This will make the MAGAts mad. Repost so you know who to block.

Amongst some of the proposals for a second Trump Admin:

- end surrogacy

- end no fault divorce

- invoke the insurrection act to stop protests

- end sex education in schools

- stop policies that “subsidize single motherhood”

THOM HARTMANN: Science Explains Why Republicans Can’t Accept Trump’s Guilt (Sept. 12, 2023)

Scientists discovered a fascinating reason why Republicans can’t accept criticism of Donald Trump. Thom explains.

In the above video, Thom Hartmann refers to a Raw Story column by cognitive neuroscientist Bobby Azarian, PhD (shown below):

Here are some excerpts from Azarian's column:

In 2009, a study published in PLOS ONE challenged our understanding of belief systems. Researchers placed participants into the confines of an fMRI scanner and presented them with a mixture of factual and abstract statements. The results were illuminating. Disbelief, it turns out, is cognitively demanding. It requires more mental effort than simply accepting a statement as true. From an evolutionary perspective, this preference for easy belief makes sense; a perpetually skeptical individual questioning every piece of information would struggle to adapt in a fast-paced world. What does all this have to do with Trump supporters? Well, it’s far less cognitively demanding for them to believe anything their leader tells them. Any challenge to what Trump tells them is true takes mental work. This means there is a psychological incentive for Trump loyalists to maintain their loyalty. (I wrote about this phenomenon in a slightly different context in the Daily Beast article "Religious Fundamentalism: A Side Effect of Lazy Brains?") Molding of belief: neuroplasticity at play Now, let's consider the unique predicament faced by individuals who staunchly support Trump and want him to again become president. From the moment Trump began his political career and his social engineering career, his supporters have been exposed to narratives — Trump doesn't lie, Democrats are communists, the media is an enemy of the people — that emphasize loyalty and trust in their political idol. These narratives often steer away from critical examination and instead encourage blind faith. When coupled with the brain's inherent tendency to accept rather than question, it creates an ideal environment for unwavering allegiance. No matter that Trump, time and again, has been revealed to be a serial liar, habitually misrepresenting matters of great consequence, from elections to economics to public health. For example, in the Psychology Today article "Why Evangelicals are Wired to Believe Trump’s Falsehoods," I explain that the children of Christian fundamentalists typically begin to suppress critical thinking at an early age. This is required if one is to accept Biblical stories as literal truth, rather than metaphors for how to live life practically and with purpose. Attributing natural occurrences to mystical causes discourages youth from seeking evidence to back their beliefs. Consequently, the brain structures that support critical thinking and logical reasoning don't fully mature. This paves the way for heightened vulnerability to deceit and manipulative narratives, especially from cunning political figures. Such increased suggestibility arises from a mix of the brain's propensity to accept unverified claims and intense indoctrination. Given the brain's neuroplastic nature, which allows it to shape according to experiences, some religious followers are more predisposed to accept improbable assertions. In other words, our brains are remarkably adaptable and continuously evolving landscapes. For ardent Trump supporters, residing in an environment that prioritizes faith over empirical evidence can reshape the neural circuits within their brains. [color emphasis added]

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okay can i just GO OFF about how angry the Trump-endorsed "God Bless the USA" Bible makes me?

like first of all, one of the most privileged and un-Christlike human beings on the planet using their face to promote a Bible is just... EWWW. and during Holy Week, no less. and ever so conveniently when he has to pay legal bills.

second, by adding political documents to the Bible, they are essentially trying to lump them in with scripture, which is literal blasphemy.

"You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you." - Deuteronomy 4:2 (NRSVUE)

third, this whole thing just screams "American exceptionalism." God sent Their son to earth because "God so loved the WORLD," not because "God so loved the USA." by trying to turn patriotism into something that must be one and the same with faith, you are making an idol out of America, and i'm pretty sure God had a whole-ass commandment about not making idols.

look, it shouldn't matter if you're a hardcore conservative evangelical, or a queer-affirming progressive left-wing Christian like me. or even if you're not Christian at all. this should absolutely disgust you.

Red states are Christo-fascist failed 3rd world states.

"GOP Jesus" — Many have heard the teachings of the Christian Jesus. But have you heard the teachings of the Republican Jesus? (#satire, #humor)