Recommended Read in The Bulwark: This Cult is Ruining People’s Lives

Jonathan Last published a disturbing article at The Bulwark today. Its about what happens when conspiracy theories, politics, the Republican Party and American Christianity merge into one. The result is destroyed lives. The exhibit for that is one Christine Priorla of Cleveland who stormed the Capitol, and is now arrested by the FBI and facing two years in prison.

The January 6, 2021 Attempted Coup in Washington, D.C. Highlights the Danger of Christian Nationalism

In my backyard of Washington, D.C. a coup attempt took place by Trump supporters. In the violence a women was killed and the United States capitol was invaded for the first time since the British did so in 1814. What happened today was building for a while. And it could not have happened without the encouragement and enabling of the Christian nationalists from 2016 until now. This is a blunt post, written out of anger, and if you can’t handle profanity. Don’t read and don’t complain. Today showed the reason why Christian nationalism needs to be written about.

Michael Gerson on Evangelicals Like Eric Metaxas in The Trump Era and Creating Doubt About Religion

There has been a lot happening with evangelical author Eric Metaxas which this blog will write about shortly. One of those items is Metaxas offering to die for Donald Trump and his cause. Michael Gerson in the Washington Post writes about Metaxas and about evangelicals who support Trump continually. As always this blog enocurages people to subscribe and support their newspaper. 

A Look At the Patriot Church Network and an Examination of Its Problems

Recently a new church network launched in the United States. Its a variation of evangelical theology but it emphasizes Christian nationalism. This post looks at the Patriot Church network and looks at the consequences of having a network where you can worship Donald Trump as your personal Lord and Savior and make the Gospel great again in the process.

Just Security Writes About How Q Anon is Nazism Rebranded

At an online forum called Just Security which is associated with New York University Law School a disturbing article is published. A genocide expert wrote about how Q Anon is the Nazi cult in a rebranded form. He then proceeds to explain the reasons why.

A Closer Look at the North Coast Church’s Chris Hilken. Questionable Behavior By a Questionable Pastor

Chris Hilken is a teaching pastor at North Coast Church in Vista, California. In an Insatgram account he is known for allegedly bullying, shaming, and shunning people. It also appears as if the EFCA pastor allegedly tried to turn a child against their family in creating devotion to North Coast Church. But this blog would also like to ask another question. Should a pastor who allegedly urinates on his wife to “mark his territory” even be a pastor?

The Gospel According to Q. Does Senior Pastor Gary Peterson of Rock Urban Church in Grandville, Michigan Believe That Democrats Conspired to Murder George Floyd? Plus Gary Peterson’s Troubled Past

On July 5, 2020 Gary Peterson the pastor of The Rock Church in Grandville, Michigan showed the congregation a Q Anon conspiracy theory video. Q Anon is a discredited conspiracy theory that states that COVID-19 is an attempt to derail President Trump and that Democrats killed George Floyd in Minneapolis. In digging deeper this blog found some disturbing information about Gary Peterson allegedly engaging in embezzlement at Wellspring Church  also in the area. Furthermore there are additional allegations of Peterson having a sexual affair with a male intern at Wellspring. If there are more stories about Gary Peterson this blog is willing to tell them and provide a platform.

How Harvest Bible Chapel Became a Business and Another Indicator of a Cult: Analysis of the Short Term Incentive Compensation Plan

In the Harvest financial audit there was some information about a program called the Short Term Incentive Compensation Plan. This was a bonus plan for James MacDonald and the Harvest XLT leadership. When you consider the gifting Harvest received over the years and campaigns such as 5G and Closer this blog believes that they were about getting a bonus for James MacDonald. When you lay the Short Term Incentive Compensation Program against what Dean Butters wrote about pastors designed to woo people into Harvest at times in their life in which they are vulnerable then you no longer have a business but also a cult. 

Recalling When Trish Stern Pushed Rick Joyner. Plus Considering Joyner’s New Comments on Militias is Theo Williams’ Wooded Hills Outside Germantown, Wisconsin Preparing for the Next Civil War?

Rick Joyner on Jim Bakker’s television show called for Christians to arm themselves and prepare for the next Civil War. When I heard that I immediately thought of my former Third Wave Church in Milwaukee where Rick Joyner was pushed by Trish Sterns when I was a member. This post looks at Rick Joyner and asks the question, why was I involved in a cult? 

#Youngerself. What Advice Would I Give Myself at 25?

Recently on Twitter there was a hastag of what you could tell yourself at the age of 25. Many people posted a lot of ideas they wish they could advise their younger self. This is my open letter to my younger self. This is coming from someone  in their 40’s. The basic theme of the letter? Dave, stay away from Evangelical Christianity. If you stay away you will spare yourself a lot of pain and trauma. This is what l would say to myself if l could.