BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian
Beliefs
- Buddhist
- Catholic
- Contemplative
- Evangelical
- General Christian
- Hindu
- Jewish
- Latter-day Saint
- More Voices
- Muslim
- New Visions
- Pagan
- Progressive Christian
Topics
- Religion News
- Food and Religion
- Sports and Religion
- Religious Art
- Religious Music and Entertainment
- Religious Events
- History and Religion
- Style and Religion
- Politics and Religion
- Women in Religion
- Recreation Outdoors and Religion
- Business Finance and Religion
- Careers Workplace and Religion
- Education and Religion
- Family Parenting and Religion
- Health Fitness and Religion
- Home and Religion
- Relationships and Religion
- Technology and Religion
- Travel and Religion
Columnists
- Buddhist Columnists
- Business Finance and Religion Columnists
- Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists
- Catholic Columnists
- Contemplative Columnists
- Education and Religion Columnists
- Evangelists Columnists
- Family Parenting and Religion Columnists
- General Christian Columnists
- Health Fitness and Religion Columnists
- Hindu Columnists
- History and Religion Columnists
- Home and Religion Columnists
- Jewish Columnists
- More Voices Columnists
- Latter Day Columnists
- Muslim Columnists
- New Visions Columnists
- Nonreligious Columnists
- Pagan Columnists
- Politics and Religion Columnists
- Progressive Columnists
- Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists
- Relationships and Religion Columnists
- Religion News Columnists
- Religious Art Columnists
- Religious Events Columnists
- Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists
- Sports and Religion Columnists
- Style and Religion Columnists
- Technology and Religion Columnists
- Travel and Religion Columnists
- Women in Religion Columnists
Resource Library
- 2026 Calendar
- Library of World Religions
- The 100 Most Holy Places on Earth
- Patheos Answers
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Faith Leaders Database
- Anglican Episcopalian
- Bahai
- Baptist
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Confucianism
- Eastern Orthodoxy
- Hinduism
- Holiness and Pentecostal
- ISKCON
- Islam
- Judaism
- Lutheran
- Methodist
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- New Age
- Paganism
- Presbytarian and Reformed
- Protestantism
- Religion Behind the Scenes
- Roman Catholic
- Scientology
- Shia Islam
- Sikhism
- Sufism
- Sunni Islam
- Taoism
- Zen
- See all religions
Research Tools
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
- Trending:
- Forgiveness
- |
- Marriage
- |
- Consciousness
- |
- Death Penalty
- |
- Election
- |
- Halloween
- Home
- Catholic
- Politics and Religion
- My Country Tis a Thee
My Country Tis a Thee
Last updated on: January 27, 2025 at 5:36 am by Henry Karlson
My Country Tis a Thee 2025-01-27T05:36:44-05:00 Henry Karlson
Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.
DonkeyHotey: Donald Trump / Wikimedia Commons
I see a small, clammy hand,
Grasping after the world.
My country, pounded in sand:
As the oligarchs are thrilled.
My ancestors died,
To give us liberty,
The pilgrims’s pride,
Now undermined bitterly.
Every mountainside,
Free to be demolished.
As we see the rising tide,
Which should be admonished.
Once I could love,
The rocks and rills,
With birds soaring above,
Thy woods and hills.
Let us all awake,
Let the silence break!
Dirty air we will partake,
Clean water, we will forsake.
God, it is to thee,
We must go and pray.
Where is the liberty,
That we had just yesterday?
It is done. Whether or not Trump has indicated Musk helped him steal the election, it is done. He has once again been given power, and this time he plans to let nothing and nobody stop him and his nihilistic agenda. His cold, clammy hand reaches across the country, taking in all that it can in the last moments of his life.
Christians have helped put him in place. Christians who have long said they stand for Christian principles, that the country they live in should reflect upon and embrace those principles, now stand for a man who promotes policies contrary to them. They show what their real principles are, and how much they use Christ for their own goals instead of following him for their own. For, no matter how often Trump reveals himself to live a life as far from Christ as fire is from water, the same Christians demanding the United States to once again be known as a Christian country stand with Trump instead of Christ. Trump, who once boasted of his appearance in Playboy, who has had multiple wives (and mistresses), is the man who has made it clear he should do whatever he wants, and that no one, especially the law, should have no ability to stop him. Haw lawless does he have to be for Christians not to see him for what he stands for? He thinks he is great, and that everyone, including God, should look up to him. He has made it clear that he believes he has never done anything wrong, at least anything which needs forgiveness and grace. Indeed, he thinks Christ, and therefore Christians, need him and whatever he graciously offers them. If they don’t keep in his good graces, they will be punished. Surely, there must be something which Trump does which makes so many Christians look up to him? Is it that he promises to fulfill their deepest, darkest desires, to let their hate against others have the power it needs to be an active force in the world? Surely, Christians should be able to see through this? Shouldn’t they see the Satanic bargain Trump is making to them and their country?
What’s that I hear? Is that the threat of churches being raided because they have given food and shelter to immigrants and the homeless? Is that Trump going boldly into a church, clearing it out of the Christians, so that he can be elevated on top of everyone else?
While I have been seeing the rise of the spirit of the anti-Christ coming from within Christian communities for many years, I still am perplexed at how many have bent their knee to Trump and all that he intends to do. How can Cardinal Dolan promote and support him, after all that Trump has said he plans to do? How can so many churches, Catholic and otherwise, be so quiet when their very liberty is put at threat by Trump, as he makes it clear, they must follow him and his agenda or else face his ire?
Too many have been quiet. Too many have given up. It is not time to give up. It is never time to give up. Vladimir Solovyov, in his own short story of the anti-Christ, warns us that the spirit of the anti-Christ can truly divide Christians, but he also suggested, those who stand against that spirit can find themselves, in their ecumenical action, drawing together, realizing the unity and love which they should have. There is, therefore, the potential for something good to come out of this, but it is a good which Christians should have pursued, without the need at coming at such a great price.
In talking about the spirit of the anti-Christ, hopefully, I am making it clear we do not have to believe that Trump is the eschatological anti-Christ expected to appear at the end of time. Rather, he and his agenda can be seen to foreshadow the eschatological crisis to come. Trump, with his sadistic, power-mad, desire to dominate and control the world, has let his inner demons free, and those who have not given in or seduced with the delusion which lies before us can see the terrible struggle we face in the present moment. However, we must do so carefully. It is important to remember that spiritual masters constantly have told us not to directly engage demonic powers and attitudes, that we must not listen to or believe anything they have to say. For those powers will try to say and do anything to deceive us, hoping to find a way to put us under their power. It is imperative, therefore, that we must stand strong and firm in the truth, the truth found in the midst of love – and use it as our defense against the lie which is spread by Trump and his followers. If we misunderstand the situation we are in and try to constantly argue with those who have been taken in by Trump and his diabolic agenda, it is like listening to demons, acting as if their point of view has something valid to it.
We can’t treat our current situation as normal, for, if we are watching, we can see that Trump and his followers are not. How many executive orders does he have to make before we realize this? For the sake of our country and our world, we must never give up, never give in. We must form communities which can and will help those threatened by Trump and his policies. We must work to free the country we live in from the delusion which has taken over. We must not give up hope. For, as long as we live, so long as we resist, as long we do not give in to the lie, we can hope and believe that the truth will have the final victory, and we shall share in the joy which that victory will bring.
* This Is Part XXXVII Of My Personal Reflections And Speculations Series
Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!
N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.
General Christian
Politics and Religion
Previous Post

January 19, 2025
The Christian Way: Kindness, Compassion, And Community
Next Post

January 21, 2025 From Sodom and Gomorrah to Today: The Struggle for Justice
Recent Comments
"Gosh, did that hit the spot. I have been having great anxiety lately. And I ..."
Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human ..."
"Justice and peace are two sides of the same coin. Where there is justice, there ..."
Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."
"Thank you for your very, very powerful and very, very insightful analysis of the relationship ..."
Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."
"Given the amount of lethal malevolence that has prevailed in human history for the past ..."
Browse Our Archives
Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus
Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016
Follow Us!
TAKE THE
Religious Wisdom Quiz
What does James say about friendship with the world?
Select your answer to see how you score.
It pulls you from God It is foolishness It creates emnity with God It is dangerous
Related posts from A Little Bit of Nothing
'We're Like Pirates': Trump's Wars and Christian Faith
Rejecting Mammon In The Defense Of Animals And...
Charity Begins With Justice In Public Life
TRENDING AT PATHEOS Catholic
Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human Action
Christianity is a religion of hope. We are to have hope and...
It’s What Comes From Within Which Matters
One of the most difficult things for us to understand is why...
Why I Choose the Eucharist Over the Sermon
Choose the Eucharist, Not the Sermon What are we supposed to get...
5 Design Elements Found in Spiritually Rooted Homes
Putting Spirituality Into Home Decor Our homes are more than our living...
Credo: A Story of God Told with the...
About 10 years ago, I began to imagine a personal "Credo" that...
The Anatomy of Divine Revelation in Catholic Thought
The claim that God has made Himself known to human beings is...
view all Catholic blogs
What Are Your Thoughts?leave a comment
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
- About Us
- 2026 Calendar
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Library of World Religions
- Faith In Media Tracker
- Advertise With Us
- Write for Us
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Do Not Sell My Data
- Contact Us
- Radiant Digital
- Manage Newsletter Subscriptions
- Unsubscribe From Notifications
- Sitemap
Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.
Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In












