Evangelical Christianity and politics - the elephant in the room

[crazy canuck]

If he's in his 20s he does a great job hiding it.

He does look like someone trying very hard to be taken seriously

[Sheilbh]

Stephen Miller is only 35, too.

So am I and I look so much better!

It is thrilling to know that evil is ageing

He does look like someone trying very hard to be taken seriously

A demi-Gorka.

[The Brain]

I'm old af and I look better than these guys.

[Razgovory]

A demi-Gorka.

[Syt]

Stephen Miller is only 35, too.

So am I and I look so much better!

It is thrilling to know that evil is ageing

We had a young intern join us in summer. She joined our lunch break and we talked about what we did before, and I said, "I did 6 years that, 7 years that, and I've been here for over 8 years." She was confused because she thought I was significantly younger than my 44 years. 

[Eddie Teach]

I'm old af and I look better than these guys.

[The Brain]

I'm old af and I look better than these guys.

No I'm actually pretty ancient.

[crazy canuck]

Stephen Miller is only 35, too.

So am I and I look so much better!

It is thrilling to know that evil is ageing

We had a young intern join us in summer. She joined our lunch break and we talked about what we did before, and I said, "I did 6 years that, 7 years that, and I've been here for over 8 years." She was confused because she thought I was significantly younger than my 44 years. 

She did a very good job of playing to your vanity 

[Syt]

She did a very good job of playing to your vanity 

[The Minsky Moment]

If he's in his 20s he does a great job hiding it.

Young fogey, that's part of the show

[The Minsky Moment]

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/12/catholic-herald-introduces-u-s-to-magazines-beauty-brains-faith/

In 2015, when he was 22, he moved back to the United States.

[The Larch]

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/12/catholic-herald-introduces-u-s-to-magazines-beauty-brains-faith/

In 2015, when he was 22, he moved back to the United States.

Baptized a Presbyterian and raised in the Episcopal Church, he became a Catholic in 2016.

There you have his trajectory, S.

[The Minsky Moment]

I have nothing against youth; the likes of the National Review, New Republic, and the Weekly Standard often drew (and draw) on the talents of writers in their 20s. But for perspective this is a kid not long out of college put in charge of a pretty fringey publication.  There are many Catholic Trump supporters, but I doubt their thinking is motivated by neo-Salazarist political theory or a burning desire to eliminate voting by women.

What we have here is a professional troll using the tired move of insisting on his sincerity while ratcheting up the provocation for yuks and a higher profile.

[The Minsky Moment]

There you have his trajectory, S.

From toe in the Catholic water to Catholic Lite to more Catholic than the Pope (and they really mean it this time)

[Sheilbh]

I have nothing against youth; the likes of the National Review, New Republic, and the Weekly Standard often drew (and draw) on the talents of writers in their 20s. But for perspective this is a kid not long out of college put in charge of a pretty fringey publication.  [...]

What we have here is a professional troll using the tired move of insisting on his sincerity while ratcheting up the provocation for yuks and a higher profile.

Sure but in this case and many others what professional trolls do is move a fringe idea (pushed by a Harvard law professor, say, in the Atlantic) to the attention of others. I think the last few years should have shown us is professional trolls and edgelords matter - the gatekeeping of National Review (to the extent it ever existed) has become pretty permeable.

I've seen lots of articles about national conservatism and integralism in the last few years - as I say I think it's trying to build a framework around Trump/an explanation for Trump on the right. Now it may not matter but it's worth noting and is interesting.

There are many Catholic Trump supporters, but I doubt their thinking is motivated by neo-Salazarist political theory or a burning desire to eliminate voting by women.

That's not at all why we should pay attention - or why the Catholic bit matters

There you have his trajectory, S.

Not uncommon. One prominent blogger on the Catholic right in the US was evangelical, then Anglican, then Catholic. Rod Dreher was Methodist, then Catholic, then Orthodox.

It's often conservatives who feel disappointed in their brand of Protestantism, or frustrated at the lack of intellectual fibre (especially v Benedict - who they all love), or seduced by the robes etc. So they move to something "certain" and "unmoving" and a large part of their frustration with Francis is that they feel it's suddenly started moving (and it's uglier - less Latin, fewer fancy robes). But what they want it to be certain and unmoving in relation to is not some spiritual value, but their political beliefs within the American context.