If it’s a day that ends in Y, then it’s another day that a Salon writer has mocked Donald Trump voters as dumb. Especially if they’re Christian. And this time the writer says he has receipts.
Chauncey DeVega — who has reserved a permanent place for the former president in his noggin — published an article in Salon that proves that Trump voters lack “cognitive sophistication” because they believe the Bible.
His subheadline reads:
“Now there’s proof: Trump voters lack “cognitive sophistication,” often believe Bible is literal word of God.”
Well, at least he capitalized the words “Bible” and “God.”
But ho hum. The Left has been alarmed by Trump’s Christian followers ever since he came down that escalator and announced his candidacy. Like liberal VICE News:
The Salon article, however, took a more contemptuous tack. Author Chauncey DeVega says that public opinion research from Marist shows that white Christians are terrible, terrible people. Or, if you will, deplorable:
“… public opinion research shows that white right-wing evangelical Christians have increasingly embraced authoritarian views, conspiracy theories and other anti-democratic and antisocial values.”
DeVega, however, gives us no link to his assertion. Moreover, the Faith in America survey, conducted by the Marist College Poll, doesn’t say anything like that at all. In fact, the summary of the poll reads, in part:
“Furthermore, most people continue to see faith as a good thing. Nearly 7 in 10 U.S. adults think the country would be better off if Americans prayed for each other. Just 37% say it’s hard for people who don’t believe in God and people who do believe in God to get along, the new poll reports.”
There’s not one word about “authoritarian views, conspiracy theories… and anti-social values.” Not even among “white right-wing evangelical Christians.”
What’s more, the Marist poll also found that “most Americans do not look to political leaders … for moral guidance.”
“Only 16% of Americans, including 18% of those who practice a religion, 17% of Christians … say they are likely to look to political leaders for moral guidance.”
One must assume that “political leaders” includes Donald Trump.
But DeVega’s gonna DeVega. His blog site is loaded with hair-on-fire articles telling the reader how “Tens of Millions of White Americans” are ready to use violence to put Trump back into office. Or that Republicans are a “death cult.” Or that Trump’s ignorance is “killing people.” This guy who thinks evangelical Christians are kooks certainly lacks self-awareness.
In addition to the Marist poll, DeVega turned to an expert on religion in America: Darren Sherkat, a professor of sociology at Southern Illinois University. Sherkat, in fact, writes that Trump supporters are even more ignorant than anyone thought because they lack “cognitive sophistication.”
“Low levels of cognitive sophistication may lead people to embrace simple cognitive shortcuts, like stereotypes and prejudices that were amplified by the Trump campaign.”
It’s even worse in the evangelical community, Sherkat adds:
“As a result, people who identify with and participate in white Christian denominations and who subscribe to fundamentalist beliefs have substantial intellectual deficits that make them easy marks for a wide variety of schemes — from financial fraud to conspiracy theories.”
How did Sherkat conduct his research? He’s a social scientist, so it’s important to know his methodology. Whom did he include? How many subjects did he use? Assuming he used a questionnaire, how did he phrase the questions?
But Salon doesn’t tell us any of that. What a surprise.
As for Darren Sherkat: aside from being a sociology professor, he’s also an avowed atheist.
Credit: Danny Birchall/flickr/CC BY 2.0.
Sherkat also penned an essay about the ignorance of white Trump voters for a website called “Down With Tyranny,” according to Salon. The splash page includes this quote from Sinclair Lewis:
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.”
Do you really think Darren Sherkat would publish social science research free from bias? Yeah, me neither.
While Chauncey DeVega accuses Christian Trump supporters of “stereotypes and prejudices,” he blatantly engages in them himself.
Like lumping all Christians who supported Trump into the evangelical/fundamentalist basket.
Not all Christians fall into those categories. For example, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox are neither. Liberal mainstream churches hardly fit those categories, either. As for my own conservative church body — which falls somewhere between Catholicism and evangelicalism — because of its theology it doesn’t endorse parties or individual politicians. That includes Donald Trump.
DeVega’s article is just another vicious screed that could’ve been summed up in a handful of words: Christians who support Trump are ignorant, and should not be a part of proper society.
It’s Salon. Gee, what else is new?
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SDN says: You know, I wonder if he’s looked at the evangelical requirements of Islam lately?
EdwdLny says: They never do . They aren’t, can’t be , that honest or brave. They are cowards all .
GWB says: Their response would likely be on the order of “I’m talking about all religion.”
When they’re really not.
Sally says: I have a feeling – in all seriousness — that our boy Chauncey didn’t realize Marist takes the name of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, named after the Marist Brothers, a Catholic order devoted to The Blessed Virgin Mary. Their public opinion polls were actually positive, not negative toward faith and Christianity. Hilariously, I think it’s quite possible that our pal Chauncey may have read “Marist Brothers” as “Marxist Brothers”.Yikes. How much you want to bet Marxism doesn’t teach its followers to love the proletariat as they love themselves?
deadrody says: “Low levels of cognitive sophistication may lead people to embrace simple cognitive shortcuts, like stereotypes and prejudices that were amplified by the Trump campaign”
Riiiight… I’d love to hear a few examples to demonstrate this idiocy. Virtually guarantee they’re all media exaggerations / distortions like the “very fine people” hoax.
One of the biggest problems in this country is that we’ve allowed scam artists like this guy to get away with spouting bullshit with nothing to back it up and the media not only not challenging it, but repeating it.
E, ROBOT says: Our ff’s were geniuses for separating religion from being part of government. We have freedom to be religious or not and many of us are not religious nor do we want any religion’s dogma as part of our government.
Conservatives are making a big mistake in not realizing the simple statement — separation of church/temple/mosque, etc. and state.
Cameron says: The phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in the Constitution. That was taken from a series of letters from Thomas Jefferson. The only thing it says is that we are free to practice religion and that there will be no state religion.
The Founding Fathers to a man were some variant of Christianity despite the best screechings of the historical revisionists.
GWB says: I would disagree with your last statement. Arguably, some of the Founders were the leading edge of what would arise to destroy our country – not-quite-Christians.
I would also point out, in support of your point, that individual states did have religions, and the Constitution didn’t stop that until the Incorporation Doctrine and the 14th Amendment (iirc). But even a state religion couldn’t compel attendance or membership for exercise of fundamental rights.
GWB says: Everyone is making a HUGE mistake in not understanding that you have to embrace Christian morals and attitudes of self-governance (meaning to keep oneself in check in terms of moderation), as well as the Christian understanding of man as innately sinful, if you want a free republic. You cannot have hedonism and make it work. You cannot have people with no self-discipline and make it work. You cannot have a Progressive view of human nature and make it work.
Period.
alanstorm says: “… public opinion research shows that white right-wing evangelical Christians have increasingly embraced authoritarian views, conspiracy theories and other anti-democratic and antisocial values.”
Christians aren’t generally the ones trying to censor the internet, take away any influence you have over your kids’ education and dictate how others power their homes and vehicles.
Mr, DeVega needs to realize he’s describing the left.
EdwdLny says: Self awareness has never been a strong point among folks of that ilk.
Frank says: “As a result, people who identify with and participate in WHITE Christian denominations and who subscribe to fundamentalist beliefs have substantial intellectual deficits that make them easy marks for a wide variety of schemes — from financial fraud to conspiracy theories.”
Exactly what exempts non-white Christian denominations from these intellectual deficits?
Cameron says: Because they are “non-white” and you are a horrible raysis for even asking that question. Hope that helps.
Phillilp Shoemaker says: I am always reminded that the father of modern science, the man listed as the most influential person of last thousand years, Isaac
Newton was Christian. Wrote more theology books than science books. These peoe
Phillilp Shoemaker says: I am always reminded that the father of modern science, the man listed as the most influential person of last thousand years, Isaac
Newton was Christian. Wrote more theology books than science books. These people are blind and foolish.
GWB says: Chauncey DeVega
THIS guy, again?! /smh/
The Left has been alarmed by Trump’s Christian followers ever since he came down that escalator Jesus turned water into wine…
FIFY, Kim. Though it might be a little hyperbolic. The “left” we’re talking about are those who replace God with Reason, so probably just for the last 400 years or so.
authoritarian views, conspiracy theories and other anti-democratic and antisocial values
Only if you use Progressive definitions of those words. Which means “unreal definitions.”
including 18% of those who practice a religion
Oh dear. They still don’t get it. Atheism and Progressivism (which is really what atheism is) ARE religions. There is NO ONE who does not practice a religion. Unless you define ‘religion’ very peculiarly and particularly, to exclude only one sort of worldview – which is done precisely so that religion can claim not to be.
an expert on religion
a professor of sociology
Ummm, those two things are almost mutually exclusive. I’m going to guess there’s very few professors of sociology that even have the first clue about religion (except the perverted definition that comes from Progressivism, in order to exclude itself, and a very shallow stereotype.). Anyone who writes about “religion” is generally an over-educated ignoramus.
white Christian denominations
Ummmm…. WUT? There are no “white” denominations. There might be a few heretical “Christians” who exclude blacks, but I’d really insist on having them very specifically identified by name. Otherwise it’s just a slanderous strawman.
He’s a social scientist,
BWAHAHAHAHA!!!! You typed that with a straight face!
he’s also an avowed atheist.
Aha! And I will almost guarantee you he thinks that means he doesn’t have a “religion”.
quote from Sinclair Lewis
Who was a Progressive. A big Prog.
Quite simply, this guy is a bigot and an imbecile (and I might be giving him too much credit with that) who hates Christians – probably because one once told him he was a sinner and that hurt his ego – and wants to see them all converted to Progressivism so he can have his hedonism and wallow in his moral superiority.
Well, just like with homosexuals and trans folks, I don’t endorse other people’s mental or moral failings as “just another lifestyle.” He’s going to burn if the grace of God can’t bust through his ego and turn him about. And that’s not me saying that, but the Almighty, his Creator.
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