I am currently writing a new book. The working title is “Jesus and Fascism: Donald Trump, the MAGA Republicans, and White Christian Nationalism.” For now, I’ll just share the introduction with you.
My unique contribution is the idea that Jesus faced a similar situation in his time as we are facing in the United States today with racially-pure Judean nationalists who wanted a strong-man leader to Make Israel Great Again.
introduction
Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.
— John Lewis (1940–2020)Those who choose, even on a small scale, to love in the midst of hatred and fear are the people who offer true hope to our world.
— Henri Nouwen (1932–1996)
I awoke on the morning of Wednesday, November 6, 2024, to the realization that the twice-impeached and criminally-indicted former president Donald Trump was elected to the presidency once again. For a while, it was easy to dismiss Donald Trump’s 2016 victory as a fluke. Eight years later, that’s now impossible. Some observers might think Donald Trump’s first term represented rock bottom. Just wait. I think we are in for a tough fight.
At first, I could not believe it, nor could I understand it. I was shocked, confused, and utterly dismayed. Why would the American public vote this way? What did they see in this man? Firmly ensconced in my blue liberal bubble, I thought the majority of Americans were better than this. It appears I was wrong.
