Life can be stranger than fiction. Donald "Jesus" Trump is once again rallying nationwide. The new campaign slogan is "Save America". Thousands of followers are packing the rallies. The movement seems unstoppable to secure the Republican re-nomination of Trump, giving him at least a 50% chance of reclaiming the White House in the fall of 2024. Well before that, Republicans are well positioned to reclaim Congress this year.
TakeSlap at TakeSlap.com is a blackness food for thought writing project. We blog words together for fun and entertainment. Reading this blog may make you smarter. Read it at your own risk. Share it with others only if you dare. Beware. They may want to slap you.
Below are ten similarities between Jesus Christ and Trump.
1. Saviors
Both Jesus and Trump are the saviors of their followers. To obtain followers, Jesus proclaimed himself as the savior of humanity. To obtain followers, Trump proclaims himself as the savior of America.
2. Storytellers
Humans are storytelling primates with an unbelievable imagination to create stories. In antiquity, people invented weird gods with bizarre super powers. Judaism innovated the religious invention by consolidating all deities into one male god.
Jesus sold the story that he knew more about god than anyone else because he was the son of god sent to down to save the world. Trump sells the story that he knows more about everything than anyone else because he is great and will save America. Unbelievably, followers buy into those stories.
3. Believers
A sucker is born every minute. People in Jesus's times had been indoctrinated from childhood to believe that if they did not behave according to specific religious norms, god would punished them. Conversely, if they followed the rules, they would achieve salvation.
People are prone to believe all sort of stories that bring images of pain, and all sort of crazy promises that bring images of pleasure. That was the case over two thousand years ago when Jesus was rallying for followers in the Middle East. That is the case today when Trump is rallying for followers in the United States. Nothing new under the sun.
4. Pain and Pleasure
We humans, like all other animals, are wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure. Our ancestors with that pain/pleasure trait or predisposition survived. Therefore, the trait or predisposition survived in us.
Jesus relieved the pain of his followers, and promised the pleasure of salvation. Trump relieves the fear of his followers, and offers the pleasure of saving America.
In the case of Jesus, no longer would his followers need to live in fear of the wrath of a merciless god. They could enjoy life knowing that god was a caring father who loved them unconditionally. To claim the salvation ticket to heaven, all people needed to do was abandon reason, suspend disbelief, and follow Jesus onto the next rally.
In the case of Trump, no longer do his followers need to face the complexities of the world. They can get relax and enjoy, knowing that Trump knows it all, is never wrong, and can solve all problems. All they have to do is abandon reason, suspend disbelief, and support Trump.
Both Jesus and Trump exploited the pain / pleasure mechanism of life. Jesus's innovation was to rebrand god into a loving figure and sell himself as the key to obtain that love. Trump's innovation is to simplify everything with alternative facts and sell himself as the key to prosperity.
5. Faith
The cult of Jesus Christ (Christianity) became even more popular after his public crucifixion. His followers kept spreading stories about miracles including walking on water, turning water into wine, curing all sorts of terrible diseases, and even defeating death by resurrection and flying away to heaven. The cult of Trump is becoming more popular after his public defeat in 2020. His followers keep spreading lies about stolen elections, about Trump knowing it all, and always being right.
6. Suppression
Initially, authorities tried to suppress Christianity. The more they tried, the more it went viral, grew like weed, and spread like wildfire. Rulers eventually adopted Christianity and made it official, wishing that they could reap some benefits and control a piece of the action.
Initially, Republicans tried to suppress Trump. The more they tried, the more Trump's popularity went viral, grew like a weed, and spread like wildfire. Realizing that they could not beat him, they joined him and made him official wishing that they can reap some benefits and control a piece of the action.
7. Peace and love
Jesus preached a message of brotherly love. It will all be peace and love if you follow me was the promise. Trump preaches a message of whiteness American peace and love. It will all be fun and games for whites and their pets if you follow me is Trump's promise.
Jesus preached a populist message where the oppressed masses got to overturn the illiberal religious regime of the rulers of the day. Trump preaches a populist message where racists and conservatives get to overturn the liberal regime of the left.
8. Populist Exceptionalism
Jesus preached populist human exceptionalism. Every human is the blessed son or daughter of god. Every Christian can achieve salvation by simply following Jesus Christ, remaining forever faithful no matter what, and believing in the only one god invented by Judaism.
Trump preaches American exceptionalism or at least white exceptionalism ("whiteceptionalism"). Every American who believes in whiteness is entitled to greatness provided that they follow Trump, remaining loyal no matter what, and believe in the one and only Trump.
9. Mental health
Today, if someones tells stories about miracles, prophecies, and celestial visions the person is diagnosed with schizophrenia or other mental health problems. In the times of Jesus, mental health was unknown. Trump could be diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions.
Once you train a brain to suspend disbelief by the power of faith, half of the battle for indoctrination is won. Believing that a middle Eastern man was the son of god and can save the world opens the door to believing that a Russian kleptocracy-dealing developer can save America.
10. Alternative facts
Ever since humans began to evolve in Africa, we have been living in fear of the unknown. Fear is painful. Humans invented the gods to cope with the pain. Where human knowledge ends, it's where the realm of mighty deities begin. Almighty gods are the greatest human invention of all times. The simplicity of believing in gods help us cope with the complexities of the human condition.
Believing in tales that cannot be either proven or disproven allow believers to cope with the discomfort of ignorance and uncertainty. Lies, stories, and alternative facts can prove more pleasurable than the truth or the harsh depictions of it.
Both Jesus and Trump mastered the art of playing with the fears of their followers and fixing them with convenient stories and alternative facts. Believing in Jesus and believing in Trump are different sports, but similar exercise of the mind. Believing in alternative facts allow followers to escape reality and get high on pleasant fantasies about salvation.
What do you think?
Comments
Post a Comment