How a Big Lie became the Foundation of American History in 1940
“He crafted an interpretation of the Bible that catered to his congregation. Notably, Fifield dismissed the many passages in the New Testament about wealth and poverty, and instead assured the elite that their worldly success was a sign of God’s blessings.”
So “net worth,” the amount of the nation and world’s treasure someone has accumulated, more and more through sheer ruthlessness, is also that person’s worth to God. An “ownership society” is a Godly society. God thinks material crap is what should make people happy. Of course, their version of God has so many issues related to anger, violence, vengefulness, jealousy, need for constant worship, etc. A lot like Trump. I’ve covered that elsewhere and will address it again.
To find out about Fifield and his “Big Lie,” read on.
How do you combine cutthroat capitalism and Christianity into one big sociopathic world view? How do you make the writings of a cynical and nihilistic atheist named Ayn Rand as sacred as the Bible?
As part of the American myth I was taught as a kid, people risked everything to come here in part to escape the tyranny of the religious majority that existed in the lands they were leaving. That's what the authors of the Constitution had in mind. What changed?
It’s the force of the Big Lie. The way it works and how it gets started was crystal clear when the Bush/Cheney Administration promoted waging aggressive war against Iraq by the cynical concept that policy was not based on the intelligence, but the CIA’s intelligence products were rather based on the policy. You lie and lie and lie and lie. Never back down. Never admit you’re wrong. Sound familiar?
Throughout my education and career, what I said or did needed to be consistent with the scientific method and peer review or pass muster in a court of law. Sometimes comments and criticisms were harsh but driven by a belief that there was a better answer, and the reviewer had something positive to add for the benefit of all. Even by someone saying something stupid that you easily refute. Been on both sides of that, but it gets better when everyone has the same goal, and it doesn’t require someone or something else to be defeated.
People in this world view communicate with each other. They don’t market at each other.
Not “Trial by Combat” marketed as “The Competitive Spirit.” Everything is adversarial. No cooperation. The moral code of a sociopath sold as the “marketplace of ideas.” See my articles dealing with competition, expecially my May 28, 2022, post “Competition in the Natural World.”
The spirit of The Enlightennent was the spirit that guided the people who wrote our Constitution. And it is the only means by which our species has avoided self-destruction. I fear this nation may have achieved herd immunity from knowledge and reason.
Current vernacular: Woke.
And under what model is the war being waged to complete an Iron Curtain (Great Border Wall) of Ignorance until all our borders are secured from reality?
Authoritarianism. The one assuming power convinces his followers that they and their beliefs are so self-evident that challenging them would be crazy. And dangerous.
The diversity that cannot be tolerated is diversity of thinking or world view. So lie, lie, and lie. Take thinking out of the equation. Replace it with brand loyalty. All of waking hours consist of circuses all the time. No substance. Turn on the TV today and you will see it in action. Compare the old re-runs to the current ads/programming. Asinine in prime time.
“Optical” diversity can actually be used to their advantage. “Red and Yellow Black and White, they all follow the same script in the fantasy world we create.”
Since in the authoritarian brain you are by definition infallible, then all “the intelligence will confirm your beliefs.” If it doesn’t, the intelligence must be wrong. There is no other answer. Therefore, the intelligence (empirical facts) needs to be corrected,
How? All of what used to be communication is turned over to professional bullshit artists that constitute the advertising, marketing, sales, and public relations industries. I’ll refer to them as “PBA.” The only goal is winning. “Nothing personal – just business.” Translate: No morality applies as long as you are trying to make a buck.
I discussed the moral decay of this world view in my May 16, 2022, post “Salesmanship Begins when the Customer Says No,”
One of my favorite quotes came from a reporter many years ago. I can’t recall who, but it’s pretty basic. “I’d hate to be a spokesman – having to get up every morning and go to work knowing that I lie for a living.”
Now it is the standard by which many operate and they are celebrated for it.
Back to the “Prosperity Gospel.” Material wealth is happiness, and God wants you to be happy, so if you are wealthy, it is evidence that God is rewarding you for your strong faith. Not sure how George Soros fits in here. He must be one of those cheaters,
How did this dangerous nonsense become the dominant way the people of this nation view reality?
You need to go back to 1940.
In an article that first appeared on Alternet April 21, 2015, Kevin Kruse provided an adapted excerpt from his book of the same year, One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America (Basic Books, 2015).
Here is a link to the Alternet article: How Corporate America Invented Christian America - Alternet.org
It is a long article full of large amounts of historical information and analysis, but I encourage you to read it in its entirety. Most of the following is based on these references. I discuss this as well of the events that followed in my July 3, 2022, post titled “Recent Events, Not-So-Recent Events, and the Future.”
Kruse begins by describing the December 1940, annual meeting of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Attending were more than 5,000 industrialists from across the nation. Interesting but not surprising J. Edgar Hoover was one of the speakers. The quintessential authoritarian. And liar.
However, the critical speaker of the day and most enthusiastically received speaker was Reverend James W. Fifield Jr. Handsome, tall, and somewhat gangly, the 41-year-old Congregationalist minister bore more than a passing resemblance to Jimmy Stewart. Fifield delivered a passionate defense of the American system of free enterprise and a withering assault on its perceived enemies in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration.
Singling out the regulatory state for condemnation, he denounced “the multitude of federal agencies attached to the executive branch” and warned ominously of “the menace of autocracy approaching through bureaucracy.”
Current vernacular; Deep State.
As Kruse explains:
“It all sounds familiar enough today, but Fifield’s audience of executives was stunned. Over the preceding decade, as America first descended into and then crawled its way out of the Great Depression, these titans of industry had been told, time and time again, that they were to blame for the nation’s downfall
Which is exactly what happened. Arrogance, greed, narcissism, hedonism, and just plain ruthlessness. And righteousness because it was ‘the natural order of things.” Manifest Destiny or something like that, I guess.
Fifield, in contrast, insisted that they were the source of its salvation. They just needed to do one thing: Get religion.
As men of God, ministers could voice the same conservative complaints as business leaders, but without any suspicion that they were motivated solely by self-interest. They could push back against claims, made often by Roosevelt and his allies, that business had somehow sinned, and the welfare state was doing God’s work. The assembled industrialists gave a rousing amen. “When he had finished,” a journalist noted, “rumors report that the N.A.M. applause could be heard in Hoboken.”
It was a watershed moment—the beginning of a movement that would advance over the 1940s and early 1950s a new blend of conservative religion, economics and politics that one observer aptly anointed “Christian libertarianism.” Fifield and like-minded ministers saw Christianity and capitalism as inextricably intertwined and argued that spreading the gospel of one required spreading the gospel of the other.
The Big Lie” is set into motion,
Fifield and his colleagues devoted themselves to fighting the government forces they believed were threatening capitalism and, by extension, Christianity. And their activities helped build a foundation for a new vision of America in which businessmen would thrive—in a phrase they popularized—in a nation “under God.” In many ways, the marriage of corporate and Christian interests that has recently dominated the news—from the Hobby Lobby case to controversies over state-level versions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act—is not that new at all.”
Kruse goes on in great detail how NAM promised to “serve the purposes of business salvation” and rededicated itself to spreading the gospel of free enterprise. They promoted capitalism through a wide array of films, radio programs, advertisements, direct mail, a speakers bureau and a press service that provided ready-made editorials and news stories for 7,500 local newspapers.
In other words: The PBA.
Revered Fifield, who became known as the “The Apostle to Millionaires,” was pastor of the elite First Congregational Church in Los Angeles in 1935.
He crafted an interpretation of the Bible that catered to his congregation. Notably, Fifield dismissed the many passages in the New Testament about wealth and poverty, and instead assured the elite that their worldly success was a sign of God’s blessings.
There is so much detailed, fascinating, scary, and extremely important information in Kruse’s article that I will not go into here. However, I will provide his conclusion:
“Throughout the 1950s, a new trend of what the Senate chaplain called “under-God consciousness” transformed American political life. In 1953, the first-ever National Prayer Breakfast was convened on the theme of “Government Under God.” In 1954, the previously secular Pledge of Allegiance was amended to include the phrase “under God” for the first time, too. A similar slogan, “In God We Trust,” spread just as quickly. Congress added it to stamps in 1954 and then to paper money in 1955; in 1956, the phrase became the nation’s first official motto.
As this religious revival swept through American politics, many in the United States began to believe their government was formally and fundamentally religious. In many ways, they’ve believed it ever since.”
Billy Graham revived and promoted a Civil War song meant to literally market the Union as Crusaders. It even put a terrible swift sword into the hand of “The Prince of Peace” and made him a violent superhero. Perhaps they forged it out of a plowshare to “own the liberals.” (Now, of course, he has an M-16).
Note that the Confederacy claimed it was a Christian vanguard as does the Klan. The latter even have their own “Beacon on the Hill.” They burn a cross at night so that “Christ can guide them in the darkness.”
Ronald Reagan was a major player in this movement and spent his career in Hollywood marketing this Big Lie and his political career as the figurehead of its ruthless implementation, A man whose brain left Dixon, Illinois for the world of the Hollywood studio, where it never left.
Earlier, Nixon did his part by appointing Louis Powell to the U. S Supreme Court. Powell had outlined a similar strategy in a now-public memo. However, the Watergate crimes and associated revelations slowed the process. In addition, Nixon actually acknowledged the importance of public education, science, protecting the environment and public health, and consumer rights. And he had an intellect. The last Republican president to possess an intellect except for George H. W. Bush, but Bush sold what was left of his “soul” after Reagan won the Republican nomination and abandoned it for loyalty. Reagan attacked all of these things, as per the script of 1940.
Enter Jimmy Carter.
The election and presidency of Jimmy Carter further threatened the project in two ways:
“Jimmy Carter is known as a man of faith, but not many Americans understand the depth of his belief in the separation of church and state. He often noted that the Baptist Church in America was founded in part on that principle. As president, he refused to have prayer breakfasts in the White House or to let his own religious views shape public policy.”
From: Jimmy Carter’s struggle to separate church and state. Jonathan Alter, November 12, 2020.
Excerpt: Jimmy Carter’s struggle to separate church and state | America Magazine
Same thing they hated about public statements by John F. Kennedy on the subject. And his call for public service and establishment of the Peace Corps. And his intellect,
The second thing surrounds Carter’s “Crisis of Confidence” speech – which I believe is one of the greatest and most necessary speeches ever given by a president. I go into it in more detail in my April 25, 2022, post titled “Malaise?”
https://open.substack.com/pub/fredjohnson/p/malaise?r=nd67q&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Carter spent an incredible amount of time listening to a wide variety of American citizens in preparation. The speech was essentially an inditement of the nation’s slide into narcissism, hedonism, and obsession with “things.” He spoke of higher values. It was initially very well received,
The Republicans and the corporate media “rebranded” it as “The Malaise Speech.”
Why? It is completely contrary to the “Big Lie.” So, the BSA went into action against Carter. And knowledge and reason, During the 1980 campaign, every day the media prominently posted the number of days hostages in Iran had been held, We now know that Reagan operatives had made a back-channel deal with the more radical elements of the new Iranian regime to prevent the release of those hostages prior to the election, and that the Carter Administration, working with the more moderate Iranian president, would likely had gotten the hostages released much sooner, Nothing personal, just business, I guess.
Enter Ronald Reagan, as President.
The major power money players like David and Charles Koch actively sought out and recruited potential candidates who were openly anti-science and arrogantly ignorant. And were good at selling crap, especially themselves. In other words, PBAs. As in Ronald Reagan.
The shining beacon on the hill. Stripes are spots. Up is down. Blah, blah, blah. Optics. Glamor. You know it all. We’ve been marinated in it.
Attacked organized labor and public employees, jeopardizing airline safety to wield his terrible swift sword. Manly.
Instituted major cuts to public education at all levels, and all scientific research. Much of what he did reversed investments that Nixon and Congress had made. And he did it in the name of “states’ rights.”
Appointed James Watt to oversee the protection of our public lands, Watt spent his career defending those who trashed the environment. He was also a member of the Board of Jim Baker’s PTL Ministries, a corrupt, money-sucking TV freak show that later came to stand for “Pay the Lady.” Watt believed it made no sense to protect the planet because “Christ was coming soon so it won’t matter.”
Reagan appointed Watt’s kindred spirit, Anne Buford Gorsuch, Neil’s mother, to head the EPA. By the way, she had a reputation for drunken brawls with her husband. Maybe that’s just the competitive spirit in action,
Reagan issued his “11th Commandment: “Thou Shall Not Speak Ill of any fellow Republicans.” Actually, he first made that statement in 1966 during his campaign for Governor of California.
You could interpret that as placing party over nation. They don’t see it that way. For them, there is no distinction between Republicans and the “Real American.” In their warped minds,
Brand Loyalty.
I won’t spend any more time here on Reagan, at least right now,
Enter Bill Clinton.
The quintessential used car salesman. Gave us the “New Democrats.” Got into the White House by using the Big Lie to defeat G. H. W. Bush. Clinton embraced “voodoo economics.” He also constantly spouted out religious rhetoric,
Enter Newt Gingrich.
This is war. Those who do not agree with or support the Republican Party are to be treated as enemies. Never try to work constructively with them,
Enter George W. Bush.
Completely manufactured by Karl Rove. Reagan had a ranch. George, buy a ranch. Now you’re a rancher. Here’s a chain saw. Cut some brush. Now you’re manly.
You have a past filled with debauchery. Here’s Billy Grahan to lay his hands on you to heal you through God’s grace. Not Jesus, but pretty close. And a major player in the Big Lie.
After the 911 attacks. The violent religious rhetoric increased dramatically. The World Trade Center site became ”Hallowed Ground.” And “Ground Zero.” (The term previously used to describe the site where the United State exploded nuclear devices above Japanese civilians).
The attack on Iraq. Embedded reporters. Torture. Invented heroes. Lies, lies, lies,
The military becomes an object of worship. Flag worship skyrockets above the usual level of idol worship. Want to be patriotic? Pray for our warriors and shop. The months-long celebration of consumerism is coming, and the economy depends on it. Jesus’ birthday? Maybe St. Nicholas Day. The Patron Saint of Consumerism. And a kid’s first all-powerful God. White beard and hair included. Jesus comes later as well as the other guy with white hair and beard. Different disposition than the first guy.
And you can ask Natalie Maines and the band formerly known as The Dixie Chicks about “freedom of speech.” Death threats and tarred and feathered out of the country music community. I guess Ken Burns missed that, among other things. After all, he’s telling a story. Sometimes history gets in the way.
George W. gets his “Leni Riefenstahl moment” on an aircraft carrier. Pretty much the same script as her work for the German Fatherland.
For the re-election campaign, Rove’s response to comments about John Kerry being a combat veteran who earned multiple Purple Hearts: “And when I get done, people won’t know which side he was fighting for,”
As Rove also said, paraphrasing, “We’re an empire now, and we create reality.” Then we change it to mess with you. Creates chaos.
Enough on Bush and the “War on Terror.”
Enter Barak Obama,
Another “New Democrat and therefore another PBA. As far as Obama and Wall Street, Cornell West had a description for it. If you don’t know you can look it up, And religious rhetoric off the charts.
Enter Hillary Clinton.
Another “New Democrat.” She also had a neo-con mentality towards foreign policy. Like Madeline Albright.
The Clintons and Obama made tons of money off their celebrity, giving pep talks to the people of money and power. They almost seem to be trying to figure out how they can become “Old Money.” Maybe by association.
Democrats have come a long way from Jimmy Carter in terms of “the spoils of celebrity.”
Enter Donald Trump.
In July of 2017, right-wing Evangelical leaders gathered in the White House, put their hands on Trump’s head, and prayed. After all, this is the guy who had told them “With me, you will have power.” He also issued an order to the Justice Department directing them during the 2020 presidential campaign to not take action against any individual or organization that violated the conditions of their tax-exempt status related to religion.
Enter Project Blitz.
Evangelical Christians in and out of government initiated a project originally called “Project Blitz*.” This plan, quite out in the open but rarely mentioned in the media, was a four-year project (2016-2020) to establish the United States officially as a “Christian Nation.” Led by members of Congress and leaders of the religious right, it is the foundation of their world view.
* You know – the term used for the Nazi war machine’s terrible swift sword so to speak, now means in the US a rush attack on the quarterback in a football game. As the Supreme Court has confirmed, God is a football fan and you better pray to win. It’s very important to him.
Here is a link to a discussion of this project on the Sourcewatch website:
From the above discussion:
“Project Blitz is a program by the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation (CPCF), Wall Builders and National Legal Defense. In practice it is a 116-page guide to "support lawmakers who may be enacting specific legislation...encourage numerous key conservative legislators at the local, state and federal level and reclaim and properly frame the narrative and the language of religious liberty issues. “Project Blitz has been characterized as "Christian nationalists" conducting a "legislative assault...to reshape America, "Evangelical extremists" mounting a "covert campaign to re-create a Christian America that never existed, and the Christian nationalist version of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).”
Enter “Jesus 2020.”
Those were Trump signs, and symbolic of this whole movement. It was impossible for “God’s Chosen Tyrant” to lose,
And so here we are.
The bottom line is that the actual teachings of Jesus, concerning dealing with one's fellow man, would destroy their myth of righteous violence. Not to mention the economy they created. Modeled on a cancer cell. The Good Samaritan? The "other" being the good guy? Forget it.
Currently in the news:
Lying is protected free speech.
Jesus is a wimp.
Do we need to, as usual, get together the faith-based (Christian or monotheistic at least) community and business leaders to address these issues? Are you out of your mind?
I suggest we tell them to shut up until they can contribute something positive. And stop lying. And learn how to listen.
And Christians of good will can explain how they let this happen.
That would be “exceptional” indeed.
Fred