Two recent expressions of “state religion” that had an especially outsized impact were the 2018 funeral of John McCain, held at the aptly-named National Cathedral, as well as the exuberant displays of civil religiosity associated with the George Floyd protests and riots
Merching her husband’s image at a memorial service without Charlie’s parents or sister present, you call that normal? Erika Frantzve Kirk’s speech was reviewed so highly on all sides that her name is being floated as a well-spoken VP for rizz-free JD Vance. That and her instant worldwide fame must please this atypical MAGA wife, five years older than her husband, educated, knows business. Her husband traveled college campuses to urge girls, don’t come here to study, but just for entertainment. Don’t do what my own wife did.
What finished me was how she finished, that prolonged onstage cuddling with another veteran of pageants and of child sex trafficking. To be fair to the dry-eyed widow—no Tammy Faye, Erika’s Kleenex only neatened her mascara—Trump was both a buyer and a seller of young girls. Her premarital exploits are trending today on Substack and Instagram. If she didn’t want all of that, she could have chosen to act more like a widow of twelve days, more like every widow I’ve ever known. Act as I will, come the hateful day.
My husband and cousin had to physically support me to approach my gran’s grave, I’m so heartless. MAGA touts Charlie as a martyr, a newer better whiter MLK Jr., who also left fatherless children and a heartbroken wife. If you can read those arguments, followed by what Charlie said about Martin and shrug, you must be MAGA.
I also agree with you that Trump is an asshole who worships w0e-MEN. Beauty pageants are antithetical to actual Christianity and YES it DOES matter that she had premarital affairs because she has her own ministry, and scripture says you cannot have a ministry if you were married more than once (that includes premarital sex) also God does NOT allow w0e-MEN to have ministries in fact God does not want a w0e-MEN even speaking in church or having teaching authority as w0e-MEN are more sinful than MEN according to actual Christianity
I agree that Erika Kirk is a grifter and FALSE Christian. However, I don't believe underage prostitutes are victims. I don't believe Trumps accusers, or Cosby's or Weinstein's for that matter. I think those w0e-MEN are WHORES. As for Epstein's hoes... my take: Underage whores are just like overage whores. Much to do about nothing. And yes, Erika Kirk is a HARLOT by biblical standards
Legally that's the law and yet THEY CAN consent and do. If an underage sexually mature teenagers KILLS someone did she consent to pull the trigger? I know what the law says but truthfully to say a teenager can't consent is disingenuous and denies any agency to them which is dangerous because again what if an underage girl kills someone? Notice woe-MEN who molest underage boys never get the same wrath? So, I get what the law says but sexually mature teenagers are not innocent. Also, Virginia Guiffre was SEVENTEEN when she met Epstein & Andrew... that's a full adult and OVER the age of consent which is 16 in most of the US and Britian.
Anything to dominate women, Joseph J. I was homeless the year before I went to uni, and as a teenager quite familiar with what people do to survive. You’ll never be vulnerable, or in a subordinate position, and you like it like that.
Sorry to say Erika Kirk is an ATTENTION WHORE... TRAD/FEMINIST/MISANDRIST/PRIMADONA. She is animated & pretentious and is a FALSE Christian. She had no problem using the solemn event of Charlies memorial to admonish MEN for seeing their wives as house maids, servants, and employees" That's feminist bullshit and antithetical to scripture. God does not allow w0e-MEN to have ministries, and God does not allow w0e-MEN to admonish MEN or feminize the gospel. In fact the bible commands w0e-MEN to OBEY their husbands and SUBMIT to their husbands in ALL THINGS" Erika Kirk also wears miniskirts and is a former beauty queen both of which are antithetical to Christianity. Erica Kirk is a BIMBO
-Take the focus off/move forward away from Charlie’s murder itself with all its inconsistencies and implausibilities to the spiritual revival…
Likely anyone who questions the official government FBI-version will be labeled a conspiracy theorist…..
Ironic that Charlie would mention fear of Israel and then end up dead. Although nothing ties Israel to the murder they are professionals at their craft. Direct links are not probable. It may take years to unravel the mystery and then zero consequences for anyone.
-Attempt to introduce censorship, Pam Bondi among others, for wrong think/hate speech. Something Charlie was dead against.
Ironic that the government/UniParty would use Charlie’s death to promote censorship. They are Opportunists first. What Charlie represented means nothing to them. They never miss an opportunity to prosecute the real agenda. Now we know censorship is not just a Democratic agenda but a UniParty agenda. If censorship laws are ever implemented every comment potentially will become hate speech to silence people or comments. Orwell’s 1984
Agree, but it should be noted that many of those blasting Blondie the loudest on social media over her stupid "Hate Speech" remarks were also on the right.
This side does not share a hive mind, and doesn't hesitate to call out its "leaders" when they do dumb stuff.
We have built an electronic machine that is not made for humanizing people but dehumanizing them. It is easier for you to gaze upon their grief like you are looking at insects in a jar. The hundreds of thousands of likes on tweets that mock Erika Kirk or say they were all racists and deserved what they got or that it was a Nazi rally -- that's the story Michael. Not this. This was a group of people who were brought together because of Charlie's faith. That was the whole point of his mission and Turning Point. So what would you have them do, back off to avoid a sneering condemnation? They honored him the way they knew he wanted to be honored and they spoke the language of the faithful. I can understand why people would need faith at a time like this. It's better than burning down cities and transing the kids.
More and more evidence—which only Candace Owens is revealing—point to a different shooter. I never thought the official story was true. Especially after I saw how easy it was to climb a short flight of stairs and have full view of the roof area, to include the sniper’s nest. No chance Tyler Robinson laid for minutes on the ground with the rifle—so simple for someone to walk up, spot Robinson with a rifle and used I-phone to video him, while calling security. As for a 30-06 cartridge fired from a Mauser and not blowing through Charlie Kirk’s neck? This is getting as bad as the JFK assassination story.
Yeah, have faith. The faithful can't afford to live, or go see a doctor, or pay the rent. By all means get down on your knees, and keep praying. That actually was Kirk's message. I enjoy seeing the "I am Charlie Kirk" signs held aloft by people who clearly dont have a pot to piss in or who are, to be polite, "struggling." No, my little Christian naifs, you aint Charlie; you're missing the one thing he and Trump and the rest of those soulless grifters possessed--millions of dollars.
Nah, to me it was just another political event, because Charlie Kirk was a political entity who used the tools in his political toolbox, including Christianity, to achieve his political ambitions, which was to become president someday. Everybody who knew Charlie Kirk said he would be president one day and Charlie Kirk never denied his ambitions.
I'm a Christian and this ASSEMBLY was extremely offensive. Thankfully I found MTs vlog on YT which helped me see that I wasn't going nuts.. The 1st red flag was the memorial announcement that included Bobby Kennedy as a speaker. A fraud & a predator with blood on his hands. He systematically murdered (Mary Richardson) the 2nd of 3 wives.
The gathering for Charlie Kirk was a political event scaled into the likeness of an xtra large maga pep rally. We were treated to 3 hours of beautiful singing by the most popular American Christian singers which afforded rally attendees ample time to enter 1 of the 2 facilities. No one received a printed programme with family photos, the obituary, or an order of service. Instead, each stadium section held Turning Point signs which attendees held up and perhaps carried home as souvenirs. Attendees could be seen returning to their seats with food which I guess was understandable considering the length of time they waited outside of the facilities. TPUSA was interviewed by the Washington Examiner who filed employees registering attendees to vote.
Viewers never heard from anyone unaffiliated with TPUSA or the Trump Administration. The jumbo screens only shared photos of Charlie and his wife. I find that to be odd because a mother and father lost their son and a sister lost her brother but they were never seen, and barely acknowledged. No one even read his obituary, and his wife Erika never acknowledged his relatives or her relatives. No parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, childhood friends, teachers...nothing.
Erika referred to Kirk as "my charlie." It was almost as if Charlie's life began at age 21 when he founded TPUSA. Throughout the event, Erika was referred to by her new job title: CEO and Board Chair of TPUSA. It seemed like a TPUSA
Coronation for the former Miss Arizona who only a few months ago, (alongside her husband) told girls not to attend university or only attend in search of an MRS degree.
Kirk's political action committee was front and center like an event sponsor. The branding was over the top. Viewers were instructed on how to become involved, and offered "we are charlie" wristbands in exchange for donations. They even offered a tacky text number for "merch" purchases. 😳 Charlie Kirk by profession and passion was a political activist and while I hope his (invisible) friends and family felt this rally atmosphere was the most appropriate way to honor his memory, it reminded me of the DNC's principle: "never let a crisis go to waste.☆"
I'm a conservative who switched off the POTUS who began rambling about his administration's achievements and the crowd size. I think he paid for the event and plans to exploit the assassination as a kickoff for the midterms. In the past, Trump complained that Christians are not a loyal voting block. After Kirk’s death, I noticed a comment from a former RNC employee who blamed the 30% of Christians are not registered to vote.
The word REVIVAL was repeatedly mentioned. Erika said Charlie's death sparked a revival. POTUS Trump (who was absent for the singing which was the only portion of the event made to resemble a "service") compared the event to an "old time revival." That disingenuous & scripted statement (along with the pyrotechnics) made me feel as though we were being played/manipulated. I sincerely hope that church leaders will resist the temptation to conflate the maga movement (or the new 'we are charlie'/tpusa movement) with a spiritual revival bc nothing could be further from the truth.
The left is accused of using emotionalism to garner votes but apparently the right is guilty of the same tactics. TPUSA students were registering attendees to vote as they waited to enter the stadium. Trump's "pastor," Paula White, is IMO a leader of a religious cult called the NAR: New Apostolic Reformation. They created a heretical "7 mountains" theory about Christian leaders in every major sphere of influence and often speak of a "revival" before Christ's return which is unbiblical.
Will the RNC use this tragedy to conflate maga with the NAR?
Last week Glenn Beck said that Charlie Kirk is the 2nd American faith leader to be martyred in the USA---2nd only to Joseph Smith. Benny Johnson compared Kirk's assassination to the stoning of the disciple Stephen. Kirk's wife said Charlie is standing beside Jesus & wearing a martyr's crown. Vice President JD Vance declared Kirk, "a martyr for the Christian faith." Frank Turek compared Kirk's death to the beheading of John the Baptist, and another preacher labeled him 'America's youth pastor.'
Charlie Kirk was a professing Christian who was tragically murdered (assassinated) for his political activism, however the scriptures teach that our heavenly crowns will be laid at the feet of Jesus not worn on our heads in heaven. There was no benediction and not even a closing prayer offered up for the families. While I cannot speak about Joseph Smith and Mormonism, a CHRISTIAN martyr is a person who when threatened with death, s/he refused to deny their allegiance to Jesus as the Christ. This is not what happened to Charlie Kirk.
The left made George Floyd their martyr and built Act Blue. The right now has Charlie Kirk/We Are Charlie & TPUSA. Is it a mere coincidence that George Floyd & Charlie Kirk share the same date of birth? Kirk October 14th 1993 and Floyd 9ctober 14th 1973...?
I have to acknowledge the brilliance of our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Although he is a politician, Secretary Rubio's words at least met the sacredness of the moment. IMO Rubio actually eulogized Charlie Kirk and I would encourage everyone to view his 8 minute message. May Charlie Kirk's memory be a blessing.
Rubio is an idiot, a violent-minded stooge, recently in Israel to kiss the ass of Yahoo, and then howl for more genocide. Why on Earth would I want to watch that jackass eulogize the racist liar Kirk? Kirk's "memory" should be a blessing? Maybe for you, but I don't have any use for dog-whistling racists with third-rate minds who got his fortune from the right-wing fascist billionaires who supported his reactionary bullshit. Kirk found out who was boss when, after chafing a bit under Yahoo's demands, he was abandoned by at least one of his billionaire supporters. Ah well. The obsession with Kirk will roll on for a while yet, but war approaches, and that will overshadow our latest distraction.
No, it is dead as a political entity, which is what will eventually happen to Charlie Kirk and his "movement." Reduce to a memory, and not even a nostalgic one at that, which is where blm is today.
"That’s why the McCain Holy Week goodbye tour had an ineffable feeling of finality about it, even if it was hard to pinpoint exactly why."
I also thought it was strange that McCain had 3 funerals. I don't recall that ever happening before. It seemed like his funerals went on for a week, and they were careful to mention that he had specifically demanded that Trump be barred from attending any of them. Imagine being so consumed with hate that, in the midst of planning your 3 funerals, you take care to exclude certain people.
The juxtaposition of the two "movements" in your essay is interesting. my own observation of Mr. Kirk has been that he had two categories of message; spiritual and secular, with a percentage of overlap between the two. The "faith and family" category was an example.
Perhaps counterintuitively, "country and conversation" was another overlap.
I fully agree that the"Church of Saint George" is religiously structured, but it has more of Stalin than saintliness about it, and I mean that quite literally.
Charlie Kirk, if we have made him a martyr, will be remembered for having that categorical overlap, even in the manner of his dying at the hand of an assassin. He died for his faith, but he died mainly for his effectiveness as a counterrevolutionary. Whatever his arguments may have been, his "signature" line was "think about it." He meant "think for yourself."
Yes, the religious aspect was central to what he preached, but his opposition are modern Jacobins, censorious to a murderous degree. Mr. Kirk trespassed on their ideological purity enforcement; a grave sin indeed.
I do not know if the sociopolitical pendulum will swing all the way over once again, Mr. Tracey, but if the Liberal and Conservative consensus that I encounter IRL, regarding Charlie's assassination is any indication, I don't think we're heading for the putsch that the Jacobins have been clamoring for.
Rest in peace, Charlie; you did what you set out to do, and it was a job well done.
I didn't watch the Charlie Kirk memorial but from what I'm seeing, it appears it was something like the late Aimee Semple McPherson put on back in the early Twentieth Century. This is not surprising. Rob McCoy, Kirks "pastor," is a Pentecostal affiliated with the Cavalry Chapel movement. Cavalry Chapel was the Foursquare Gospel church in California where a druggie and mystic homosexual named Lonnie Frisbee started bringing in kids from the beaches and proclaimed them filled with the Holy Spirit. Incidentally, the Foursquare Gospel denomination was founded by Aimee McPherson after she left the Assemblies of God. Charlie kIrk, who was a Presbyterian, evidently was suckered into Pentecostalism Rob M and the Seven Mountains Mandate by Rob McCoy, who says he's not a Dominionist but shows that he is by what he says.
I started reading about the 7 Mountain Mandate, Lonnie Frisbee, Chuck Smith, Peter Wagner, the New Apostolic Reformation, Mike Bickel et al about fifteen years ago when I became a Christian. It was alarming to me then (and now!) and I was shocked that "Christians" do not seem to know about this stuff that has been infiltrating the church for decades.
I hope you keep reflecting on this subject, and in the fullness of time, write on it again. You’re on to something important here, but this one was too inchoate, too off the cuff. The knee-jerk contrarianism gets the better of you sometimes.
What is the distinction between the religious and the political? What are the sacred rites of the American civic religion, Thanksgiving for example? How is the Bill of Rights a sacred text, and the assassination of a free speech advocate a blasphemy against it? Where is the rift such that Floyd is sacramental to one sect, and Kirk to another?
I’m not really here to be critical of this post, although I thought it was not that great. I want to urge you to try harder, dig deeper into the topic, and come up with something more thoughtful, and perhaps beautiful. Start by dropping the contempt.
I've been writing on the subject of "state religion" for years, as evidenced my extensive use in this article of two prior examples that I covered contemporaneously. I've also written about, studied, and reported on American Christianity -- particularly its political manifestations -- for many years. I even formally studied religion in college, with a concentration on American Christianity. And yet you still call me "knee-jerk contrarian," as though I'm just cynically spouting off for no reason other than to troll or antagonize people on the internet. Thus, I have to disregard your smug, reflexive, and dismissive comment. Sorry.
You do realize that European states have “state” religions, e.g., the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, right? How exactly is that being implemented in the USA?
Correct. Eric Fromme said back in the 1950's that "Most Christians worship totemism instead of Christ" I have been railing against 'Christians' since the late 1970's for worshipping the flag & the beauty queen instead of Christ. I AM a believer in Jesus BUT to most Christians he's just another idol alongside the flag and the beauty queen. Truthfully most of Christianity is a white nationalist cult from the south and has very little to do with Christ. Real Christians know that pledging to the flag is praying to a graven image. Real Christians also know that Lucifer became proud of his beauty, so what's that say about Christian's embracing beauty pageants?
Merching her husband at his so-called memorial service: Erika Frantzve Kirk works through the third stage of the Five Stages of Grift.
I don't get this - the need to demonize a woman who just lost her husband. You must be on the Left. Only people like you can be this ugly inside.
Merching her husband’s image at a memorial service without Charlie’s parents or sister present, you call that normal? Erika Frantzve Kirk’s speech was reviewed so highly on all sides that her name is being floated as a well-spoken VP for rizz-free JD Vance. That and her instant worldwide fame must please this atypical MAGA wife, five years older than her husband, educated, knows business. Her husband traveled college campuses to urge girls, don’t come here to study, but just for entertainment. Don’t do what my own wife did.
What finished me was how she finished, that prolonged onstage cuddling with another veteran of pageants and of child sex trafficking. To be fair to the dry-eyed widow—no Tammy Faye, Erika’s Kleenex only neatened her mascara—Trump was both a buyer and a seller of young girls. Her premarital exploits are trending today on Substack and Instagram. If she didn’t want all of that, she could have chosen to act more like a widow of twelve days, more like every widow I’ve ever known. Act as I will, come the hateful day.
My husband and cousin had to physically support me to approach my gran’s grave, I’m so heartless. MAGA touts Charlie as a martyr, a newer better whiter MLK Jr., who also left fatherless children and a heartbroken wife. If you can read those arguments, followed by what Charlie said about Martin and shrug, you must be MAGA.
I also agree with you that Trump is an asshole who worships w0e-MEN. Beauty pageants are antithetical to actual Christianity and YES it DOES matter that she had premarital affairs because she has her own ministry, and scripture says you cannot have a ministry if you were married more than once (that includes premarital sex) also God does NOT allow w0e-MEN to have ministries in fact God does not want a w0e-MEN even speaking in church or having teaching authority as w0e-MEN are more sinful than MEN according to actual Christianity
I agree with most of your post. Erika Kirk is a grifter and IMOP a HARLOT
I agree that Erika Kirk is a grifter and FALSE Christian. However, I don't believe underage prostitutes are victims. I don't believe Trumps accusers, or Cosby's or Weinstein's for that matter. I think those w0e-MEN are WHORES. As for Epstein's hoes... my take: Underage whores are just like overage whores. Much to do about nothing. And yes, Erika Kirk is a HARLOT by biblical standards
If a girl is underage, she cannot give consent.
Legally that's the law and yet THEY CAN consent and do. If an underage sexually mature teenagers KILLS someone did she consent to pull the trigger? I know what the law says but truthfully to say a teenager can't consent is disingenuous and denies any agency to them which is dangerous because again what if an underage girl kills someone? Notice woe-MEN who molest underage boys never get the same wrath? So, I get what the law says but sexually mature teenagers are not innocent. Also, Virginia Guiffre was SEVENTEEN when she met Epstein & Andrew... that's a full adult and OVER the age of consent which is 16 in most of the US and Britian.
Anything to dominate women, Joseph J. I was homeless the year before I went to uni, and as a teenager quite familiar with what people do to survive. You’ll never be vulnerable, or in a subordinate position, and you like it like that.
Sorry to say Erika Kirk is an ATTENTION WHORE... TRAD/FEMINIST/MISANDRIST/PRIMADONA. She is animated & pretentious and is a FALSE Christian. She had no problem using the solemn event of Charlies memorial to admonish MEN for seeing their wives as house maids, servants, and employees" That's feminist bullshit and antithetical to scripture. God does not allow w0e-MEN to have ministries, and God does not allow w0e-MEN to admonish MEN or feminize the gospel. In fact the bible commands w0e-MEN to OBEY their husbands and SUBMIT to their husbands in ALL THINGS" Erika Kirk also wears miniskirts and is a former beauty queen both of which are antithetical to Christianity. Erica Kirk is a BIMBO
What?
I must have missed that, because I was so surprised to hear her say that she forgave her husband's killer.
Other possible components
-Take the focus off/move forward away from Charlie’s murder itself with all its inconsistencies and implausibilities to the spiritual revival…
Likely anyone who questions the official government FBI-version will be labeled a conspiracy theorist…..
Ironic that Charlie would mention fear of Israel and then end up dead. Although nothing ties Israel to the murder they are professionals at their craft. Direct links are not probable. It may take years to unravel the mystery and then zero consequences for anyone.
-Attempt to introduce censorship, Pam Bondi among others, for wrong think/hate speech. Something Charlie was dead against.
Ironic that the government/UniParty would use Charlie’s death to promote censorship. They are Opportunists first. What Charlie represented means nothing to them. They never miss an opportunity to prosecute the real agenda. Now we know censorship is not just a Democratic agenda but a UniParty agenda. If censorship laws are ever implemented every comment potentially will become hate speech to silence people or comments. Orwell’s 1984
Agree, but it should be noted that many of those blasting Blondie the loudest on social media over her stupid "Hate Speech" remarks were also on the right.
This side does not share a hive mind, and doesn't hesitate to call out its "leaders" when they do dumb stuff.
We have built an electronic machine that is not made for humanizing people but dehumanizing them. It is easier for you to gaze upon their grief like you are looking at insects in a jar. The hundreds of thousands of likes on tweets that mock Erika Kirk or say they were all racists and deserved what they got or that it was a Nazi rally -- that's the story Michael. Not this. This was a group of people who were brought together because of Charlie's faith. That was the whole point of his mission and Turning Point. So what would you have them do, back off to avoid a sneering condemnation? They honored him the way they knew he wanted to be honored and they spoke the language of the faithful. I can understand why people would need faith at a time like this. It's better than burning down cities and transing the kids.
If you think "that's the story" then feel free to write about it. Don't tell me what I should be writing.
Nice post.
More and more evidence—which only Candace Owens is revealing—point to a different shooter. I never thought the official story was true. Especially after I saw how easy it was to climb a short flight of stairs and have full view of the roof area, to include the sniper’s nest. No chance Tyler Robinson laid for minutes on the ground with the rifle—so simple for someone to walk up, spot Robinson with a rifle and used I-phone to video him, while calling security. As for a 30-06 cartridge fired from a Mauser and not blowing through Charlie Kirk’s neck? This is getting as bad as the JFK assassination story.
Yeah, have faith. The faithful can't afford to live, or go see a doctor, or pay the rent. By all means get down on your knees, and keep praying. That actually was Kirk's message. I enjoy seeing the "I am Charlie Kirk" signs held aloft by people who clearly dont have a pot to piss in or who are, to be polite, "struggling." No, my little Christian naifs, you aint Charlie; you're missing the one thing he and Trump and the rest of those soulless grifters possessed--millions of dollars.
"Transing the kids"... Says it all...
Nah, to me it was just another political event, because Charlie Kirk was a political entity who used the tools in his political toolbox, including Christianity, to achieve his political ambitions, which was to become president someday. Everybody who knew Charlie Kirk said he would be president one day and Charlie Kirk never denied his ambitions.
I'm a Christian and this ASSEMBLY was extremely offensive. Thankfully I found MTs vlog on YT which helped me see that I wasn't going nuts.. The 1st red flag was the memorial announcement that included Bobby Kennedy as a speaker. A fraud & a predator with blood on his hands. He systematically murdered (Mary Richardson) the 2nd of 3 wives.
The gathering for Charlie Kirk was a political event scaled into the likeness of an xtra large maga pep rally. We were treated to 3 hours of beautiful singing by the most popular American Christian singers which afforded rally attendees ample time to enter 1 of the 2 facilities. No one received a printed programme with family photos, the obituary, or an order of service. Instead, each stadium section held Turning Point signs which attendees held up and perhaps carried home as souvenirs. Attendees could be seen returning to their seats with food which I guess was understandable considering the length of time they waited outside of the facilities. TPUSA was interviewed by the Washington Examiner who filed employees registering attendees to vote.
Viewers never heard from anyone unaffiliated with TPUSA or the Trump Administration. The jumbo screens only shared photos of Charlie and his wife. I find that to be odd because a mother and father lost their son and a sister lost her brother but they were never seen, and barely acknowledged. No one even read his obituary, and his wife Erika never acknowledged his relatives or her relatives. No parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, childhood friends, teachers...nothing.
Erika referred to Kirk as "my charlie." It was almost as if Charlie's life began at age 21 when he founded TPUSA. Throughout the event, Erika was referred to by her new job title: CEO and Board Chair of TPUSA. It seemed like a TPUSA
Coronation for the former Miss Arizona who only a few months ago, (alongside her husband) told girls not to attend university or only attend in search of an MRS degree.
Kirk's political action committee was front and center like an event sponsor. The branding was over the top. Viewers were instructed on how to become involved, and offered "we are charlie" wristbands in exchange for donations. They even offered a tacky text number for "merch" purchases. 😳 Charlie Kirk by profession and passion was a political activist and while I hope his (invisible) friends and family felt this rally atmosphere was the most appropriate way to honor his memory, it reminded me of the DNC's principle: "never let a crisis go to waste.☆"
I'm a conservative who switched off the POTUS who began rambling about his administration's achievements and the crowd size. I think he paid for the event and plans to exploit the assassination as a kickoff for the midterms. In the past, Trump complained that Christians are not a loyal voting block. After Kirk’s death, I noticed a comment from a former RNC employee who blamed the 30% of Christians are not registered to vote.
The word REVIVAL was repeatedly mentioned. Erika said Charlie's death sparked a revival. POTUS Trump (who was absent for the singing which was the only portion of the event made to resemble a "service") compared the event to an "old time revival." That disingenuous & scripted statement (along with the pyrotechnics) made me feel as though we were being played/manipulated. I sincerely hope that church leaders will resist the temptation to conflate the maga movement (or the new 'we are charlie'/tpusa movement) with a spiritual revival bc nothing could be further from the truth.
The left is accused of using emotionalism to garner votes but apparently the right is guilty of the same tactics. TPUSA students were registering attendees to vote as they waited to enter the stadium. Trump's "pastor," Paula White, is IMO a leader of a religious cult called the NAR: New Apostolic Reformation. They created a heretical "7 mountains" theory about Christian leaders in every major sphere of influence and often speak of a "revival" before Christ's return which is unbiblical.
Will the RNC use this tragedy to conflate maga with the NAR?
Last week Glenn Beck said that Charlie Kirk is the 2nd American faith leader to be martyred in the USA---2nd only to Joseph Smith. Benny Johnson compared Kirk's assassination to the stoning of the disciple Stephen. Kirk's wife said Charlie is standing beside Jesus & wearing a martyr's crown. Vice President JD Vance declared Kirk, "a martyr for the Christian faith." Frank Turek compared Kirk's death to the beheading of John the Baptist, and another preacher labeled him 'America's youth pastor.'
Charlie Kirk was a professing Christian who was tragically murdered (assassinated) for his political activism, however the scriptures teach that our heavenly crowns will be laid at the feet of Jesus not worn on our heads in heaven. There was no benediction and not even a closing prayer offered up for the families. While I cannot speak about Joseph Smith and Mormonism, a CHRISTIAN martyr is a person who when threatened with death, s/he refused to deny their allegiance to Jesus as the Christ. This is not what happened to Charlie Kirk.
The left made George Floyd their martyr and built Act Blue. The right now has Charlie Kirk/We Are Charlie & TPUSA. Is it a mere coincidence that George Floyd & Charlie Kirk share the same date of birth? Kirk October 14th 1993 and Floyd 9ctober 14th 1973...?
I have to acknowledge the brilliance of our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Although he is a politician, Secretary Rubio's words at least met the sacredness of the moment. IMO Rubio actually eulogized Charlie Kirk and I would encourage everyone to view his 8 minute message. May Charlie Kirk's memory be a blessing.
Rubio is an idiot, a violent-minded stooge, recently in Israel to kiss the ass of Yahoo, and then howl for more genocide. Why on Earth would I want to watch that jackass eulogize the racist liar Kirk? Kirk's "memory" should be a blessing? Maybe for you, but I don't have any use for dog-whistling racists with third-rate minds who got his fortune from the right-wing fascist billionaires who supported his reactionary bullshit. Kirk found out who was boss when, after chafing a bit under Yahoo's demands, he was abandoned by at least one of his billionaire supporters. Ah well. The obsession with Kirk will roll on for a while yet, but war approaches, and that will overshadow our latest distraction.
Can the Republican Party safely channel this "revival" and co-opt it like the Dem Party did with George Floyd? We'll see.
...and where are BLM and George Floyd now, same answer, both are dead, that's where they are now.
BLM isn't dead, but rather completely co-opted.
No, it is dead as a political entity, which is what will eventually happen to Charlie Kirk and his "movement." Reduce to a memory, and not even a nostalgic one at that, which is where blm is today.
It wasn't a memorial service. It was a political pep rally.
Charlie Kirk's Birthday: October 14, 1993
George Floyd's Birthday: October 14, 1973
This is a really good line:
"That’s why the McCain Holy Week goodbye tour had an ineffable feeling of finality about it, even if it was hard to pinpoint exactly why."
I also thought it was strange that McCain had 3 funerals. I don't recall that ever happening before. It seemed like his funerals went on for a week, and they were careful to mention that he had specifically demanded that Trump be barred from attending any of them. Imagine being so consumed with hate that, in the midst of planning your 3 funerals, you take care to exclude certain people.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the Paul Wellstone memorial.
Charlie Kirk died for our sins, there are reports of his grave is now empty, he is risen!
I heard F-News is going to change their name to "The Charlie Kirk Memorial Network." Their new motto is "You can't spell Charlie without a lie!"
The juxtaposition of the two "movements" in your essay is interesting. my own observation of Mr. Kirk has been that he had two categories of message; spiritual and secular, with a percentage of overlap between the two. The "faith and family" category was an example.
Perhaps counterintuitively, "country and conversation" was another overlap.
I fully agree that the"Church of Saint George" is religiously structured, but it has more of Stalin than saintliness about it, and I mean that quite literally.
Charlie Kirk, if we have made him a martyr, will be remembered for having that categorical overlap, even in the manner of his dying at the hand of an assassin. He died for his faith, but he died mainly for his effectiveness as a counterrevolutionary. Whatever his arguments may have been, his "signature" line was "think about it." He meant "think for yourself."
Yes, the religious aspect was central to what he preached, but his opposition are modern Jacobins, censorious to a murderous degree. Mr. Kirk trespassed on their ideological purity enforcement; a grave sin indeed.
I do not know if the sociopolitical pendulum will swing all the way over once again, Mr. Tracey, but if the Liberal and Conservative consensus that I encounter IRL, regarding Charlie's assassination is any indication, I don't think we're heading for the putsch that the Jacobins have been clamoring for.
Rest in peace, Charlie; you did what you set out to do, and it was a job well done.
https://vtforeignpolicy.com/2025/09/the-pre-trib-rapture-is-today-september-25th-a-supernatural-revelation-in-south-africa/. This article has some updates from Geopolitics Prime on the Memorial Circus.
I didn't watch the Charlie Kirk memorial but from what I'm seeing, it appears it was something like the late Aimee Semple McPherson put on back in the early Twentieth Century. This is not surprising. Rob McCoy, Kirks "pastor," is a Pentecostal affiliated with the Cavalry Chapel movement. Cavalry Chapel was the Foursquare Gospel church in California where a druggie and mystic homosexual named Lonnie Frisbee started bringing in kids from the beaches and proclaimed them filled with the Holy Spirit. Incidentally, the Foursquare Gospel denomination was founded by Aimee McPherson after she left the Assemblies of God. Charlie kIrk, who was a Presbyterian, evidently was suckered into Pentecostalism Rob M and the Seven Mountains Mandate by Rob McCoy, who says he's not a Dominionist but shows that he is by what he says.
I started reading about the 7 Mountain Mandate, Lonnie Frisbee, Chuck Smith, Peter Wagner, the New Apostolic Reformation, Mike Bickel et al about fifteen years ago when I became a Christian. It was alarming to me then (and now!) and I was shocked that "Christians" do not seem to know about this stuff that has been infiltrating the church for decades.
I hope you keep reflecting on this subject, and in the fullness of time, write on it again. You’re on to something important here, but this one was too inchoate, too off the cuff. The knee-jerk contrarianism gets the better of you sometimes.
What is the distinction between the religious and the political? What are the sacred rites of the American civic religion, Thanksgiving for example? How is the Bill of Rights a sacred text, and the assassination of a free speech advocate a blasphemy against it? Where is the rift such that Floyd is sacramental to one sect, and Kirk to another?
I’m not really here to be critical of this post, although I thought it was not that great. I want to urge you to try harder, dig deeper into the topic, and come up with something more thoughtful, and perhaps beautiful. Start by dropping the contempt.
I've been writing on the subject of "state religion" for years, as evidenced my extensive use in this article of two prior examples that I covered contemporaneously. I've also written about, studied, and reported on American Christianity -- particularly its political manifestations -- for many years. I even formally studied religion in college, with a concentration on American Christianity. And yet you still call me "knee-jerk contrarian," as though I'm just cynically spouting off for no reason other than to troll or antagonize people on the internet. Thus, I have to disregard your smug, reflexive, and dismissive comment. Sorry.
Your treatment of this subject is excellent and I thank you. Few would touch it the way you did.
You do realize that European states have “state” religions, e.g., the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, right? How exactly is that being implemented in the USA?
Correct. Eric Fromme said back in the 1950's that "Most Christians worship totemism instead of Christ" I have been railing against 'Christians' since the late 1970's for worshipping the flag & the beauty queen instead of Christ. I AM a believer in Jesus BUT to most Christians he's just another idol alongside the flag and the beauty queen. Truthfully most of Christianity is a white nationalist cult from the south and has very little to do with Christ. Real Christians know that pledging to the flag is praying to a graven image. Real Christians also know that Lucifer became proud of his beauty, so what's that say about Christian's embracing beauty pageants?
Praise the Lord almighty for Michael Tracy!