Will the ‘Real’ Demons Please Stand Up?

Something very disturbing — no, horrifying — is happening in the top ranks of the US military and the highest levels of our government. I’m referring to the rapid adoption of extreme right-wing “End Times theology” in matters ranging from the Iran war to Mideast politics to the “Donroe doctrine” to UFOs. Yes, this blitz even extends to UFOs (now called UAPs — unidentified anomalous phenomena), which these extremist Christians insist are controlled and operated by literal demons.

What these policy areas have in common, now, is that they are all being inundated — some would say, subverted and threatened — by an aggressive, militaristic “Christian” campaign bearing a striking resemblance to the Medieval crusades and holy wars. And this resemblance is neither superficial nor accidental.

Secretary of War (um, Defense) Pete Hegseth, Vice-President J.D. Vance, several top generals, and other high-ranking military and security advisors have come out in favor of a decisive “holy war” against Islam, based on their belief in so-called “end times” prophesies and their prediction of a final battle between the forces of good (White, “God-fearing” Christians) and the forces of evil (non-Christians, Muslims, Hindus, darker-skinned races, “space aliens,” liberals, Democrats, LGBTQ+ folks, etc.).

Armageddon and “The Rapture”

According to these “true believers,” this final battle — the Battle of Armageddon — will usher in the triumphant return of Christ, followed immediately by the glorious “Rapture.” Suddenly, all the good Christians will be wafted up to Heaven … while everyone else on the planet will be left behind and condemned to eternal, Hellish suffering.

I’ve written before about the incredible dangers posed by such “true believers” — and I’ve got to say that far-right (American) Christians’ fervent “End Times” beliefs and intentional incitement of war and violence scare the hell out of me.

Viewed through even a mildly rational lens, these beliefs are deeply hateful, intolerant, and destructive. These folks ostensibly ‘know’ that God favors them and will reward them, while punishing their non-Christian “enemies” with eternal torment. This is one of the cruelest and least loving belief systems I’ve ever encountered — coming from “loving Christians” who supposedly follow the Gospel of Love taught by Jesus.

It’s at once the height and deepest depth of hypocrisy.

The devastating merger of “End Times” theology and “American exceptionalism”

At the core of these “End Times” beliefs, and related policies and actions, is an accelerating process of loud demonization of non-Christians — a huge group that includes the vast majority of the world’s population. Here, again, as in recent US politics in general, we see an extremist, far-right minority working overtime to dominate US society and impose their will on everyone else (and the world) — if necessary, through violence.

That’s the terrifying thing about such “true believers.” They are willing to do, say, and enact anything to get their way, up to and including deception, direct aggression, violence, and war(s). They do not believe in modern liberal democracy or the rule of law. Instead, they desire — and are feverishly working toward — a strict theocratic state based on “biblical law,” in which men are superior to women, gay and lesbian relationships are abominations and “sins,” and the US has a God-given imperative to dominate the world.

The most alarming aspect of all this, however, is that “End Times” beliefs are being superimposed on many unrelated policy areas (including UAP research) and are now merging with arrogant “American exceptionalism”: the belief that the US was “chosen by God” to spread Christianity and “freedom,” even through geopolitical bullying, threats, blockades, violence, and war(s).

The fact is, far-right “End Times” beliefs are percolating through the top levels of US government, and extremist “End Timers” are increasingly seizing control. The resulting policies and multi-pronged actions are subverting US democracy, destabilizing the entire world order, and injecting threatened or actual violence/suffering into many “lesser” societies and nations — including Venezuela, Cuba, Greenland, Gaza, and, of course, Iran.

A fiendish, bizarre “double imperative”

In the eyes of these extremists, the US has a “double imperative” that demands aggressive action. We are supposed to dominate the world, especially the Western Hemisphere and all the nations in it, and are simultaneously tasked with violently initiating World War III — thus fulfilling apocalyptic “End Times/Armageddon” prophesies.

These folks are utterly convinced they own “the truth.” They are also utterly convinced that the path they are charting for the US is both necessary and “blessed by God.” For them, their “divine” ends justify any means, no matter how ugly, immoral, or violent. That’s exactly why such “true believers” are incredibly dangerous — and deeply amoral, oddly enough.

Yes, such “true believers” are among the world’s most amoral, immoral, and UNspiritual human beings. Yet they believe they have a lock on spirituality and morality. How sad — and horrifying.

What beliefs and human qualities are truly “Christian?”

Switching gears, let’s quickly review some of the human qualities and attitudes that Jesus’ teachings support and encourage. Of course, Jesus is known as the Son of God and was tasked with spreading and teaching God’s love. Jesus was an emissary of the “God of Love,” and is preeminently known for his direct expressions of love, caring, and compassion.

In a way, Jesus was the world’s first true egalitarian and “socialist,” since he treated everyone equally, had no use for titles, class, and wealth, and even encouraged his followers to give away their wealth and serve the poor and neediest among us. Jesus was clearly anti-materialistic as well as anti-arrogance. He allied himself with the poor and downtrodden and railed against the rich hypocrites, “Pharisees,” and control freaks. He had no interest whatever in earthly conquests, dominance, or “control.”

One of his most famous statements is, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” This quote clearly separates politics and spirituality. It implies that the realm of politics, while important and worthy of attention, should not be conflated or confused with the realm of spirituality and “God’s will.”

Let the real demons stand up — and take off their masks

Yet today’s far-right “Christians” constantly and purposely conflate the two realms, and insist that God favors their aggression and vicious hatefulness. They believe that God wants us to “conquer” Islam and its heathen believers, and are happy to demonize and slander Muslims and use vicious tactics against them.

Plus, they are happily demonizing immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, Venezuelans, Cubans, Iranians (many of whom are not Muslim), and even possible “alien” beings from… somewhere else.

This behavior is clearly anti-Christian, antisocial, and ultimately anti-love and anti-life. It is consumed by darkness and foments massive distrust and destruction. It is narrow-minded, hateful, super-aggressive… and highly inflammatory and dangerous. Deliberately so.

These arrogant “true believers” want to instigate violence, hatred, war, and destruction — all in the name of their “godly” cause. They want to inflict pain and suffering on the entire non-Christian world — to hasten their own selfish “salvation” via the “Rapture.”

What self-centeredness! What arrogance and hard-hearted hatefulness! What terrifying self-delusion! These folks are SO heartless and bonkers that it’s entirely appropriate to ask: Who are the real demons here?

If there are such things as demons, they are now walking freely among us — disguised as “god-fearing” American Christians busily doing “God’s work.”

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This post was previously published on The Left Is Right.

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