Episode 72
72: A Theocracy of Disinfo
A Theocracy of Disinfo - with Jim Stewartson
(00:00) Intro and T-shirts
(03:25) The global reactionary assault on democracy and secularism. The irrevocable loss of the "old America" and the end of the post-war era. The end of traditional electoral politics and policy-driven constituencies.
(17:09) The multi-decade liberal campaign to control firearms has failed. Recognizing the "world that is," and the need for liberals to come to terms on a personal level with the increasing menace of American gun culture.
(22:30) The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. The McMichael / Bryan trial (otherwise known as the "Ahmaud Arbery trial.") Understanding the authoritarian concept of "justice."
(31:52) Jim Stewartson guest segment. The Radicalized Podcast. Gamification of disinformation. Online radicalization of young men. How Michael Flynn created Q. Apophenia and pareidolia. The role of trauma. The connection to Christian Dominionism and apocalypticism. Comparison to Church Universal and Triumphant's nuclear war prophecies in the late 1980s. Bothsidesing and post-politics. Maintaining relationships with cult members.
(01:16:38) The most insidious characteristic of disinfo: Making people believe it's their own idea.
(01:20:23) Sean tells the story of what it took for him to leave Church Universal and Triumphant.
(01:24:07) Disinfo is a human vulnerability, and we have to have compassion. Need to balance that compassion with the need to protect society from barbarism.
(01:27:49) Wrapup and outro: White Europeans in the post-war period of 1945-2016 have been the most free and privileged people in human history, and we're now potentially plunging ourselves into a neo-fascist hellscape. We can overcome this, but will we?
________________________________________
Show notes:
QAnon resembles the games I design. But for believers, there is no winning.
Follow Jim Stewartson on Twitter
________________________________________
Email: theradicalsecular@gmail.com
Instagram: @radical_secular
Twitter: @RadicalSecular
All standard podcast venues: Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon, Gaana, Saavn
