A global war on democracy
On the 3rd anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Jennifer Butler posted a call to recognize and respond to a global war on democracy. It’s not just in the U.S. and not just the MAGA movement. In fact, some of our leaders in this authoritarian movement are following the lead of Victor Orban in Hungary and Vladimir Putin in Russia. It’s a global phenomenon.
That attack seemed to many of us like the leading edge of a new civil war – one that some high-profile leaders on the right openly threaten. According to Jen Butler, it happens “when political parties become based on ethnic, religious, or racial identity rather than ideology… and when people are forced to choose sides whether they want to or not. If they don’t choose a side, they may become a target of violence or deprivation of power or resources.” Sounds disturbingly familiar.
Ms. Butler draws from research done on why civil wars start to say that autocrats “attempt to monopolize and wield religion to build factions…and gradually restrict the freedom of civil society organizations that use religion to bridge rather than divide….Alarm bells ring when the ‘dominant figure’ emphasizes their group’s separateness and grievance and finds ways to encourage militancy and escalate tensions. They might establish or encourage militias. Their rhetoric grows increasingly violent and apocalyptic.” – Have you listened to Trump’s speeches lately or read his “Truth Social” posts?
Ms. Butler draws from research done on why civil wars start to say that autocrats “attempt to monopolize and wield religion to build factions…and gradually restrict the freedom of civil society organizations that use religion to bridge rather than divide. …. Alarm bells ring when the ‘dominant figure’ emphasizes their group’s separateness and grievance and finds ways to encourage militancy and escalate tensions. They might establish or encourage militias. Their rhetoric grows increasingly violent and apocalyptic.” – Have you listened to Trump’s speeches lately or read his “Truth Social” posts?
What can be done? We can’t just ignore it, and we don’t want to live with it. – Jennifer Butler’s response is to launch Faith in Democracy,”a global network of religious leaders committed to preserving democracy as the best way to fulfill our core religious commitments to the dignity of all human beings.” She asks in her post: “Can it be done?”
I don’t know, but I’m ready to try. If you’re interested, read her post here, respond as appropriate, and be sure to sign up for her regular email posts.
You can read more about her, as well, on my website where you will also find an interview I did with her last year.
This is Jennifer’s open invitation – to build “relationships across the globe, across religion, race, and sexuality, as well as reclaiming our faiths for dignity out of the clutches of those who use them to spread hatred, fear, and discrimination.” What will we do?
