The relationship between Donald Trump and the Reverend Norman Vincent Peale is one of the most significant, yet frequently overlooked, intellectual foundations of Trump’s worldview. Peale, the author of the 1952 mega-bestseller The Power of Positive Thinking and the longtime pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, served as a primary spiritual and psychological mentor for Trump during his formative years in New York.
An intriguing one we brought up the other day: that many modern Jews may be more genetically aligned with ancient Edomites, who originated in southern Israel-northern Jordan, than with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (to which Chrost and His disciples belonged).
Edomites are said to have descended from Esau and Judha as well as ancient Israel from Jacob.
Today, most “Jews” are a mix.
The intriguing aspect: that Jacob and Esau were twins who fought even in the womb and then during life. Despite reconciliation, is there still a battle between the “real” Jews (those from Judah/ancient Israel) and those from northern Jordan? Were Edomites what Jesus called “Jews who say they are Jews but are not; they are the synagogue of Satan”?
As we pointed out, both King Herod and Judas Iscariot were of Edom.
This has led some to claim (perhaps dangerously) that many in modern Israel are actual descendants of Esau/Edom. As mentioned, most today are a mix.
But the subject may once have been broached by none other than famed Evangelist and Israel supporter Bily
Politics and spirituality can be an interesting mix. It has come to light that former presidential adviser Steve Bannon, now professing traditional Catholicism, once studied Theosophy, the deeply occult philosophy invented by psychic-medium-Spiritualist Madame Blavatsky. But from we can tell, that was way back in the 1980s, when he looked into many religions, before apparently settling on Roman Catholicism.
His former boss, President Donald J. Trump, grew up and was married twice in the Manhattan church of famed preacher Norman Vincent Peale, who purveyed the doctrine of optimism and visualization, particularly in his book, The Power of Positive Thinking. President Trump said he spent many hours listening to the self-help advocate, who said one could even imagine one as rich and famous and attain it through positive thoughts.
Peale was ostensibly Protestant, but also a 33rd-degree Freemason. As the longtime pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in N.Y.C., he blended Christian faith with psychology to advocate faith with psychology, with the goal faith-based optimism, prayer, and mental imagery that he said transformed lives. Some say this benefited millions. Others have declared it as occult and New Age. Your discernment is as good as ours.
President Joseph Biden was a practicing Catholic but supported abortion and gay rights. Catholic also was John F. Kennedy, whose personal life was legendary.
We’ll not judge.How convoluted religion with politics (we saw this during the past two weeks) can be!