As a small point, in a modest defense of the Puritans you mention: I would agree that Calvinists and their Puritan brethren tended to believe in 'the elect' and predestination, much as you suggest. But, crucially, there was significant debate amongst Puritans over whether one could actually know of one's 'election' until one actually faced God. In short, for all their faults, I'd submit that they deserve a bit more credit for being 'God-fearing.'
And those whom they deemed 'not-elect' they just exiled to Rhode Island.
This explains a puzzling interview of Qanon folk I saw. The woman claimed Democrats were evil full stop. The interviewer asked why. She sputtered before saying it was because they didn't follow the Constitution. I did not see what she was talking about based on how the actual Constitution is written (not to mention the fact that the GOP has ignored it at their pleasure). NOW I see the "constitution" she was talking about, and she definitely believed the non-followers deserved death (without trial or jury). The question is who will anyone keep them from grabbing and holding onto power in lieu of governing--and how. Although I once thought worship of the Second Amendment might be turned around if black people "open carried" automatic weapons around. I now see that these folks would use it to justify an all-out race war.
1) Here is the reason why the Republican party has gotten so radical: "Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them."
-- Barry Goldwater (yes, I know his campaign was the prologue to what we're seeing on the Right, but it's still a prescient quote)
2) I kinda object to the whole "white supremacy" angle offered in this piece and among "the Left" generally. I think a more accurate term is "conservative supremacy" or "conservative Christian supremacy". Plenty of non-whites support the conservative movement in its current form, which is heavy on "culture war".
Speaking of that, did you see the recent PRRI polling article about QANON believers (who overwhelmingly support Republicans, of course)? The group that leads the league in adherents wasn't the proverbial "white evangelical". Rather, it's Hispanic Christians (both evangelical and Catholic, although more evangelical). That's why I don't buy the conventional wisdom that the Christian Right is doomed to fail because it won't have enough white conservative Christians to continue the project. They're getting reinforcements from non-white groups-- especially Hispanics. (Hopefully I won't get called "racist" for pointing this out.)
"The Second Amendment can therefore be understood as a remedy to the crime, as a means of restoring a religious covenant..."
Back during the Dubya years someone coined the phrase "American Taliban" to describe what these people were morphing into. It stuck.
As a small point, in a modest defense of the Puritans you mention: I would agree that Calvinists and their Puritan brethren tended to believe in 'the elect' and predestination, much as you suggest. But, crucially, there was significant debate amongst Puritans over whether one could actually know of one's 'election' until one actually faced God. In short, for all their faults, I'd submit that they deserve a bit more credit for being 'God-fearing.'
And those whom they deemed 'not-elect' they just exiled to Rhode Island.
This explains a puzzling interview of Qanon folk I saw. The woman claimed Democrats were evil full stop. The interviewer asked why. She sputtered before saying it was because they didn't follow the Constitution. I did not see what she was talking about based on how the actual Constitution is written (not to mention the fact that the GOP has ignored it at their pleasure). NOW I see the "constitution" she was talking about, and she definitely believed the non-followers deserved death (without trial or jury). The question is who will anyone keep them from grabbing and holding onto power in lieu of governing--and how. Although I once thought worship of the Second Amendment might be turned around if black people "open carried" automatic weapons around. I now see that these folks would use it to justify an all-out race war.
Two things:
1) Here is the reason why the Republican party has gotten so radical: "Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them."
-- Barry Goldwater (yes, I know his campaign was the prologue to what we're seeing on the Right, but it's still a prescient quote)
2) I kinda object to the whole "white supremacy" angle offered in this piece and among "the Left" generally. I think a more accurate term is "conservative supremacy" or "conservative Christian supremacy". Plenty of non-whites support the conservative movement in its current form, which is heavy on "culture war".
Speaking of that, did you see the recent PRRI polling article about QANON believers (who overwhelmingly support Republicans, of course)? The group that leads the league in adherents wasn't the proverbial "white evangelical". Rather, it's Hispanic Christians (both evangelical and Catholic, although more evangelical). That's why I don't buy the conventional wisdom that the Christian Right is doomed to fail because it won't have enough white conservative Christians to continue the project. They're getting reinforcements from non-white groups-- especially Hispanics. (Hopefully I won't get called "racist" for pointing this out.)
https://www.prri.org/research/qanon-conspiracy-american-politics-report/
To blow Gods 'chosen' right out of the water, start here. http://www.energon.org.uk
To blow Gods 'chosen' right out of the water, start here. http://www.energon.org.uk
This was good, thank you