The Holy Post

603: The Politics of Fear & Rethinking the Cross with Brian Zahnd

57 snips
Feb 7, 2024
Brian Zahnd, specializing in Politics of Fear & Rethinking the Cross, discusses the survival tactics used by MAGA Christian leaders, scientists explaining negative polarization in politics, and his new book delving into the multifaceted meaning of the cross through art, literature, movies, and music.
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INSIGHT

Fear Drives Political Support

  • The same fear-based political arguments supporting Trump in 2016 and 2020 are used again in 2024.
  • These fear tactics tap into evolutionary tendencies towards group favoritism and conflict sensitivity.
INSIGHT

Trump's Unique Falsehood Rate

  • Donald Trump tells falsehoods at a much higher rate than other politicians.
  • PolitiFact rates about 76% of his statements as mostly false, false, or pants on fire.
INSIGHT

Evolution Fuels Polarized Politics

  • Political polarization involves emotional hatred, not just policy disagreement.
  • Evolution shaped humans for cooperation and to identify rivals, fueling out-group aversion.
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