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The Devil in Wyoming [1]

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Date: 2022-08-17

I grew up in a conservative area of the country. I was Catholic, although most of my friends and neighbors were Protestant – some Evangelical. I was raised with lessons like, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Lessons like these were largely positive, and I took them to heart. Years later, I am no longer Christian. I am a non-believer. However, I do appreciate many of the cultural aspects of my Judeo-Christian background. Christmas is a wonderful tradition, even if my household tends to celebrate light in the midst of darkness rather than the birth of Jesus.

There were other lessons that I learned that were less tangible during childhood. It took time for me to derive their true meaning. One lesson emerged from passages such as this:

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

I was told that the devil lives among us. I was told that I always needed to be prepared. I needed to be skeptical of those around me. One day the devil would try to tempt me. I needed to be ready. I needed to be ready to tell the devil no, no matter the cost. The cost might be pain, or my life, but that’s the price of eternal salvation in heaven.

I’m not a fan of calling political opponents “the Devil”, “the Antichrist”, or “Hitler”. Name calling takes away from productive conversation that allows society to solve problems. I don’t plan on calling anyone names here. However, I do wonder what lessons the bulk of Christians learned during their childhood.

A large percentage of Christians have found a home in the Republican Party. For better or for worse, many Christians find themselves embedded in a political party that rewards subservience over anything else (1).

I was struck that Liz Cheney won the Republican primary on August 18, 2020 with 73.5% of the vote. Today, she is on track to lose with less than 30% of the vote (2). Many of the individuals who voted for Liz are likely Independents and Democrats who crossed party lines to vote for her. They did the right thing. The Republicans that opposed her did so to protect Donald Trump.

A large segment of the Republican base has decided that the Devil is easy to see. They look at their political opponents and see evil. “The Devil is right there,” they exclaim. This simple worldview turns policy disagreements into a battle between God and the Devil.

Many Christians have forgotten a fundamental lesson in the Bible. The Devil is not easy to see. He lies. He is sneaky. He will trick you and steal your soul. If you aren’t vigilant, you will not go to heaven.

I’m no longer a religious man, but I understand the importance of this lesson. To me, the authors of the Bible wanted future generations to understand the power of skepticism. Cheaters and Con artists are everywhere. They may not steal your soul, but they will steal your wallet. I would be skeptical of the Trump Party.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/17/2117167/-The-Devil-in-Wyoming

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