It actually messed me up all day Sunday after reading it, I felt it so strongly.
Christian Nationalism is not new. And it contains zero actual Jesus. Reflecting on the previous 5 decades of my own life I can identify the thread of it which has been right there, running through everything familiar in my American upbringing.
This this current iteration didn’t hit out of nowhere. Patterns repeat until we learn the lesson. Consequences continue until we learn the lesson. We will experience continuing suffering because of this. All of us are affected.
But maybe only enough of us need to participate in the learning of the lesson. Maybe there’s a tipping point. Maybe we’re almost there.
This has led me to explore the deepest corners of the philosophy and faith I still claim. Sometimes I’m able to touch this depth. But much of the time I feel gut-punched, resentful and furious.
At this moment though, through grace, I’m in an okay place. Spent time on my mat and learned about some Nordic goddesses. Trying to keep my mind and heart in a place of willingness to participate in the learning of the lessons. Hopefully I’m taking the actions that are mine to take.
If there’s a tipping point, I want to be part of it.
So good to have you here and to read your comments. No, you're so correct that Christian Nationalism is not new. Unfortunately, it feels as though this current iteration is on steroids.
Patterns do repeat themselves. And, I believe we are experiencing unprecedented times with another restructuring what will usher new patterns.
Faith and fury - the grand pulsation. Hold firm and steady dear one, we need to strong lights to shine now. I believe the Sat Yuga is coming, albeit slowly.
Thank you for your honesty, and I might add bravery, oh and there's also your humor that I enjoy. This is going to be a tough year for the US, and it's important that people can speak out, in respectful and meaningful ways. I support you, Paulette. 💙
I commend your courage for speaking your truth and experience’s, including the fear💗 The prophecy of the Shambala Warriors comes to mind from Joanna Macy and that we are needed now.
I live in the UK and don’t want Trump, it will cause terrible conflict and be much worse for the Palestinians. Trump has lots of support from Israel and the US Christian’s. If anyone is in doubt of the consequences for the US , I recommend reading Parable of The Sower by Octavia E Butler….
You have inspired a lots of thoughts , thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you Susan for adding your comments to the conversation. I appreciate hearing from someone in the UK. Is your feeling a general sentiment of the folk there in your country?
I will have a listen, thanks for the share. Isn't it a statement to the times we live in that speaking our truth is a courageous act. It does feel that way though. I try and remember that the word courage comes from the old French and Latin, from the heart.
Hi Paulette, it is a general sentiment in my country, as far as I know. But then our politicians are mostly corrupt, cowards so it’s difficult to differentiate .
Meanwhile being courageous to be and live truthfully is the order of the day 💗 May yours be a beautiful one ☀️filled with love and light.
You penned my thoughts to a tee. As Tantra Yoga teaches, ahimsa is about speaking up and standing up to wrongdoers and protecting those being abused. It is a responsibility I take to heart as a spiritual warrior and yogi. Love you cara mia!
I appreciate the comments Marie. Tantra is about conversation and engagement in the ways you feel. Peace loving yes, and sometimes it's necessary to take skillful action, whether in words or action. And in that stance it is always ultimately about love.
Wow. The more I read, the more I felt as is someone else, and not Paulette, penned this blog. Where's my peace-loving, open-minded, free-spirited former yoga teacher? Christian Nationalists? There's no such thing unless you watch CNN only (is that station even on anymore?). And Trump is still a bully? People displaying their flags and love for the good ole USA, God, guns, and Trump is scaring you shitless? Do the gangs of illegals vandalizing, raping, pillaging, and killing our citizens scare you? It does me!
When I began writing on Substack and moved from Sacred Sunday to Sage Sanctuary I explained that one of the reasons for the move and the name change is that I'm the same, but different. The publication is the same, but different. Post covid, we are all the same, but different. Trump included. He is not the same Trump of his first election. He speaks even more autocratic rhetoric.
I believe there's a misconception of what yoga is and who yoga teachers are. I can only speak for myself though, not other teachers. I am indeed peace-loving and open-minded. Having a strong opinion doesn't negate either of those qualities. I'm not sure that I'd ever consider myself free spirited. I'm quite serious, though I am an independent thinker. And one whose daily practice also includes looking for the beauty, the joy and the good in people. But that doesn't mean I turn a blind eye to what is really happening in our country and globally. Although for years I did. I stayed in a my sweet little yoga bubble afraid to share my thoughts and concerns.
It isn't the displaying of flags that scares me, it's what those type of flags and tropes represent. From my perspective, love of the good ole USA that you're suggesting they represent is a path that is leading us to autocracy and further away from democracy -which is the US I want to live in.
If you're suggesting that raping, pillaging and killing our citizens are all being carried out by illegal immigrants I don't agree. What about the majority of young white males who are mass shooters killing children and those who try to protect them. Any abuse of people and power I'm appalled by and in fear of.
I'm sorry I don't watch CNN, nor FOX news. I do read scholars and journalism from both sides of the aisle. In fact Marjorie Taylor Greene herself suggests that Christian Nationalists are "such a thing", as she refers to herself as one. Brad Onishi is a religious scholar who speaks and writes on the history of Christian Nationalism, though there are many credible people doing the same. You can find out more about him: https://www.bradonishi.com/
One of the basic foundational principles of our country is to respectfully disagree. Thanks for writing.
The ideal governmental system imagined by the Bible isn’t a democracy. So if you think that putting biblical ideals into contemporary society is the way to go, you’re probably not going to have a strong commitment to democracy.
Courageous post. 💜
It actually messed me up all day Sunday after reading it, I felt it so strongly.
Christian Nationalism is not new. And it contains zero actual Jesus. Reflecting on the previous 5 decades of my own life I can identify the thread of it which has been right there, running through everything familiar in my American upbringing.
This this current iteration didn’t hit out of nowhere. Patterns repeat until we learn the lesson. Consequences continue until we learn the lesson. We will experience continuing suffering because of this. All of us are affected.
But maybe only enough of us need to participate in the learning of the lesson. Maybe there’s a tipping point. Maybe we’re almost there.
This has led me to explore the deepest corners of the philosophy and faith I still claim. Sometimes I’m able to touch this depth. But much of the time I feel gut-punched, resentful and furious.
At this moment though, through grace, I’m in an okay place. Spent time on my mat and learned about some Nordic goddesses. Trying to keep my mind and heart in a place of willingness to participate in the learning of the lessons. Hopefully I’m taking the actions that are mine to take.
If there’s a tipping point, I want to be part of it.
So good to have you here and to read your comments. No, you're so correct that Christian Nationalism is not new. Unfortunately, it feels as though this current iteration is on steroids.
Patterns do repeat themselves. And, I believe we are experiencing unprecedented times with another restructuring what will usher new patterns.
Faith and fury - the grand pulsation. Hold firm and steady dear one, we need to strong lights to shine now. I believe the Sat Yuga is coming, albeit slowly.
Thank you for your honesty, and I might add bravery, oh and there's also your humor that I enjoy. This is going to be a tough year for the US, and it's important that people can speak out, in respectful and meaningful ways. I support you, Paulette. 💙
Thank you for your support Sue. It sure is! My husband has helped me to appreciate the importance of humor.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Paulette. Always insightful and thought provoking :).
I commend your courage for speaking your truth and experience’s, including the fear💗 The prophecy of the Shambala Warriors comes to mind from Joanna Macy and that we are needed now.
This is worth listening to about the need for Truth now. https://collapselife.substack.com/p/how-to-resist-totalitarian-control
I live in the UK and don’t want Trump, it will cause terrible conflict and be much worse for the Palestinians. Trump has lots of support from Israel and the US Christian’s. If anyone is in doubt of the consequences for the US , I recommend reading Parable of The Sower by Octavia E Butler….
You have inspired a lots of thoughts , thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you Susan for adding your comments to the conversation. I appreciate hearing from someone in the UK. Is your feeling a general sentiment of the folk there in your country?
I will have a listen, thanks for the share. Isn't it a statement to the times we live in that speaking our truth is a courageous act. It does feel that way though. I try and remember that the word courage comes from the old French and Latin, from the heart.
Hi Paulette, it is a general sentiment in my country, as far as I know. But then our politicians are mostly corrupt, cowards so it’s difficult to differentiate .
Meanwhile being courageous to be and live truthfully is the order of the day 💗 May yours be a beautiful one ☀️filled with love and light.
Yes, courageous and truthful is the order of the day. Thanks for the connection Susan.
You penned my thoughts to a tee. As Tantra Yoga teaches, ahimsa is about speaking up and standing up to wrongdoers and protecting those being abused. It is a responsibility I take to heart as a spiritual warrior and yogi. Love you cara mia!
I appreciate the comments Marie. Tantra is about conversation and engagement in the ways you feel. Peace loving yes, and sometimes it's necessary to take skillful action, whether in words or action. And in that stance it is always ultimately about love.
Wow. The more I read, the more I felt as is someone else, and not Paulette, penned this blog. Where's my peace-loving, open-minded, free-spirited former yoga teacher? Christian Nationalists? There's no such thing unless you watch CNN only (is that station even on anymore?). And Trump is still a bully? People displaying their flags and love for the good ole USA, God, guns, and Trump is scaring you shitless? Do the gangs of illegals vandalizing, raping, pillaging, and killing our citizens scare you? It does me!
Dear Nancy, thank you for your thoughts.
When I began writing on Substack and moved from Sacred Sunday to Sage Sanctuary I explained that one of the reasons for the move and the name change is that I'm the same, but different. The publication is the same, but different. Post covid, we are all the same, but different. Trump included. He is not the same Trump of his first election. He speaks even more autocratic rhetoric.
I believe there's a misconception of what yoga is and who yoga teachers are. I can only speak for myself though, not other teachers. I am indeed peace-loving and open-minded. Having a strong opinion doesn't negate either of those qualities. I'm not sure that I'd ever consider myself free spirited. I'm quite serious, though I am an independent thinker. And one whose daily practice also includes looking for the beauty, the joy and the good in people. But that doesn't mean I turn a blind eye to what is really happening in our country and globally. Although for years I did. I stayed in a my sweet little yoga bubble afraid to share my thoughts and concerns.
It isn't the displaying of flags that scares me, it's what those type of flags and tropes represent. From my perspective, love of the good ole USA that you're suggesting they represent is a path that is leading us to autocracy and further away from democracy -which is the US I want to live in.
If you're suggesting that raping, pillaging and killing our citizens are all being carried out by illegal immigrants I don't agree. What about the majority of young white males who are mass shooters killing children and those who try to protect them. Any abuse of people and power I'm appalled by and in fear of.
I'm sorry I don't watch CNN, nor FOX news. I do read scholars and journalism from both sides of the aisle. In fact Marjorie Taylor Greene herself suggests that Christian Nationalists are "such a thing", as she refers to herself as one. Brad Onishi is a religious scholar who speaks and writes on the history of Christian Nationalism, though there are many credible people doing the same. You can find out more about him: https://www.bradonishi.com/
One of the basic foundational principles of our country is to respectfully disagree. Thanks for writing.
I respectively agree to disagree on many levels, and wish you well always.
I also wish you well always. And I appreciate your comments.
The ideal governmental system imagined by the Bible isn’t a democracy. So if you think that putting biblical ideals into contemporary society is the way to go, you’re probably not going to have a strong commitment to democracy.
Dan, good to hear from you. When your time allows, and if it interests you, I would so appreciate your writing and teaching on this topic.