I read your article, then went to shop at the local grocery store. In the produce was a high school kid stocking carrots, proudly sporting a wild curly mullet hairdo and earrings. (Took me right back to 1980’s high school!) An elderly lady was asking the stocker to go find the specific carrots she was seeking. This woman then turned to me with an exasperated look and said “I don’t know if the stocker was a boy, girl or what the heck IT was!” I put on my brightest smile and calmly said “How about a fellow human?” She looked confused and I repeated “The stocker was a fellow human being. Like you and me.” She stared, then pushed her cart away.
A little victory in basic reminders of decency. Thanks John for always nudging our better angels!”
I put your description of the 'deity' MAGAs worship ("The God MAGA Americans do seem to love is the vengeful, joyless, ...") into Copilot, and it said this,
"That description doesn’t point to a specific deity from any traditional pantheon—it’s more of a distorted reflection of divinity shaped by human projection. It reads like a critique of how people can twist the idea of a god into a mirror of their own worst traits: vengeance, cruelty, hatred.
This kind of portrayal often appears in:
🔥 Literature and Philosophy
- William Blake’s “Nobodaddy”: A satirical figure representing a tyrannical, joyless god created by oppressive religion.
- Nietzsche’s critique of Christianity: Where he argued that some believers worship a god that reflects their resentment and moral inversion.
- George Orwell’s dystopias: Where authority is deified in grotesque, violent ways.
🕊️ Theological Commentary
- Some theologians warn against creating a “god in our own image”—especially one that sanctifies hatred. This is a recurring theme in critiques of religious extremism, where divine authority is used to justify violence.
🧙♂️ Fictional Deities
- In fantasy or horror genres, gods like Moloch, Ares (in some interpretations), or Lovecraftian entities are portrayed as bloodthirsty or indifferent to human suffering.
- In video games or comics, gods like Kratos (as a god) or Darkseid embody vengeance and malice.
So rather than describing a real deity, this seems to be a warning against idolatry of the worst kind—where people fashion a god that validates their own cruelty. It’s not theology; it’s psychology."
James, I've discussed the fact that Hebrew God actually represents a lot of the dieties you mention here, Moloch, Ares, Darkseid. Its titled, "The Two Gods of the Bible" and how angry God of the Old Testament turned into the loving God of the New Testament: https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/the-two-gods-of-the-bible
It’s not so much that God Godself changes from the time of the Old Testament to the New Testament, but that people’s understanding of God, of what God is doing, of how God relates to human beings, changes over time, and continues to do so. God doesn’t change, people do.
That seems to be what they have done with trump. Worshiping the golden calf and indulging in all forms if hatred and cruelty, maybe they even have drunken orgies like in the bible. But there is no mises to come save them, and they are just wandering in the wilderness continuing to devolve.
I watched the latest memorial service/massive political rally/fireworks display and heard our leader say he hated his opponents and did not wish them well. I also heard him say at another rally how he “hates Democrats.” Tell me this is Christian and that we have a good role model in office leading our country.
Seminary is where I was confronted with 2 different Jesus's, one is Paul's Jesus aka Christ Crucified and the other is Jesus himself as told by the four Gospels.
I took a 3rd Jesus option presented my senior year, the Jesus of Liberation as taught to me by Father Jon Sobrino and Bishop Gomez of El Salvador. That Jesus was born out of the struggles, suffering and death of the poor peoples of Central America who were brutalized by the dictatorship which, of course, Ronald Reagan supported, trained and funded!!!
History repeats. Too bad we cannot learn from it!!! But that would require critical thinking, research and learning!!! *sigh*
Amen. Violence begets violence. There is no love there just a "virtue" of hatred, which is of course not a virtue at all. Paul said peace, patience, kindess, goodness, self control those are virtues. It is easier to hate and fear the different than embrace and love what truly makes us great.
I certainly agree that many of the MAGA leaders, politicians & religious, Christian Nationalist propagandists fit this description you've outlined here. However, many of their followers are just fearful, undereducated & perhaps simple minded people easily susceptible to manipulation by the architects of the radical right wing. This is just another variation on the Patriarchal, White Supremacist, authoritarian movements that have been around for centuries. The current iteration has been developed and nurtured by the right wing media and the billionaires dark money in our political system. Jane Mayer details the 40 year history of the Koch Brothers and their super wealthy, radical-Libertarian-Capitalist friends in her 2016 book: "Dark Money: the Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right." These oligarchs are the real cause of the decline of democracy because of their disdain for Federal taxes and regulations imposed on their corporate greed. As the old saying goes, if you want to get to the root of most social, political and religious conflicts, just follow the money and who controls it.
So true, maga (I refuse to capitalize it) has worshipped a god in their own image since the felon came down that fake golden escalator. I’m so glad my church preaches about love and ‘Imago Dei’. I believe violence never solved anything, it just makes everything worse.
I read your article, then went to shop at the local grocery store. In the produce was a high school kid stocking carrots, proudly sporting a wild curly mullet hairdo and earrings. (Took me right back to 1980’s high school!) An elderly lady was asking the stocker to go find the specific carrots she was seeking. This woman then turned to me with an exasperated look and said “I don’t know if the stocker was a boy, girl or what the heck IT was!” I put on my brightest smile and calmly said “How about a fellow human?” She looked confused and I repeated “The stocker was a fellow human being. Like you and me.” She stared, then pushed her cart away.
A little victory in basic reminders of decency. Thanks John for always nudging our better angels!”
I love your answer to that lady. I hope it ignites a little spark of thoughtfulness that grows in her.
Thank you! I’m hoping so too. A lot more effective than a lecture about pronouns.
I put your description of the 'deity' MAGAs worship ("The God MAGA Americans do seem to love is the vengeful, joyless, ...") into Copilot, and it said this,
"That description doesn’t point to a specific deity from any traditional pantheon—it’s more of a distorted reflection of divinity shaped by human projection. It reads like a critique of how people can twist the idea of a god into a mirror of their own worst traits: vengeance, cruelty, hatred.
This kind of portrayal often appears in:
🔥 Literature and Philosophy
- William Blake’s “Nobodaddy”: A satirical figure representing a tyrannical, joyless god created by oppressive religion.
- Nietzsche’s critique of Christianity: Where he argued that some believers worship a god that reflects their resentment and moral inversion.
- George Orwell’s dystopias: Where authority is deified in grotesque, violent ways.
🕊️ Theological Commentary
- Some theologians warn against creating a “god in our own image”—especially one that sanctifies hatred. This is a recurring theme in critiques of religious extremism, where divine authority is used to justify violence.
🧙♂️ Fictional Deities
- In fantasy or horror genres, gods like Moloch, Ares (in some interpretations), or Lovecraftian entities are portrayed as bloodthirsty or indifferent to human suffering.
- In video games or comics, gods like Kratos (as a god) or Darkseid embody vengeance and malice.
So rather than describing a real deity, this seems to be a warning against idolatry of the worst kind—where people fashion a god that validates their own cruelty. It’s not theology; it’s psychology."
"
James, I've discussed the fact that Hebrew God actually represents a lot of the dieties you mention here, Moloch, Ares, Darkseid. Its titled, "The Two Gods of the Bible" and how angry God of the Old Testament turned into the loving God of the New Testament: https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/the-two-gods-of-the-bible
It’s not so much that God Godself changes from the time of the Old Testament to the New Testament, but that people’s understanding of God, of what God is doing, of how God relates to human beings, changes over time, and continues to do so. God doesn’t change, people do.
That seems to be what they have done with trump. Worshiping the golden calf and indulging in all forms if hatred and cruelty, maybe they even have drunken orgies like in the bible. But there is no mises to come save them, and they are just wandering in the wilderness continuing to devolve.
I meant moses. Sorry I have injuries that effect my fine motor skills and I can't seem to proof read every word.
The best line from this article: “I love this country enough to believe that no one here should have fewer rights than I do.
I wish MAGA Americans had the same love.“
I watched the latest memorial service/massive political rally/fireworks display and heard our leader say he hated his opponents and did not wish them well. I also heard him say at another rally how he “hates Democrats.” Tell me this is Christian and that we have a good role model in office leading our country.
You know the answer to that.
Seminary is where I was confronted with 2 different Jesus's, one is Paul's Jesus aka Christ Crucified and the other is Jesus himself as told by the four Gospels.
I took a 3rd Jesus option presented my senior year, the Jesus of Liberation as taught to me by Father Jon Sobrino and Bishop Gomez of El Salvador. That Jesus was born out of the struggles, suffering and death of the poor peoples of Central America who were brutalized by the dictatorship which, of course, Ronald Reagan supported, trained and funded!!!
History repeats. Too bad we cannot learn from it!!! But that would require critical thinking, research and learning!!! *sigh*
Amen. Violence begets violence. There is no love there just a "virtue" of hatred, which is of course not a virtue at all. Paul said peace, patience, kindess, goodness, self control those are virtues. It is easier to hate and fear the different than embrace and love what truly makes us great.
Great message. No truer words ever written.
I certainly agree that many of the MAGA leaders, politicians & religious, Christian Nationalist propagandists fit this description you've outlined here. However, many of their followers are just fearful, undereducated & perhaps simple minded people easily susceptible to manipulation by the architects of the radical right wing. This is just another variation on the Patriarchal, White Supremacist, authoritarian movements that have been around for centuries. The current iteration has been developed and nurtured by the right wing media and the billionaires dark money in our political system. Jane Mayer details the 40 year history of the Koch Brothers and their super wealthy, radical-Libertarian-Capitalist friends in her 2016 book: "Dark Money: the Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right." These oligarchs are the real cause of the decline of democracy because of their disdain for Federal taxes and regulations imposed on their corporate greed. As the old saying goes, if you want to get to the root of most social, political and religious conflicts, just follow the money and who controls it.
So true, maga (I refuse to capitalize it) has worshipped a god in their own image since the felon came down that fake golden escalator. I’m so glad my church preaches about love and ‘Imago Dei’. I believe violence never solved anything, it just makes everything worse.
Exactly on point!
W should love with a joyous love as Jesus would love. We are all beautiful and worthy in his sight.
Thank you.
Saving this to read over and over again to remind myself over and over again to go past the hate.
Well said.