Left-wing governments are also in the thrall of the religious right | Peter Goers
Left-wing governments are in the thrall of the religious right just like swamp-dwelling Trump and the PM who told Aussies to trust God before his government, writes Peter Goers.
Opinion
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Democracy is fraught and falling apart. Religious faith is fraught and falling apart. We’re all going to hell in a handbasket with Donald Trump and the noisome religious right.
Hypocrisy and intolerance rule. Christian observance plummets in Western society yet the radical Christian Right is a minority calling the shots – literally in the US with an appalling lack of gun control.
Trump is a moral swamp yet he was put into power (and probably will be again) by Christians who merrily ignore his many indiscretions and their own faith because he pretends to share their beliefs – anti-abortion, anti-gay, and pro guns and pro racial division. Trump won and will win again by pretending not to be a politician and because he’s rich. Americans equate wealth with success and success with wealth.
Despite all Biblical advice to the contrary, pentecostal Christians have been sold the prosperity doctrine. Pastor Brian Houston formerly of the international mega Hillsong Church wrote a book called You Need More Money.
Pentecostal PM Scott Morrison wanted his friend and mentor Brian Houston at the lavish state dinner Trump threw for Morrison.
If you are a Christian politician (and most are in Western democracies) you go out of your way to ignore the Biblical commandment exerting you not to lie. You love your neighbour only if they agree with you and are not a refugee, gay, trans or black.
Everything is worse in the US which is a democracy in its death throes and ripe for dictatorship.
The inexplicably popular Pastor Jack Hibbs shouts that gay and trans people are “demonic and satanic” (and also tautologous). They are motivated “only by sheer wanton lust” and “no family can come from them”.
There’s a lot to be said for sheer wanton lust but not for Pastor Hibbs. He also feels that Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi are the “antichrist”. Blah, blah, blah…..but this dangerous Christian was invited to open a session of the US Congress with prayers and was well-received.
America is a theocracy. Just like Iran but with a different theology. Americans have God on their money. The American God is money and hate. Trump’s God.
In Australia, professed Christian leaders gained power repeatedly by turning back boats full of refugees – some to their deaths.
Our leaders illegally preyed on our most vulnerable people – some to their deaths – in the iniquitous Robodebt scheme.
They told us they had God on their side.
After he was PM, Scott Morrison told us to trust God “because we don’t trust in governments”. Hardly a vote for democracy.
Left-wing governments are also in the thrall of the religious right. In SA, we have still not made the appalling and phoney gay conversion therapy (promoted by Christians) illegal as have other states.
There are many excellent Christians and many excellent people of no faith. Faith and democracy need less dogma, less elitism, less entitlement, more tolerance and more faith in people.
Without it, truth itself will be Trumped. And damned.
Peter Goers’ what’s hot, what’s not
The late, great Lowitja O’Donoghue was truly a person of the people. She had grace, wisdom, guts, a ready smile and respect in her heart. My favourite memory of that good lady is when The Advertiser did a series whereby journalists interviewed prominent people over lunch at a restaurant of their choice. The lavish food and wine consumed was duly listed. Journalist Kurtis Eichler took Lowitja O’Donoghue to her favourite restaurant - Barnacle Bills. She was of, for and with the people. Vale.
Peter.goers@news.com.au
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