Just wondering if anyone thinks that there's a mental illness component involved?

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I have republican members in my family and they repeat the most nonsensical things to me, like it was the democrats that stormed the capital and there's a vast conspiracy to suppress the truth etc, yet these are professional people with successful careers, who appear to function well in everyday life? 

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/technology/qanon-meme-queen.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

I wonder if there's ever been a doubt knowing his character and the numerous accounts of just this, that he's guilty of it? 

Also what better reason to stack the Supreme Court! This has implications for years to come and a simple ruling re tax disclosures and a conviction would have solved this problem forever re precedent. 

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/us/emoluments-trump-supreme-court.html?action=click&algo=bandit-all-surfaces-geo3-alpha-02&block=more_in_recirc&fellback=false&imp_id=898512944&impression_id=067a6450-5ff6-11eb-b04a-8b0d100a2a77&index=0&pgtype=Article&region=footer&req_id=101300329&surface=more-in-us-news&variant=4_bandit-all-surfaces-geo3-alpha-02

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9 hours ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

There are evangelicals preachers that earn millions every year, that have more luxurious lives than celebs in Hollywood do, televangelists that will have a message of "Send a donation and I'll plant a seed of faith that will bring you health and fortune", and they make millions and have huge congregations and nationally broadcast sermons each week.

One would think that anyone would be able to see that these people are charlatans, hypocrites, and no better than snake oil peddlers. Yet, their schemes are successful. Is there any wonder that so many evangelicals support Trump and the Republican party as a whole? They don't need proof that he's looking out for them, they have faith that he is. 

It's not mental illness, it's the desire to believe in something more than yourself that Trump and those that support authoritarianism exploit to gain power, and to keep it.

I disagree respectfully. I think that they have an inferiority complex and an inability because of education to exhibit critical thinking. Superficial dissection of anything they believe in will quickly uncover how silly their assumptions are. They also are amazing hypocrites! And they actually make me wish for a vengeful God to judge them. 

In the meantime, I avoid them like they have the plague! There's nothing more dangerous than a really hypocritical person. They can essentially justify anything, which provides them with an excellent excuse for being jerks. 

They are not mentally ill, just bad people! There are many religious people who are wonderful, with excellent characters, caring and considerate who actually know what a religious figure should behave like. Just by choosing a charlatan televangelist for your pastor says much about you. I do not say that they are all bad but the ones with the behaviors we all know, should be prosecuted before they create the chaos they are capable of. Trump was exactly of the same character! 

Not easily recognizing who and what he is, is totally unforgivable! 

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On 1/26/2021 at 2:08 AM, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

There are evangelicals preachers that earn millions every year, that have more luxurious lives than celebs in Hollywood do, televangelists that will have a message of "Send a donation and I'll plant a seed of faith that will bring you health and fortune", and they make millions and have huge congregations and nationally broadcast sermons each week.

One would think that anyone would be able to see that these people are charlatans, hypocrites, and no better than snake oil peddlers. Yet, their schemes are successful. Is there any wonder that so many evangelicals support Trump and the Republican party as a whole? They don't need proof that he's looking out for them, they have faith that he is. 

It's not mental illness, it's the desire to believe in something more than yourself that Trump and those that support authoritarianism exploit to gain power, and to keep it.

The problem with America is the worship of 'Mammon' as opposed to the real Christian God. I think more than any Western country the paradoxical juxtaposition is very evident! 

Other Western countries are somewhat embarrassed by the pursuit and more governed by Christian laws, but they don't advertise as do America, re being a Christian country. They might be secular but they worship capitalism as well as Americans, which is where the hypocrisy originated I believe. Even in Italy Berlusconi had to temper his lifestyle and so to does Putin. The extravagance is hidden. Here it's celebrated when on display and it's a cultural phenomenon to be admired. 

In Europe large estates are generally tucked away. Maybe the guillotine and the French revolution had further reaching impact than expected? 

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
32 minutes ago, Curious1997 said:

The problem with America is the worship of 'Mammon' as opposed to the real Christian God. I think more than any Western country the paradoxical juxtaposition is very evident! 

Other Western countries are somewhat embarrassed by the pursuit and more governed by Christian laws, but they don't advertise as do America, re being a Christian country. They might be secular but they worship capitalism as well as Americans, which is where the hypocrisy originated I believe. Even in Italy Berlusconi had to temper his lifestyle and so to does Putin. The extravagance is hidden. Here it's celebrated when on display and it's a cultural phenomenon to be admired. 

In Europe large estates are generally tucked away. Maybe the guillotine and the French revolution had further reaching impact than expected? 

The analogy of American Christianity worshiping Mammon I think is a pretty accurate way of putting it. 

I realize that many people find comfort, meaning, and strength in their religious beliefs, and I think that's great and have to desire to deprive anyone of that. However, I do think that many people that have a dedicated religion are more open to being manipulated whether it's by a religious figure or political figure. Where I live people blend their Christian beliefs with guns, bigotry, and booze and they see no moral conflict with that. Anyone that doesn't go along with their beliefs is less than, unamerican, etc. That's the side of religion that I have problems with.

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