Dennis Prager's Apocalyptic Imagination
The site linked has an excellent example of Prager's apocalyptic mindset.
"America is engaged in two wars for the survival of its civilization. The war over same-sex marriage and the war against Islamic totalitarianism are actually two fronts in the same war -- a war for the preservation of the unique American creation known as Judeo-Christian civilization.
One enemy is religious extremism. The other is secular extremism.
One enemy is led from abroad. The other is directed from home.
The first war is against the Islamic attempt to crush whoever stands in the way of the spread of violent Islamic theocracies, such as al Qaeda, the Taliban, the Iranian mullahs and Hamas. The other war is against the secular nihilism that manifests itself in much of Western Europe, in parts of America such as San Francisco and in many of our universities. ...
This civilization is now fighting for its life -- as much here as abroad. Join the fight, or it will be gone as fast as you can say "Democrat."
Does this man ever try to think through the implications of his theses? Does he ever bother to analyze them to see if reality proves or disproves his core beliefs?
"The other war is against the secular nihilism that manifests itself in much of Western Europe, in parts of America such as San Francisco and in many of our universities."
What is the result of this supposed secular nihilism in Europe? Mass debauchery, rape, unchecked violence and rampant crime of all sorts? Epidemics of vandalism and looting?
If beliefs-or values as Prager is always saying-or lack thereof have consequences, show me the terrible consequences of Europe's secular nihilism. If you can't-and he doesn't-then just shut up.
But Prager is preaching to Christian fundamentalists, a group of people who are perpetually scared that they will be marginalized out of existence by the "secular humanists." People like Prager employ the psychology of victimization to keep these people scared and in a kind of psychological state of siege because then he can sell them his cure. There's lots of money to be made by going up to people, saying "hoogabooga," preying on their unreasonable, unrealistic fears and offering some supposed palliative.
"America is engaged in two wars for the survival of its civilization. The war over same-sex marriage and the war against Islamic totalitarianism are actually two fronts in the same war -- a war for the preservation of the unique American creation known as Judeo-Christian civilization.
One enemy is religious extremism. The other is secular extremism.
One enemy is led from abroad. The other is directed from home.
The first war is against the Islamic attempt to crush whoever stands in the way of the spread of violent Islamic theocracies, such as al Qaeda, the Taliban, the Iranian mullahs and Hamas. The other war is against the secular nihilism that manifests itself in much of Western Europe, in parts of America such as San Francisco and in many of our universities. ...
This civilization is now fighting for its life -- as much here as abroad. Join the fight, or it will be gone as fast as you can say "Democrat."
Does this man ever try to think through the implications of his theses? Does he ever bother to analyze them to see if reality proves or disproves his core beliefs?
"The other war is against the secular nihilism that manifests itself in much of Western Europe, in parts of America such as San Francisco and in many of our universities."
What is the result of this supposed secular nihilism in Europe? Mass debauchery, rape, unchecked violence and rampant crime of all sorts? Epidemics of vandalism and looting?
If beliefs-or values as Prager is always saying-or lack thereof have consequences, show me the terrible consequences of Europe's secular nihilism. If you can't-and he doesn't-then just shut up.
But Prager is preaching to Christian fundamentalists, a group of people who are perpetually scared that they will be marginalized out of existence by the "secular humanists." People like Prager employ the psychology of victimization to keep these people scared and in a kind of psychological state of siege because then he can sell them his cure. There's lots of money to be made by going up to people, saying "hoogabooga," preying on their unreasonable, unrealistic fears and offering some supposed palliative.
posted by Peter L. Winkler | 4:50 PM
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