Thank you for spotting it and detailing all of it here. I was so caught up on another Tucker signal this week (the photo of him, under this flag, it appears, with Joel Webbon and JD Hall). Webbon is an acolyte of Douglas Wilson and deeply opposed to women's rights such as voting. And I believe Hall left his ministry due to drugs and embezzlement charges, after leaving his church due to "serious sin." Anyway, your analysis is always spot-on!
Matt, you are one of the few people who would notice, and then go on to explain thoughtfully, the seeming incongruence between this Christian nationalist symbol
brandished by both Carlson, a raging anti-semite, and Dutch Sheets, a raging Christian Zionist. Thanks for this piece.
The flag was also prominent in the administrations recent documentary “By Dawn’s Early Light'“ which was basically the video version of the 565-page report on Anti-Christian Bias
When I think back on my 25 years in a conservative Christian church, stories like this remind me of how casually lying was treated by my church even as they held up the Ten Commandments as binding on all. When you are asked who you represent by the unsuspecting public or outsiders, you lie. They give you the best lies to tell. They share stories of how well it works. Never trust the first answer given when you ask conservative Christians what they're doing.
Thank you for this important dot-connect and for your careful analysis of how the Doug Sheets & NAR embrace of the flag, along with Mike Johnson and Supreme Court justices, along with the seemingly contradictory America First, Tucker Carlson anti-Trump, anti-Semitic far right. Tucker is clever and looks out for himself. New Standardbearer for them? God help us!
I just published a long podcast about the history of the Pine Tree flag and what John Locke meant when he talked about an Appeal to Heaven. I came to a different conclusion, but really enjoyed your article. Thank you!
“Tracking the symbols, networks, and power moves of the Christian far right…”
When in fact, you are participating in typical left-wing “liberal tyranny” that everyone is fighting against, that everyone voted against, that the “rebellion” is trying to stop.
The United States is not supposed to be the immoral secular shithole that you so desire or misguidedly believe. As our founders admonished us oh, maybe a hundred times,’we cannot survive without good moral people.’ They wanted religion to thrive, to insure good governance.
Now we have you, a seeming dunce, screaming about any sign of moral behavior.
Under the free exercise clause of our Constitution, people may think or believe, or, “pray,” or believe in “prophesies”… all they want. Do you not understand that?
To “track” their “symbols, networks, and power moves,” along with actively trying to block religious people from advising the White House on policy and spearheading prayer initiatives, and accusing them of being “violent,” is religious discrimination is it not? That is against the law in this country.
Gay marriage is immoral.
Religious flags are not “brandished.”
NOBODY was charged with “insurrection” on J-6, 2021.
There is nothing “hyper conservative” about exercising common sense, recognising our rich religious heritage, and acknowledging their is a God, on the Supreme Court.
After all, all of our rights and freedoms come from the Christian God, and the unique Christian concept of free-will.
For you to call the current administration a “regime” is quite disrespectful, and quite telling of your obvious TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome).
After hijacking the Rainbow, making it a Flag and jabbing it down the throat of all Americans, it is unlawful to then say, ‘we don’t like that other flag, get rid of it.’ It doesn’t work that way according to the law.
It is inappropriate for you to speak for Tucker Carlson when it comes to Donald Trump. Others may not share your deranged hatred.
Sadly, in America, if you look up the phrase: Christian Nationalism in the United States, WickedPedia will come up and lie their fucking assess off, calling them (they don’t really exist mind you, they’re talking about Godly Americans) every name in the book. Even saying they have a natural tendency to be “wrong” about everything, according to “studies.” This is liberal tyranny by definition. Alive and well in America today.
So yes, I want an “appeal to heaven” flag. God help us.
Oh god. Tucker is such an ass. He is no more a christian nationalist than trump. This is his latest grift to stay relevent. His brother"buckley" still smokes unfiltered cigarettes because they are men, strong white males. Vance's neo nazi's smoke outside his office. Performative maniness. The truth is, tucker is an elite notheastern liberal dnob.
Much agreement with theological errors of the NAR movement as described. Yes these people have gotten off track from the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their quest for political dominance.
But, having been involved in this movement for decades, until I realized the error in my theology, I find this fearmongering is not helpful in rescueing people out of their deception. It only keeps them in their deception. These people are not dangerous, in that they would even consider being violent. I know this as I was an insider for many years. By setting up a wall and labeling them as dangerous they then believe you are the extreme minded one and thst you are the one deceived. Any kind of a useful shift will never occur. More division and separation will make it impossible for any sort of change in the hearts of this group.
A better approach is to lovingly speak the truth about their theology using scripture to show them how they have gotten off track. They are not the enemy, just resposible people people raising their kids and grandkids and trying to be productive in their lives, who have gotten off track in their theology. I know this as I was around them living and working with them. These people are law abiding citizens and want the best opportunity for their children and grandchildren.
Thank you for spotting it and detailing all of it here. I was so caught up on another Tucker signal this week (the photo of him, under this flag, it appears, with Joel Webbon and JD Hall). Webbon is an acolyte of Douglas Wilson and deeply opposed to women's rights such as voting. And I believe Hall left his ministry due to drugs and embezzlement charges, after leaving his church due to "serious sin." Anyway, your analysis is always spot-on!
The deniability piece is the part that should concern people most.
A symbol that means spiritual revolution to one audience and harmless Americana to another is not ambiguous by accident.
I watched this same playbook in churches for years.
Say one thing from the platform. Let the true believers hear another.
The flag does the same work a sermon illustration does.
It lets people choose which version they received.
Matt, you are one of the few people who would notice, and then go on to explain thoughtfully, the seeming incongruence between this Christian nationalist symbol
brandished by both Carlson, a raging anti-semite, and Dutch Sheets, a raging Christian Zionist. Thanks for this piece.
The flag was also prominent in the administrations recent documentary “By Dawn’s Early Light'“ which was basically the video version of the 565-page report on Anti-Christian Bias
I don’t trust him or MTG
Yes but they are joining forces along with Massie.
When I think back on my 25 years in a conservative Christian church, stories like this remind me of how casually lying was treated by my church even as they held up the Ten Commandments as binding on all. When you are asked who you represent by the unsuspecting public or outsiders, you lie. They give you the best lies to tell. They share stories of how well it works. Never trust the first answer given when you ask conservative Christians what they're doing.
I want an Appeal to Reason flag.
Thank you for this important dot-connect and for your careful analysis of how the Doug Sheets & NAR embrace of the flag, along with Mike Johnson and Supreme Court justices, along with the seemingly contradictory America First, Tucker Carlson anti-Trump, anti-Semitic far right. Tucker is clever and looks out for himself. New Standardbearer for them? God help us!
I just published a long podcast about the history of the Pine Tree flag and what John Locke meant when he talked about an Appeal to Heaven. I came to a different conclusion, but really enjoyed your article. Thank you!
https://substack.com/@whitewashedhistory/note/p-209278208?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=8my2p1
You claim you are:
“Tracking the symbols, networks, and power moves of the Christian far right…”
When in fact, you are participating in typical left-wing “liberal tyranny” that everyone is fighting against, that everyone voted against, that the “rebellion” is trying to stop.
The United States is not supposed to be the immoral secular shithole that you so desire or misguidedly believe. As our founders admonished us oh, maybe a hundred times,’we cannot survive without good moral people.’ They wanted religion to thrive, to insure good governance.
Now we have you, a seeming dunce, screaming about any sign of moral behavior.
Under the free exercise clause of our Constitution, people may think or believe, or, “pray,” or believe in “prophesies”… all they want. Do you not understand that?
To “track” their “symbols, networks, and power moves,” along with actively trying to block religious people from advising the White House on policy and spearheading prayer initiatives, and accusing them of being “violent,” is religious discrimination is it not? That is against the law in this country.
Gay marriage is immoral.
Religious flags are not “brandished.”
NOBODY was charged with “insurrection” on J-6, 2021.
There is nothing “hyper conservative” about exercising common sense, recognising our rich religious heritage, and acknowledging their is a God, on the Supreme Court.
After all, all of our rights and freedoms come from the Christian God, and the unique Christian concept of free-will.
For you to call the current administration a “regime” is quite disrespectful, and quite telling of your obvious TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome).
After hijacking the Rainbow, making it a Flag and jabbing it down the throat of all Americans, it is unlawful to then say, ‘we don’t like that other flag, get rid of it.’ It doesn’t work that way according to the law.
It is inappropriate for you to speak for Tucker Carlson when it comes to Donald Trump. Others may not share your deranged hatred.
Sadly, in America, if you look up the phrase: Christian Nationalism in the United States, WickedPedia will come up and lie their fucking assess off, calling them (they don’t really exist mind you, they’re talking about Godly Americans) every name in the book. Even saying they have a natural tendency to be “wrong” about everything, according to “studies.” This is liberal tyranny by definition. Alive and well in America today.
So yes, I want an “appeal to heaven” flag. God help us.
i dont see him appealing to anyone, do you?!?
Oh god. Tucker is such an ass. He is no more a christian nationalist than trump. This is his latest grift to stay relevent. His brother"buckley" still smokes unfiltered cigarettes because they are men, strong white males. Vance's neo nazi's smoke outside his office. Performative maniness. The truth is, tucker is an elite notheastern liberal dnob.
Much agreement with theological errors of the NAR movement as described. Yes these people have gotten off track from the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their quest for political dominance.
But, having been involved in this movement for decades, until I realized the error in my theology, I find this fearmongering is not helpful in rescueing people out of their deception. It only keeps them in their deception. These people are not dangerous, in that they would even consider being violent. I know this as I was an insider for many years. By setting up a wall and labeling them as dangerous they then believe you are the extreme minded one and thst you are the one deceived. Any kind of a useful shift will never occur. More division and separation will make it impossible for any sort of change in the hearts of this group.
A better approach is to lovingly speak the truth about their theology using scripture to show them how they have gotten off track. They are not the enemy, just resposible people people raising their kids and grandkids and trying to be productive in their lives, who have gotten off track in their theology. I know this as I was around them living and working with them. These people are law abiding citizens and want the best opportunity for their children and grandchildren.