Obamania and Messianism
During the election campaign Republicans jokingly called Barack Obama “the Messiah.” To those of us fixated on history, the parallel is more than a joke.
We know a lot about messianic movements built around a single person because there have been so many of them, and they have been so well documented. They were rampant in the Middle East under Hellenistic and Roman rule. That was one reason many people found it hard to accept Jesus’ claims – they had been misled so often before.
From Bar Kochba to Jonestown, personal messianism has had certain things in common. One is almost complete suspension of disbelief in the “chosen” among his followers. Another is creation of expectations that are impossible to meet.
There have been differences also: Some of the “messiahs” have been deliberate frauds. Some were charismatic, but mentally ill. Some were simple folk who never fully understood what was happening. Some were well-meaning people who fell into the trap of hubris and failed to reduce their disciples’ expectations to reasonable levels.
Messianic movements almost invariably have baleful outcomes. Eventually the leader’s claims prove hollow and his followers feel betrayed and turn their frustrations on him, on themselves, or on others.
As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Jonestown tragedy, we would all do well to recall its lessons and to learn from them. Obama’s enthusiasts should remember that the President-Elect is only human and cannot possibly meet all the expectations that have been reposed in him.
Does that make Bill Ayers John the Baptist?
Human nature has not changed. As long as lazy greedy people reside in this nation they will continue to fall for the PT Barnums each election cycle.
Obama is an unusual combination of charisma, speaking ability, and intelligence. He could be dangerous.
Maybe 2 out of 3, we don’t know how to measure his intelligence since he never take a stand on issues above his pay grade.
[...] …As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Jonestown tragedy, we would all do well to recall its lessons and to learn from them. Obama’s enthusiasts should remember that the President-Elect is only human and cannot possibly meet all the expectations that have been reposed in him. More… [...]
Rob, I know that Gregg has dictated that we all have to be nicy-nice to you, but I’ll risk his ire, here. This post of gross assumptions is so seriously over the top ridiculous that I have to question your mental health. You have assumed that Obama is a messianic figure, and then solidify your fear while dismissing it as a “joke”, and then defending it with your awesome sense of history. In other words. you’re justifying your own paranoia. (Better living through circular reasoning, eh?)
I mean, very seriously, Rob. You just equated the man who will be the 44th President of the United States with a loon who took his faithful into the jungle. And you just cautioned us to be afraid that he will make us (willingly or not) drink poisoned cool-aid. Normally, I’d just ask, “are you high?” But no, I really think you believe this twaddle. Get help. Really.
I too am truly offended you are comparing our next president to a religious nut. there is no relationship between the two whatsoever other than they have both been covered by CNN in the last week.
[...] natelson over at electric city provides some amusing sidebar to the [...]
This one is so ridiculous all I could do was laugh. I find it comical that people like this exist and scary that they are a part of our educational system at such a high level. And we need to fear Obama?
Pronounce the argument over, and declare oneself the victor.
I have personally witnessed a large number of people getting behind Obama for no other reason than that he spoke and presented himself well in public. I’m not a white supremacist by any means, but if you think about it, haven’t white guys spoken and presented themselves more or less that well for centuries? Just watch those high-nosed, self-appointed experts on PBS for a while, and you’ll see what I mean.
My point? This article got me thinking: Could it be that the mesmerizing effect that Obama has had on so many might be somewhat due to the fact that everyone (of all races) is so used to the likes of Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Chris Rock defining what a black man is supposed to sound like? To be honest, I’m so used to hearing the typical, ebonics-ridden tripe that when I heard Obama speak for the first time, it WAS somewhat mesmerizing, perhaps because I had been so conditioned by seeing black man speak another way.
Just a thought, and one more…
Anyone who bases his vote on how well a candidate presents himself in public is destined for slavery–regardless of his race. I hate to fall back to the ol’ Hitlerian cliche’, but Hitler was a GREAT public speaker!
Hi Rob,
Jim from the Outpost here. How does Obama’s popularity differ from Reagan’s or Kennedy’s? Were they messianic as well? Does the popular guy have to possess a messianic complex, or does the mere existence of followers automatically bequeath that status?
I’m usually impressed with the structure and clarity of your arguments, but I can’t follow this one. I’m sure that you can straighten me out, though.
Are you fucking kidding me? I suppose Paul Volcker and Bill Gates are lining up to drink the cynide punch right now. Two words for your mental facilities: Nucking Futs.
Will, you must be able to do better than that. “Are you kidding me?” and “you’re stupid” don’t really cut it as discussion here.