The MAGA cultists surely realize that Trump is all the horrible things the media say about him: 34-count felon, child rapist, grifter, etc. He is the most horrible person imaginable. He is often compared to Satan. Yet his followers still worship him. Why?
It is worth examining the literature on the psychology of Satan worshippers, to see whether there are similarities with, and perhaps explanations for, Trump-worship. Let’s look at some websites that discuss Satan worship.
SATANISM FROM A PSYCHOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT
Eugenio Fizzoti
Satanism From a Psychological Viewpoint | EWTN
Investigating the human relationship to various types of religion, Erich Fromm [psychologist popular around 1960] shows that some people manifest towards the divinity an attitude of absolute dependence, of blind and irrational obedience, of a passive acceptance of any norm. As a result, they think of themselves as inept and wretched creatures, capable of acquiring a certain strength only to the extent that a supreme and unchallenged power [e.g. Trump] reaches out to them.
Such an authoritarian and inhuman vision of one’s relationship with the divinity and, in the case of Satanism, with evil beings, although encouraging the loss of independence and moral integrity, offers the advantage (so to speak) of feeling protected by a formidable power which one somehow comes into contact with and becomes part of. Furthermore, this helps create the image of a despotic and terrible supreme being, jealous of his supremacy, arrogant and opposed to any relationship based on solidarity and on the promotion of values.
One often asks why Trump voters vote against their own interests. They vote for programs that actually harm them. The Satanic psychology explains this.
[Satanists display] a clearly masochistic tendency, manifested by a weak temperament, by the inclination to self-deprivation, by the need to feel weak and impotent, by the voluntary renunciation of all sense of freedom and personal responsibility. The basic tendency, then, is one of self-destruction: damage to oneself becomes preferred, caused or tolerated either to prevent hostility on the part of others, or to encourage others to have positive feelings or pity towards oneself. In this regard one need only think of the passive and irrational acceptance of “unquestioned leaders”, whose orders are obeyed without any resistance.
A third characteristic is tied to the introjection in strong, imposing terms, of the demands of one’s surroundings, which leads one to perceive the world of law and, in a more general way, the world of culture, society, and the family, as tyrannical. On the one hand, these lead to the fear of destruction, and on the other hand, paradoxically, to the relentless drive to act in negative and self-destructive ways.
Trumpism is about the rebellion against society, especially Government and the ‘Deep State’. That trait is also found in Satanism. Here is another instructive description, from an article in the website BETSHY:
The Dark Side of the Mind: Exploring the Psychology of Satanism
At its core, Satanism is a belief system that values individualism, self-empowerment, and personal freedom. Unlike the traditional view of Satanism as devil worship, modern Satanism is more about embracing one’s own desires and rejecting societal norms and restrictions. This can be seen as a form of rebellion against authority and a way to assert one’s independence.
Another aspect of Satanism is the belief in moral relativism, or the idea that morality is subjective and can vary from person to person. This can be liberating for individuals who have felt judged or restricted by societal norms and rules. By embracing Satanism, they can reject the idea of a universal moral code and instead create their own set of values and beliefs.
Satanism can also provide a sense of community and belonging for individuals who feel marginalised or misunderstood by mainstream society. By connecting with like-minded individuals who share their beliefs, they can find acceptance and support in a world that often rejects them.
It can be a way for individuals to assert their independence, embrace their desires, and reject societal norms. It can provide a sense of empowerment and self-actualisation, as well as a sense of belonging and community.
A study in the journal Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy found that more people associate Trump with the Devil than with God. Thus, the constant media reports of calling him ‘The Chosen One’, and his constant photographs with Bibles, are actually eclipsed by people feeling that he represents Satan.
One-Quarter of Americans Believe Donald Trump Is a Tool of the Devil, According to a New Study
New research reports that, while 17.2 percent of Americans believe Trump’s election “is a reflection of God’s will,” 27.7 percent believe he is “working for the devil.” That same percentage replied affirmatively to the statement: “The devil is using Donald Trump for his purposes.”
These psychological analyses go a long way towards explaining some of the strange behavior of the Trump cult. The general psychology is that they feel threatened by modern society and want to turn the clock back. Trump is their symbol of rebellion against modern society.
- Evil is applauded. The more inhumane Trump acts, the more his followers cheer him on for rebelling against the norms of society. The stronger the media reports of his child rape, the stronger the cult’s affinity for him. He, like Satan, is their anti-hero.
- Self-destruction. Trumpists vote against their own interests, just to ‘own the libs’. They can actually support the termination of their own Social Security or Medicare.
- Science and education represent the organized society they detest. The hatred for Dr. Fauci, the promoter of interventions against Covid-19, was so intense, the cultists wanted to kill him. They support ending research against cancer and other killers. And they clearly hate those elite universities like Harvard.
- Their god, Trump, is always right. He can say that the sky is pink today, and they will applaud. Then, when tomorrow he says the sky is green, they will applaud again. When the media point out lies or contradictions in what he says, it does not faze them.