Jennie Gage once loved Donald Trump so much he was her profile picture on social media. Now she sees him as "the Grand Wizard of every Christian Nationalist group in the United States."
Thank you Jennie for sharing your story here! And Paul for the great write-up. This is so helpful to me in understanding how people's beliefs are shaped. There is a long history of conditioning there that shapes a worldview. I have MAGA family members and I especially appreciated understanding the mental gymnastics around Trump that allow them to see him as a spiritual hero.
"Jennie’s family, church and community tried to keep her in line, “to just say ‘Yes, sir’ and accept that the prophet and our bishop had final authority. They burned into me the idea that critical thinking was worldly (bad).”
She chafed at the restrictions."
"She describes her marriage as “a nightmare,” filled with ongoing physical abuse."
This account fits the pattern we see of individuals who flee cults, and escape the grip of a fascist worldview in which they were indoctrinated by their family and community- they already had reservations about the entire farcical framework, likely since childhood, but only decided to remove themselves after the conditions of their life became intolerable.
Unfortunately, there are many more who remain entrenched in the cult/fascist worldview because they assume there is something wrong with them for 'betraying' their family and community. Many others commit suicide as the only avenue they perceive for escape the insanity and brutality.
I'm glad this person found her way out, but no one should mistake that for an indication that most of members of the fascist crowd are receptive to persuasion that their worldview, and their identity predicated on it, are toxic and delusional. That's merely a fantasy.
Wow, the candor Jennie gives about her beliefs while in the Mormon and MAGA cults are staggering and oh so courageous. Her story is exactly why I feel it is disingenuous and incomplete to be a therapist working with former Mormons and not also speaking about the harmful beliefs that marry with MAGA—and how we must support deconstructing both!
Thank you Jennie for sharing your story here! And Paul for the great write-up. This is so helpful to me in understanding how people's beliefs are shaped. There is a long history of conditioning there that shapes a worldview. I have MAGA family members and I especially appreciated understanding the mental gymnastics around Trump that allow them to see him as a spiritual hero.
"Jennie’s family, church and community tried to keep her in line, “to just say ‘Yes, sir’ and accept that the prophet and our bishop had final authority. They burned into me the idea that critical thinking was worldly (bad).”
She chafed at the restrictions."
"She describes her marriage as “a nightmare,” filled with ongoing physical abuse."
This account fits the pattern we see of individuals who flee cults, and escape the grip of a fascist worldview in which they were indoctrinated by their family and community- they already had reservations about the entire farcical framework, likely since childhood, but only decided to remove themselves after the conditions of their life became intolerable.
Unfortunately, there are many more who remain entrenched in the cult/fascist worldview because they assume there is something wrong with them for 'betraying' their family and community. Many others commit suicide as the only avenue they perceive for escape the insanity and brutality.
I'm glad this person found her way out, but no one should mistake that for an indication that most of members of the fascist crowd are receptive to persuasion that their worldview, and their identity predicated on it, are toxic and delusional. That's merely a fantasy.
Leaving one cult tends to have a domino effect
Thank you for sharing these stories.
This is great Paul. She’s had one heck of a life.
That critical thinking thing! So useful!
Right?
Wow, the candor Jennie gives about her beliefs while in the Mormon and MAGA cults are staggering and oh so courageous. Her story is exactly why I feel it is disingenuous and incomplete to be a therapist working with former Mormons and not also speaking about the harmful beliefs that marry with MAGA—and how we must support deconstructing both!
Thank you, very well said!