This morning, I was watching an interview that Katie Couric conducted with Professor and author Timothy Snyder. The topic was Tr*mp’s self proclaimed deification. She was referencing his many and varied portrayals of himself as a divine character. Take the AI image of him dressed in a white robe, glowing hands outstretched over a bed ridden man, who looked like Jeffrey Epstein. When protests came in, even from his staunch supporters, he, of course, backpedaled, clarifying that he wasn’t portrayed as Jesus, but rather a doctor. Rumors are where that idea came from was that someone in his administration had said that the photo had been ‘doctored’ and his brain took a leap to mean that he looked like a doctor.
News flash, he’s not that either, even as he claims that he could be considered a doctor because he ‘makes people better.’ Is there anyone, including those who are vehemently MAGA who can say that their daily lives are actually better with him in office? Groceries, gas, car prices, utilities, health care costs are all higher than they were when he took office. Being at war or on the verge of war; how is that better? Job loss, services being cut; how is that better?
Then there’s the golden statue of Tr*mp, the many items he wants to be renamed in his honor, and the military parade which he reveled in. He makes it clear that his wish must be everyone’s command, no matter who it hurts.
His ongoing clash with the Pope takes it a step further as he seems to think he is better informed about religion than the pontiff. He has stated that he is certain that the American born Pope was chosen as a ‘gotcha’ to him and that he wasn’t in the White House, Pope Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.
Trump said to reporters he was “not a big fan” of the Pope, later adding on Truth Social that Leo was “weak” on crime and “terrible” for foreign policy.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country,” he added.
Sorry to give him the wakeup call, that he had no voice in the selection of the Pope. He doesn’t get to ‘want a Pope.’ If he is concerned about criminals in our country, he need look no further than his own mirror and around him at the cabinet that he did have a primary role in choosing.
As the interview with Snyder proceeded he said that “Trump isn’t fighting with Leo. He’s fighting with God. “Trump believes that if you are going to worship, you should worship Trump.” I wonder if that is why he speaks in the third person when referencing himself. Snyder stated the reality that Trump was not raised in a religious home, is by no means a Christian, has not read the Bible even though he says he has. Remember when he was asked his favorite passage, his response was, “I wouldn’t wanna get into it, because to me, that’s very personal.” I’m not sure he could recite a passage without choking on the words, unless it had to do with wrath, revenge or retribution.
When I think about the ‘God of my understanding,’ as is expressed in 12 step recovery communities, it’s not the concept of God that Tr*mp would glorify. I think of the qualities of love, compassion, healing, protection, upliftment, enlightenment, and inspiration. I consider a God that created the world (not necessarily in 6 days) and ‘all creatures great and small,’ as one not to be feared, or even worshipped. Why would an energy or entity who is omnipotent care about adoration, since I imagine that an ego would not be part of the make up of the Almighty?
The God I know and love is genderless and couldn’t care less about the gender of their creation. Many who express that they are religious would say that they believe that we were ‘made in the image and likeness of God’. If that is so, then why would anyone place men above women in the hierarchy of society? If that is so, how could a loving God create people who love those of any or all genders and then condemn them for it?
I would love to have a sit down conversation with people who place someone who is as unspiritual as they come (and if they are Christian, as un-Christlike as can be) on a pedestal when he has likely committed all of the Seven Deadly Sins. Let’s see…according to the Catholic Church, they are pride, envy, wrath, gluttony, lust, sloth and greed. Check, check, check, check, check, check annnnd check. I would be interested to hear their rationale.
I am an ordained Interfaith Minister who graduated from The New Seminary in 1999. I was raised Jewish with all of the cultural and religious implications. I claim no right to tell anyone what to believe spiritually. I declare that Love is my religion and God, by whatever name you use, is too vast to fit into any one box. I do take issue with anyone who says that their religion is the only one sanctioned and celebrated by God. I take issue with those who threaten hellfire and brimstone for those who express objection to the teachings, regardless of the particular religion.
I am a God loving and not God fearing person. Why in the name of all that is holy, would I worship a deeply flawed human being who weaponizes religion for his own benefit? Why would anyone?
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