative explanation is that there is no God, or that the bible is made up by humans. Certainly evangelicals are busy creating a god in their own image.
11
God save us all from those who claim to speak for God.
33
People who claim that God spoke to them and those who speak to him are mental patients who belong in a psychiatric institution. The fact that these people are close to the center of power makes me very nervous. Soon they will be feeding all the decent people to the lions. We must stop this insane movement!
8
“His new book, “The Faith of Donald J. Trump” … outlines what he calls the president’s spiritual biography in more than 300 pages.”
Start spreading the news
To gentiles and Jews:
The Lord
Is on board
My team --
What a dream!
Like the late great Roy Cohn
(A piranha in court,
Knee-cap smasher for sport),
He forgets not his own.
But like Reverend Peale,
Hath a nose for the deal.
He’s the toast of Mar‘Lago,
Wows the gals like Zhivago,
Whacks bad dudes in Chicago,
All while dwelling on high.
Cause he’s my kind of guy.
13
"His new book, “The Faith of Donald J. Trump,” written with Scott Lamb, a vice-president of Liberty University, outlines what he calls the president’s spiritual biography in more than 300 pages."
I bet that's a piece of work. What is it? A picture book? It must have taken a lot of imagination to get to 300 pages...
35
Well, it certainly won't be the first biography destined for the sale table in the "fiction" section.
9
God isn’t who decides who gets access to the White House. Also, Trump is not God.
15
What’s the difference between 45 and God?
God doesn’t think he’s trump
There’s still good news out there
Just not being brought to you by truthful folks .....just expedient ones.
6
Evangelicals have sold their soul to D.Trump. They have sold it for a ban on abortion and the repeal of Gay Rights and Marriage. They would ban birth control also if the courts allow. I have no respect for the Christian right. They want everyone to do what only they decree is right.
65
Vote them out and make them all pay taxes, Instead of being parasites on the State.
20
You are totally right. Why do they get the tax exemption? Maybe because they will create Civil War amongst us. Religious civil wars are good for their business they are disastrous for everybody else. Get this vermin out of office.
1
Merriam-Webster definition of evil:
"morally reprehensible, " "arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct."
If words have any meaning left in this post-truth world, the former casino huckster who became president fits the above definition.
The fact that evangelicals celebrate, rather than condemn, this person who represents the antithesis of Christian values is a jarring manifestation of how he has helped pollute the very concept of right and wrong, throughout the world.
22
I am a follower of Christ. How so-called evangelicals idolizes Trump to advance their so-called God agenda is beyond my comprehension.
52
I am an atheist and I also failed to see or comprehend how filthy human beings like these are our leaders. They are not. Religion is a state of mind that should remain in the mind. When we try to make it reality we cause a lot of damage to everybody including ourselves.
11
“The access has been phenomenal,” Mr. Brody said later in an interview. “I’m very appreciative to God for allowing it.”
I used to think people like Bill Maher were distasteful in how they addressed religious belief. I'm an atheist myself, but having been raised in a family of conservative believers, perhaps I was predisposed to taking their professions of faith at face value. Yet, I have never in my life seen a bigger mockery of faith-based values than the alliance between the Trump administration and Christian evangelicals.
Pence saw the exact same filthy campaign as everyone else and nevertheless smiles and talks about how "honored" he is to be a part of Trump's administration. Brody, with a straight face, authors a book called "The Faith of Donald Trump." Other high-profile religious leaders talk of "mulligans" and "forgiveness" for an obviously unrepentant and continuing degenerate. And when Trump books a venue, Christians are first in line at the door.
Yet how can they realistically expect to "evangelize" to anyone at this point. Having actually been exposed to biblical teaching for decades only makes the glaring hypocrisy more apparent. During the 2016 campaign I actually considered quite insulting when some people suggested that Christians would actually embrace Trump. Modern Christians (even my own family) lining up behind the same presidential candidate as card-carrying Klansmen? "N-e-v-e-r," is what I said. I guess I had too much faith in their faith.
262
It's not faith, it's delusion.
39
I beg to differ. What you are talking about is not faith, it's religion. I have faith, just not faith in gods. I have faith, for instance, in the value of science to tell us what is true. I have faith in the value of behavior based on the Golden Rule and in kindness to others. All those are kinds of faith that the bastardization of the word "faith" to mean only religion are denying.
I find that especially disturbing because the confusion of faith with religion was made prominent by George W. Bush in order to disguise his flouting the constitutional separation of church and state by claiming he was using federal money to fund "faith-based" organizations; that let him avoid saying he was funding religious organizations; and the mass media, as they typically do, swallowed that whole and repeat the euphemism to this day.
42
I am a believing Christian and I am perplexed by how Evangelicals could possibly be attracted to such a vile man as Donald Trump. It distresses and embarrasses me. There are many other Christians who feel the same way. Please don’t paint us with the same broad brush.
28
Trump and his evangelicals are the opiate of the masses who voted for him.
19
And ytet, they removed over 1200 of your Democrats from elected offices all across he country, including Hillary Clinton. How could that have happened?
I have run into my fair share of crooks hiding behind religion in 40 years in business.
That’s how.
No honor among thieves . Watch him turn on you when he loses big time this November
10
Hundreds of millions of tax exempt KOCH PAC dollars and the dishonest biased media called FOX.
"I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right," he said. "I don't bring God into that picture. I don't." DJ Trump, July 2015.
10
Hopefully Brody and the strippers don't accidentally show up on the same day. That would be embarrassing.
41
"Well I say God is the ultimate. You know you look at this?" Trump said, motioning toward an oceanfront golf course that bears his name. "Here we are on the Pacific Ocean. How did I ever own this? I bought it 15 years ago. I made one of the great deals they say ever. I have no more mortgage on it as I will certify and represent to you. And I was able to buy this and make a great deal. That's what I want to do for the country. Make great deals. We have to, we have to bring it back, but God is the ultimate."
--interview with the Christian Broadcast Network's The Brody File at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, Sept. 2015
13
Trump and the evangelicals deserve each other. He says anything and they believe anything. It's a marriage truly made in purgatory.
32
Except, this marriage is adversely affecting all of us.
7
When I see TV evangelical shows on Sundays, they seem to be of the Health and Wealth denomination. Believe in Jesus and you will have better health, a better relationship and a better job (more money!). As one comment stated, Christ's promise was of a different kingdom, not this one. What would Christ think of the evangelical movement at this point? What hypocrisy will this movement tolerate to get the support from this President to not tolerate others?
11
I believe this is a violation of the separation between church and state. Christian Broadcasting Network employees are given special access to the White House. The Christian Broadcasting Network is not acting according to the Constitutional duties of a free press. Instead, it is behaving like an in-house propaganda organ.
16
So Hitler was part of God's plan, according to one of these mega-church leaders? That's some pretty messed up thinking right there.
35
I think Dave's quote pretty much sums up my position:
People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them. - Dave Barry
76
The hypocrisy of the evangelicals is disgraceful.
This is a Faustian bargain if there ever was one.
Their credibility is irreparably damaged.
16
As long as Americans subsidize their hate and intolerance with Tax Exceptions they like cockroaches will always be with us.
8
Delusional.. just like the president.
13
Well David Brody, this former fan of Christian Broadcasting DOES want you to ask our "so-called" president about Russia and the porn star. Why shouldn't Evangelicals be concerned about a president who may have conspired with a foreign country to get elected? Why wouldn't they want to know the character of the leader of the free world? If you are a "megaphone for God's truth" that includes ALL the truth, even the ugly truth about the president you supported. Jesus called out the money changers in the temple. He was angry with those who would misled the flock or became a stumbling block to those who were seeking truth. He was 'righteously indignant'. We can't be as righteously indignant as Jesus, but where is your calling out of the lies, deception, moral depravity, bullying and attacking of those Jesus loves, while unashamedly cozying up to dictators, white supremacists and wife abusers? How about some challenge to those cabinet appointments and donors in destroying God's creation we are supposed to care for, or stealing tax payer money instead of providing services to the alien, poor and orphans (three groups the Bible continually exhorts we care for). Nope, you don't get a free pass to entrench yourself at the White House because the president appointed a conservative judge or says he is against abortion. This is a man who has broken most, if not all, the Ten Commandments!
29
It's called republican business as usual. The god stuff is just window dressing.
6
Too many of us remember Martin Luther who loved us when he had his epiphany and loved us to death when we refused to Romanize and deify our Jewish brother.
4
“Evangelical journalist” is an oxymoron.
22
A Liberal Journalist Finds His Calling at The White House - How a New York Time journalist has unusual access to the President. In return, Mr. Obama gets a direct line to the liberal audience he depends upon.
(You can, of course, just add NYTimes rather than select any one journalist)
1
Nice try but journalism relies on facts, religion doesn't. Time to get a clue.
22
False equivalence. "Liberal" is *not* a religion. No......it's *not*. It's a political orientation.
8
Please, facts here:
President Obama’s biggest failure was, once elected, to drop government-by- slogan and to get down to the hard work of running the US.
He demanded, and read reams of reports, instead of spending his nights tweeting spontaneous outbursts of anger,
Comey was amazed that when Obama asked him in it was to listen, once to point out to him what a poor black living in a housing project might think of the phrase “weed and seed,” why one viewing it from a different perspective might be very offended.
I don’t think he favored any reporters over any others, but relished in taking on tough questions.
The trouble is we’ve become used to hashtag responses to important questions, filled with lies and hstr?
Inviting clearly anti-semitic preachers-no Jews allowed-pray for the success of of the US embassy in Jerusalem? Why, aside from making the Christian theocrats happy would he even consider such a thing?
Why should the US, open to all religions open an embassy, surrounded on 4 sides by the Jewish State of Israel, itself surrounded on 3 sides by The Islamic Countries of ... be opened by preachers known for sending most Israelis, Jews and Muslims to eternal torment for not believing a Jewish rabbi was the Christ?
<btw>Did anyone notice that last year’s yom-ha shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day was marked by NO WH statement a year after the first didn’t mention it was all about Germany’s murder of 6 million Jews for rejecting Jesus as more than a teacher of Judaism?
2
God has special plans when Trump, Pence, etc. die. They will all come back as worms and have to work their way up back up to human. It's a long process.
14
Jesus save us from your followers. —Bumpersticker
26
Love this! Thank you!
6
Rightwing evangelicals and Trump. A formula for disaster. America deserves better.
15
Using religion to control people is what Hitler did.
From Aldous Huxley's, "Brave New World Revisited," the chapter, "Propaganda Under a Dictatorship" :
'Hitler's aim was first to move the masses and then, having pried them loose from their traditional loyalties and moralities, to impose upon them (with the hypnotized consent of the majority) a new authoritarian order of his own devising. "Hitler," wrote Hermann Rauschning in 1939, "has a deep respect for the Catholic church and the Jesuit order; not because of their Christian doctrine, but because of the 'machinery' they have elaborated and controlled, their hierarchical system, their extremely clever tactics, their knowledge of human nature and their wise use of human weaknesses in ruling over believers." Ecclesiasticism without Christianity, the discipline of a monastic rule, not for God's sake or in order to achieve personal salvation, but for the sake of the State and for the greater glory and power of the demagogue turned Leader -- this was the goal toward which the systematic moving of the masses was to lead.'
16
Trump is not an evangelical. Believe me.
9
I guess the hypocrisy cuts both ways: all the self-righteous readers who are now pouring out scorn, mocking and hatred against Christians in these comments are the same people who would be outraged if this venom was being spewed out against any other religion or group. Humanity is in a very sad sate indeed.
We don't scorn Christians, we scorn hypocrites who claim to be Christians while they spew lies and hate speech. See the difference?
11
I agree that we should should scorn lies and hate speech. But many of the comments are maligning an entire group and painting evangelicalism with a broad brush. It’s not the right approach, I believe. It only adds to the current toxic state of affairs. Too much hatred on all sides.
22
Get over it. Evangelical supporters of this grotesque president deserve no patience. They can only be maligned because they are malignant. And malicious. And stupendously hypocritical. And their beliefs (yours too?) are absurd and damaging to civil society.
Enough with false equivalence. "Both sides" are not doing it.
1
God help America---on all counts---if there is a god.
And whose side is He or She on?
We have a Constitution—but how much protection does it actually give?
4
Well hypocrisy is no stranger to religion. Evangelicals have put the lie to their claims of righteousness. A claim that was false at its inception.
5
There isn't much difference between a great deal of Douthat's musings and what is described here...I'm having a difficult time with all of Christianity right now.
5
When your life blood is propaganda, you have to be all in. The more the better.
And CBN, Fox, et al are some of the best -- just like a morning tweet from trump. Fake and/or lying and disparaging of facts.
The circle remains unbroken -- they cover for trump and he kowtows to them. What a great time to be an American!
13
I suppose it is Mr. Brody's and CBN's business if they want to bargain away their credibility for a few moments of faux power with Mephistopheles. Are they aware that credibility is the only power religion has, and once it's gone...well, the bonfire of vanities awaits to render all that power meaningless.
11
Donald Trump is certainly delivering the goods for his evangelical supporters - despite Jesus' admonition that "my kingdom is not of this world'.
Then again, Christian evangelicals of the Pat Robertson variety have always tend to pick and choose among verses in the Bible, in an effort to justify just about anything they want.
The larger problems for these evangelicals is that the separation of church and state is intended to protect religious communities from becoming corrupted by lying with Caesar - and Trump ain't no Constantine or Marcus Aurelius. Trump is a Caligula or Nero.
You can argue that Christianity began to go horribly amiss with the Romanization of the early church; but these evangelicals are taking this corruption process to extremes!
19
I thought the so-called president was trying to position himself as a Christian.
Why does he cater so much to this Evangelical cult?
13
For the votes.
8
Because of they're gullibility, they're belief in fairy tales, and are anxious to be led.
4
A big percentage of these "evangelicals" are Dominionists, and their goal is to have dominion over the rest of us.
I’ll stay in the Judeo Christian vein and just say I await the day when this Babylon falls.
21
Trump and the evangelicals deserve each other as fellow ignorant fanaticals.
15
Donald Trump trashes Christian values on a daily basis.
53
Evangelicals have given up all pretense of anything resembling "Christian values".
So much for separation of church and state. I guess we are the Christian States of America now?
15
Mr. Brody is not a journalist and the Christian Broadcasting Network doesn't do news, journalism or facts. It does on the other hand broadcast christian conservative propaganda while allowing its founder Pat Robinson to continue to spew his absurd nonsense such as "(T)he feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." –Pat Robertson That one of its so called journalists should be another sycophant / confidant of Donald Trump is the most natural thing in the world. Right next to Fox & Friends for "news".
280
The Evangelical positions on various or their social desires gets a good deal of coverage, but that they are thought to earnestly pray for, and in fact do earnestly pray for, and hope to live to see, the the death and destruction of all non-believers, that would be anyone who is not an Evangelical, gets no mention. This seems to me to be a dangerous omission. Praying for Armageddon is a dangerous thing. A persons actions are guided by that persons earnest and often repeated prayers, regardless of God's or no-gods response or non-response. We, don't want Armageddon in our lifetime, or our childrens' lifetime, or any lifetime, should free to, and should indeed, talk to them about that practice and belief. All god fearing religions that I am aware of have some saying that goes like this, "The hand of God is not to be tempted." That seems like a good idea to me.
10
The one they call Jesus shall condemn this "Brody" to eternal damnation
4
evangelicals have as much credibility as trump, putin or netanyahu.
16
Paula White is a disgrace. Unfortunately she has too much power and influence on Trump. How many approvals has he sought from her on policy? So sad and so scary.
13
Mr. Brody needs to beware of false gods. Words of " God gave access" to key members of this administration sends me into the nonbelievers realm. How can I respect or believe in this reporter's work or his organization's credibility? Reporting is about facts, not belief.
10
This only proves the point that evangelicals are all about hypocrisy and the almighty dollar. If they were truly "religious" they would never support Trump or anyone who deals with him. It's all about outlawing abortion and the Supreme Court.
15
It won't long before Trump apologizes for his sins and says that he is "born again."
3
"news through a biblical worldview". WHAT??
This statement alone is evidence of the hypocrisy of the evangelical right. It took me over 20 years to come out of this 'group' and see the 'light'. All my life I heard about living life with moral integrity and how as a Christian we are supposed to do the right thing, even when no-one is watching. Tell me how this man child has promoted morality or God's grace in any way. Even though I separated myself from their narrow application of God's love long ago, I had (past tense) retained some form of respect for their personal beliefs. That last ounce of respect disappeared the day THEY voted in the one man that is the living example of EVERYTHING they say they oppose. So much for Christianity, You have absolutely zero street cred left. Forget telling it on the mountain, it's just going to fall flat on the valley floor.
61
Evangelicals would be perfectly content with a dictatorship or autocratic form of government provided it enforced their particular dogma on non-believers.
The rank and file are lockstep in unison with the capitalistic Christianity belief system of their particular evangelical minister who is in lock step with the tithing prosperity doctrine that enriches himself and his family.
The only connection with the teaching of Jesus is lip-service in attempts to created an impression that that particular evangelical leader speaks with the voice and authority of a Jesus that would never have known them except as a pharisee or money-changer.
115
Spot on. It's Chri$tianity
4
I am shocked that the "Christian" Broadcasting Network would cozy up to this administration. Donald Trump is the antithesis of a good Christian with his Access Hollywood comments, crass materialism, lack of compassion for immigrants and refugees... In today's gospel John 15:9-17, Jesus' command to his disciples is "... love one another". How does Donald Trump measure up?
127
He loves as many as possible and pays them not to discuss what happened.
13
Shock comes from not keeping informed. There is nothing new here, except to people who haven't known what was going on for decades. I admit it's easy not to know; the mainstream media don't keep a steady eye on such things.
10
Trump is their means of ensuring Armageddon and the Second Coming. This is why holy-roller Mike Pence has hooked his wagon to the Trump train.
1
Ugh!
"“The access has been phenomenal,” Mr. Brody said later in an interview. “I’m very appreciative to God for allowing it.”"
I would suggest to believers that it is not god - quite the reverse - who is "allowing" it. A careful perusal of religious texts would make it clear that the goals of the entities providing access are power and wealth, bullying and cheating. Jesus would have a few choice words:
Whited sepulchers
Hypocrites
Moneychangers in the temple
Casting the first stone
It's all very fine to work up a frenzy and repent, but repentance has to be honest. Trump's is not.
And Pence's hypocrisy is legion, he's almost worse. His naked ambition for power has put the Kochtopus in line for the presidency.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/23/the-danger-of-president-pence
"Marc Short ... Pence’s chief of staff at the Republican Conference. Short had grown up in moneyed conservative circles in Virginia, where his father had helped finance the growth of the Republican Party ... A former White House colleague described Short to me as “a pod person” who “really delivered Pence to the Kochs.”
"the Checks & Balances Project hadn’t detected “much money going from the Kochs to Pence before he promoted the ‘No Climate Tax’ pledge.” Afterward, “he was the Kochs’ guy, and they’ve been showering him with money ever since.” ...“He could see a pathway to the Presidency with them behind him.”"
60
“I report the news and I analyze the news based on what evangelicals are saying and thinking out there in the heartland,” he said. “It is a hybrid, for sure, but it is definitely more analysis.”
Is it reporting news when you strip out the facts and play to a base with extreme views that don't align with religious teachings? These conservatives pass judgement on anyone that doesn't agree with their religious stance, anyone with a different view is judged, which I'm pretty sure is something the bible explicitly tells you not to do. They willfully make the choice to accept this version of "fake news". They blindly support a President who has committed the most sinful of activities. I for one can not understand how this aligns with Christian values, in a society that was in part formed to escape religious persecution. This is what hypocrisy looks like.
159
Interesting set of articles. About the US embassy in Jerusalem, I posted that the evangelicals won.
Checking in a little later, I see not only is Pence and the evangelicals planning their own election win here in the states, the evangelicals are already planted firmly in the WH, perhaps to help Trump or to keep an eye on him so they can win with Pence.
Horrific.
Vote Democratic and prevent the theocracy.
159
Its a very sad story because there is no belief in real religion, it is about power and the dollar. These religious men who care for no one but themselves have thrown religious truths to the side in order to be in bed with Trump. It will take decades for normal people who think to believe in anything they say. God works in mysterious ways these fake ministers better look out. Remember God doesn't like ugly.
85
There is no such thing as Real religion. Jesus, allah or the devil are as likely as the tooth fairy or the easter bunny.
As Likely as all the other gods You don't believe in.
13
Trailbreakr - There may not be a real god but religion, the belief in some type of deity is very real, all too real in many cases.
I wish I could agree that "God doesn't like ugly", but the evidence, if you believe in God, is otherwise.
3
It is always good to have a hypocrite reporter interview a hypocrite president.
How anyone can write anything good about a person who treats members of the opposite sex and a good portion of this world like they're trash is beyond me.
107
If Trump believes in God I’m a banana.
230
Trump believes God is a means to boost his ego.
5
I understand where Mr. Brody is coming from and the useful service he provides to the evangelical community. What I don't understand is his audience's dismissal of some of the things the President has done or said. He is obviously pushing their agenda, but does that mean he should get a pass on having affairs, making payoffs to keep people quiet, his misogyny and some of his comments concerning those less fortunate than he is? I guess in this case the belief is the ends justify the means?
45
As long as the president isn’t black or a women then the folks he broadcasts too are fine as there’d be rending of garments and gnashing of teeth if obama or hrc had done or said anything that dt Mussolini has.
Looking forward to watching St Peter question these utter hypocrites at the Pearly Gates.
10
“Our audience isn’t going to want me to really ask about Russia or Stormy Daniels. They are just not going to want me to ask.”
By "our audience" he means Trump, Donald J.
104
Hmmmm....nothing like separation of church and state. Also, I can't help but wonder if this man had taken a liking to Obama in the same way. Obama was seen in church more times than Trump, the "anointed One". Would there have been same such support from the evangelical base?
22
Can you picture Trump singing "Amazing Grace" in a church after a shooting? I doubt he even knows the words.
15
Imagine President Kennedy inviting a Catholic access of this sort in the White House (and I’m not even addressing the decided elimination of church and state in Trump’s White House). He can’t be jailed any sooner in my mind, especially considering the crap show going on with the embassy move to Jerusalem. Policy is now in the hands of fundamentalist evangelicals in the U.S. If there isn’t an uptick in other fundamentalist religious violence around the world I will be astonished.
47
“Our audience isn’t going to want me to really ask about Russia or Stormy Daniels. They are just not going to want me to ask.” If David Brody is a journalist then his job is to ask the hard questions, not feed his audience only what they want to hear. But I suspect that he understands full well that "being God's megaphone" is propaganda, not reporting. But it's OK because it's holy propaganda.
Mr. Brody, it is the height of hubris to think that what you do is somehow blessed. Have you forgotten that, according to your favorite book, all people are fallible? Have you ever considered that you might have an imperfect understanding of what God wants? Or are you the next Messiah?
Let me remind you that not everyone believes what you believe, and in the US we are free to disagree about such matters. What you and Trump are doing is what the Founding Fathers were hoping to prevent when they tried to separate Church and State — throwing the government's weight behind one particular view of religion. Jefferson must be rolling over in his grave.
214
" Evangelical Journalist ". Now that's an oxymoron, emphasis on the moron. Seriously.
217
They don't think the phrase "Creation Science" is laughable either. They'll swear that up is down if some con-man tells them it's God's will.
1
"“The access has been phenomenal,” Mr. Brody said later in an interview. “I’m very appreciative to God for allowing it.”"
So gate-keeper John Kelly is known as God to insiders?
86
"God's truths," say Brody. I guess that's the evangelical equivalent of Alternative Facts.
98
Evangelical audience he depends on ..
to believe his constant and daily dose of lying, and to spread the 'good cheer' among the rest of us.
It's a tough job, buy any good hypocrite should be up to the task.
13
Mark 12:38-40
In His teaching He was saying: "Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation." Seems to fit.
150
"Evangelical journalist" is an oxymoron.
18
Evangelicals hate democracy. And they have no problem exploiting its weaknesses to destroy it.
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." -- Misattributed to Sinclair Lewis (but true nonetheless)
"This will always remain one of the best jokes of democracy—that it gave its deadly enemies the means by which it was destroyed." -- Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945
35
It is sheer and utter hypocrisy, for the evangelicals to love somebody who is as mean-spirited and vindictive, as Trump.
74
Rio. Amen
11
Yeah, nothing more joyful than making a buck out of peddling religion.
20
DR: You are so right! Time to watch the old movie "Elmer Gantry" with Burt Lancaster.
Good company for each other - hypocrites. No matter. The afterlife they believe in will reward them accordingly.
27
Mr. Brody asked VP Pence if he and his wife were preparing for the rapture, had ever communicated directly with God as had G.W. Bush, or had ever seen actual demons hovering around the head of president Trump in the oval office. Mr. Brody asked VP Pence if he thought the president would consider mass faith healing to overcome the opioid crisis, arming pastors and priests to safeguard congregations and waging a holy war against the heathen Muslim masses.
6
Wow. I hope you are being ironical. That's quite a reveal!
10