Jonathan Kieperman (Lomez)

So since he lost the 2020 election, this interim period where he was beset by these lawsuits and he was threatened with prison time and he was shot at and nearly killed.

So since he lost the 2020 election, this interim period where he was beset by these lawsuits and he was threatened with prison time and he was shot at and nearly killed.

We can look back at his past and see a new narrative about his life that suggests the possibility of this kind of rebirth from this civilizational exhaustion that I think is really the sort of core description of our present moment now. In this essay, I also point out this concept called charisma hunger. And there was a sociologist from the middle 20th century, Eric Erickson, quite prominent.

We can look back at his past and see a new narrative about his life that suggests the possibility of this kind of rebirth from this civilizational exhaustion that I think is really the sort of core description of our present moment now. In this essay, I also point out this concept called charisma hunger. And there was a sociologist from the middle 20th century, Eric Erickson, quite prominent.

And he had this idea that in the modern world, and this has a lot to do with actually the loss of sort of religious conviction and religious life, that we were in search of these values. figures, these heroes. I'm very aware of the possibility that I am succumbing to this charisma hunger that Ericsson identified decades ago.

And he had this idea that in the modern world, and this has a lot to do with actually the loss of sort of religious conviction and religious life, that we were in search of these values. figures, these heroes. I'm very aware of the possibility that I am succumbing to this charisma hunger that Ericsson identified decades ago.

Nonetheless, I do think, and I think the people's reaction to Trump, their impression of him, I saw for the other day, did you see this wrestler who won the NCAA title? And he's draped in the American flag, this gladiator. And he gives this great big hug to Donald Trump.

Nonetheless, I do think, and I think the people's reaction to Trump, their impression of him, I saw for the other day, did you see this wrestler who won the NCAA title? And he's draped in the American flag, this gladiator. And he gives this great big hug to Donald Trump.

And in so many ways, Trump is this kind of great father of the American people or certain segment of the American people who have embraced him. And he's not just a politician. He's not just a president. He's not just a TV star. And to my mind, that speaks to this mythical character.

And in so many ways, Trump is this kind of great father of the American people or certain segment of the American people who have embraced him. And he's not just a politician. He's not just a president. He's not just a TV star. And to my mind, that speaks to this mythical character.

Yeah, I mean, I think that's fair. And I'd also say for others who share your view here in this conflict between your sort of religious convictions and what Trump might represent, this is squarely within our sort of civil religious tradition.

Yeah, I mean, I think that's fair. And I'd also say for others who share your view here in this conflict between your sort of religious convictions and what Trump might represent, this is squarely within our sort of civil religious tradition.

I mean, if you think about the way that for most of our history, really up until like the Obama years, we thought about our founding figures and the way that they're presented in art. And the way they're written about in our sort of political and sort of civil religious texts, they are quite explicitly sort of divinely guided.

I mean, if you think about the way that for most of our history, really up until like the Obama years, we thought about our founding figures and the way that they're presented in art. And the way they're written about in our sort of political and sort of civil religious texts, they are quite explicitly sort of divinely guided.

I mean, the hand of God is like reaching down and moving Thomas Jefferson, who also was not, you know. religious in any meaningful respect, and George Washington and John Adams, et cetera, and sort of placing them, you know, the hand of fate is on top of them.

I mean, the hand of God is like reaching down and moving Thomas Jefferson, who also was not, you know. religious in any meaningful respect, and George Washington and John Adams, et cetera, and sort of placing them, you know, the hand of fate is on top of them.

And so it's not these these things like to imagine that Trump is reviving that tradition or is is now occupying that same role is not in contradiction to this long tradition of civil religion that we've had previously. It might require more proof for you. You might need to see better evidence.

And so it's not these these things like to imagine that Trump is reviving that tradition or is is now occupying that same role is not in contradiction to this long tradition of civil religion that we've had previously. It might require more proof for you. You might need to see better evidence.

First, let me start by saying I don't think actually Adolf Hitler was a great artist. I think he was actually deficient and technically deficient in certain ways that are very obvious when you look at his painting. Technically.

First, let me start by saying I don't think actually Adolf Hitler was a great artist. I think he was actually deficient and technically deficient in certain ways that are very obvious when you look at his painting. Technically.