Reflections & Responses to Election 2024

We’re meditating on the latest historic state of affairs that has rendered Trump and fascism’s election potential. 

One of many wisest responses to this election got here, as anticipated, from Thom Hartmann.  In an essay known as “The Billionaires received: The 50-12 months Struggle on Democracy That Constructed Trump’s Oligarchy and Killed the American Dream,” he tells the historical past of how “purchased politicians, and a courtroom on their aspect” seized management of American democracy over the previous 50 years. 

He tells the story how Louis Powell, again in 1971, laid out a plan “to show America over to the richest males and the most important firms” and thereby “change democracy with oligarchy.” And so they have been profitable. “Tax breaks and fossil gas subsidies have made them trillions.”  (And, I’d add, set us on the damaging path of ever extra world warming.)   

It appears all the things in America is on the market—the supreme courtroom, lawmakers, even a Catholic church that winner Leonardo Leo purchased in Maine and inserted his spouse as choir chief, and many others. And, in fact, the air waves. As Hartmann places it: With sufficient cash and sufficient promoting—significantly in case you are prepared to lie—you’ll be able to promote anyone just about something. Even a convicted felon, rapist, and pal and agent of America’s enemies.

The end result?  “We now have oligarchs operating our media, social media, and shopping for our elections, with the Supreme Court docket, with Residents United, even legalized international interference in our political course of.” The notion that “cash is similar factor as free speech” embedded within the Residents United choice was itself a lie. Thomas Jefferson warned in 1816, “It has all the time been these in search of wealth who have been the supply of corruption in authorities.” 

Now America has a extreme downside of huge cash controlling our political system. And final night time it hit its peak, placing an open fascist in command of our authorities.

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, spent effectively over 100 million {dollars} getting Trump elected whereas spreading his lies, propaganda, and conspiracy theories on his X (previously twitter) media web site.

Hartmann insists nevertheless that “this isn’t the top….Hitting backside usually begins the method of renewal” and calls on America to “communicate out and combat for a democracy uncorrupted by the morbidly wealthy.”*

From our Feedback part in yesterday’s DM, I provide these examples of individuals talking out:

It’s such a tragic day. And it’s so horrifying how Trump embodies the Antichrist: right now he promised a brand new “golden age” which is strictly Antichrist’s discuss. I concern that our native Italian fascists are delicate in comparison with Trump, however they’ll reinforce one another for certain. The pull by fascists to divide Europe will probably be sturdy. Such a tragic day. (Italian citizen, pal and theologian)

That is the darkest day in my life as an American.  Please inform us all, how can we survive the following 4 years with this man who needs to destroy American democracy?  I considered our founders, the writers of our valuable Structure.  I ponder if they’re crying at what has change into of our blessed America. All the attractive animals you named, they’re at peril of being worn out perpetually.  Please inform us Matthew, how can we go ahead when this man will attempt to overthrow the very basis of our nation?  (Rosalie)

Spiritually, I really feel so unhappy, and with the thought, ‘Why have you ever deserted us?’ Nonetheless, my religion doesn’t permit me to despair and God’s Spirit of Love-Gentle-Life generally works in mysterious methods past our human comprehension. The prayer from Pope Francis on the finish of right now’s DM might help console our grief and Religion. (Damian)

Me, I refuse to do what I did in 2016—be in surprised shock for weeks. I’m sick of being in a state of existential dread.  8 am Wednesday morning, I’m already in search of ladies’s self-defense lessons, and I haven’t even had my espresso but. It’s time for li’l’ol’ 65-year-old cancer-surviving me to lastly discover ways to combat again in opposition to bullies.  (Rosanna)

I’m talking from Cubria on the North West coast of England (reverse the land of your forbears) on this saddest of days for our phrases. I echo Rosalie’s phrases and ask you Matthew, How can we hold hope in our hearts with this man on the head of essentially the most highly effective nation?  (Anna)

* Uncooked Story, “The 50-year conflict on democracy that constructed Trump’s oligarchy and killed the American dream.”

Banner picture: “Despair.” Picture by Amydeanne, on Flickr. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Queries for Contemplation

What are your emotions as you course of the election three days after the actual fact? Are you able to agree that “this isn’t the top….Hitting backside usually begins the method of renewal”?   

Really helpful Studying

Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Reworking Evil in Soul and Society

Visionary theologian and best-selling creator Matthew Fox affords a brand new theology of evil that basically modifications the standard notion of fine and evil and factors the way in which to a extra enlightened remedy of ourselves, each other, and all of nature. In evaluating the Jap custom of the 7 chakras to the Western custom of the 7 capital sins, Fox permits us to assume creatively about our capability for private and institutional evil and what we are able to do about them. 
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a greater imaginative and prescient and depth of notion far past the grasp of anyone single science.  A breath-taking evaluation.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, creator of Quantum Theology: Religious Implications of the New Physics

The Pope’s Struggle affords a provocative have a look at three many years of corruption within the Catholic Church, specializing in Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. The last part within the e book focuses on birthing a really catholic Christianity.
“This e book ought to be learn by everyone, not just for its ferocious braveness, but in addition for its imaginative and prescient for what must be saved from the damaging forces that threaten genuine Christianity.” ~ Andrew Harvey, creator of The Hope.
“Within the gripping The Pope’s Struggle, Matthew Fox takes an unwavering have a look at the layers of corruption within the Catholic Church, holding ethical fact in opposition to energy.”   — Jason Berry, creator of Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Energy within the Papacy of John Paul II

Authentic Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality

Matthew Fox lays out a complete new path for Christianity—a path that’s actually very historic and really grounded in Jewish considering (the truth that Jesus was a Jew is usually uncared for by Christian theology): the 4 Paths of Creation Spirituality, the Vias Positiva, Negativa, Creativa and Transformativa in an prolonged and deeply developed manner.
“Authentic Blessing makes obtainable to the Christian world and to the human group a radical remedy for all darkish and derogatory views of the pure world wherever these might have originated.” –Thomas Berry, creator, The Dream of the Earth; The Nice Work; co-author, The Universe Story

Faith USA: Faith and Tradition By Means of Time Journal

The aim of this e book is to descend from the majestic heights of the critique of faith, to the extent of faith’s interplay with life in its a number of colours and dimensions, that’s in tradition …. Trendy man, removed from being with out faith, is bombarded by religions claiming his final allegiance and priorities — in his TV, his films, his information, in addition to in his press …. Our methodology of study takes these claims to faith severely, starting the place on a regular basis man begins, within the confusion of the a number of tongues bestowed on him on the secular Pentecost by the data explosion and the media enlargement. 

“This uniquely American examine … [analyzes] the position of faith in a tradition. It incorporates a mine of data for sociologists of faith, as the identical time that it opens up a complete new path for theology.” —Professor Jacques Audinet, Institut Catholique de Paris

Trump & The MAGA Motion as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election

Matthew Fox tells us that he had all the time shied away from utilizing the time period “Anti-Christ” as a result of it was so usually used to unfold management and concern. Nonetheless, given right now’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables on this e book using the archetype for the reason for justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity.
From the Foreword: If there was ever a time, a second, for inspecting the archetype of the Antichrist, it’s now…Learn this e book with an open thoughts. Good and evil are actual forces in our world. ~~ Caroline Myss, creator of Anatomy of the Spirit and Conversations with the Divine.
For speedy entry to Trump & The MAGA Motion as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE. 
To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white photographs, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE. 
To obtain a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE.
Order the audiobook HERE for speedy obtain.