Bible study by mail to trump

adminonNovember 16, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

Every Wednesday, evangelical pastor Ralph Drollinger lays out the Bible at the White House. Many Cabinet members show up for Bible study. President Trump, deeply revered by Drollinger, receives the interpretation via email.

The pastor like the president does not lack self-confidence. Donald Trump probably hasn't figured out yet "that he's chained himself to the Apostle Paul," the 6-foot-6 ex-pro basketball player tells CBN Bible TV about his push into the inner sanctum of power in Washington. This is how evangelical Ralph Drollinger sees himself, who for two decades has pursued only one goal: to bring his version of Jesus Christ to politicians at all stages of their careers.

His mission already took him to Capitol Hill two years ago, where he interpreted the Bible to Republican lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. In March, Trump opened the White House to the 63-year-old preacher. Since then, Drollinger's Wednesday morning teaching sessions have been a jour fixe for members of the administration. The hour-long Bible lesson will be attended by Justice Secretary Jeff Sessions, Housing Secretary Ben Carson, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and CIA chief Mike Pompeo, among others. Vice President Mike Pence is also rarely absent.

Trump is "like the invincible Samson"

"These guys are so faithful, willing and eager to learn," the pastor praises his listeners, whom he sometimes compares to biblical figures; Pence, for example, to Joseph before he goes before Pharaoh. With Trump, Drollinger has to think of Samson – that chosen one of God who remained invincible to the Philistines as long as he left his head hair unshorn. "I thank God for these people! 'Great people leading our nation,' Drollinger says.

So much devotion does not go unheard by the president. As a reward, the Bible study may be held in an office in the White House; and soon in the immediate vicinity of the Oval Office. Drollinger recently revealed to "Welt am Sonntag" that he often preaches on the book of Proverbs. For the story of King Solomon is of central importance for all who hold public office.

Another favorite topic is "decaying morals," which can only be restored to guide political action through strength. Politics, he says, must once again become the judge of wrong doing – and he believes President Trump is the best person to accomplish this.

From basketball to the Bible

The geography graduate is currently experiencing the high point of a second career as a revivalist in Washington. His career as a professional basketball player with the Dallas Mavericks ended abruptly in the early 1980s because his knees wouldn't take it anymore. Drollinger then turned to his new passion – trying to get fans interested in the Bible during halftimes.

He has been evangelizing politics since the late 1990s. Not only in the U.S., but also in South America, Africa and Europe, he dabbles in literal Bible interpretation. So he teaches that the world actually came into being in six days. He considers homosexuality a grave sin and believes mothers belong in the home. He considers the death penalty to be in line with the Bible. With execution, however, the executed man is to be forgiven.

"I just love this guy"

Drollinger turned an entire denomination against him when he called Catholicism "one of the false religions of the world," according to the Los Angeles Times. In a statement, the pastor dismisses it as "fake news," then reiterates his views himself. "The position of the Catholic religion is in direct opposition to what the Bible says: By grace you are saved through faith." Drollinger sees the reference to Paul in its directness. As a pastor, he has "great love" for those "caught in sin".

Trump himself hasn't found time for Bible study yet. The president receives Drollinger's Bible meditations by e-mail. Occasionally he responds with "great biblical interpretation" or the like. Its absence does not detract from the preacher's crush. Drollinger on Trump: 'I just love this guy'."

"He listened very well and made the different voices recognizable". This is the impression of Regina Laudage-Kleeberg, head of the youth department in the diocese of Essen, about the pope's letter "Christus vivit". Nevertheless important topics are missing.

Interviewer: Does Francis succeed in giving courage to the young people?

Regina Laudage-Kleeberg (Head of the Department for Children, Youth and Young Adults at the Episcopal General Vicariate in Essen): He has done that, to be honest. The young people have 77 pages in front of them, they have to struggle a bit through it. He has done one central thing, which I find particularly important: He has made this very great diversity in the youth area visible.

There is not one youth, but many, many different young people. This is visible in the paper. He listened very well and made the very different voices recognizable in his writing.

Interviewer: The Pope also deals with love and partnership in this letter, but he completely excludes homosexuality. How do you see it?

Laudage-Kleeberg: In any case, I think this is a great omission. At one point he says young people are moving away from the church in many places, especially because of its sexual morality. It alienates her.

You ask for clarification in terms of different ies in this area, identity of man and woman – what is the difference? But even homosexuality. He puts that down and then nothing happens. Then comes the next topic.

Interviewer: In the context of sexual abuse, the advice then emerges that young people should approach a priest if they have the impression that he is prone to assaults. What did you spontaneously think when you read that?

Laudage-Kleeberg: I hit my head. You have to imagine it figuratively. It's not like when I see someone stealing a banana and I say "Listen, this is against what you promised". If I were to perceive that someone is prone to assault, to sexual violence, or has already done something, and I notice that, then I should please remind them that they have an obligation to God and to the church. No one can tell me that anyone does that. It says to preach the Gospel to them, and it's all very well meant.

I think the pope means well. But this is beyond all reality. The person who identifies something like this is usually either concerned or deeply concerned because someone they know may have been abusive. Then I'm supposed to go and say, "Excuse me, you're not fulfilling your obligation to God and the church". This is totally unrealistic.

Interviewer: Can you explain that somehow, how the pope comes to his advice? Is he misadvised there or what is the reason for that?

Laudage-Kleeberg: I believe that this is profoundly his preservation of faith and values. He won't mean any harm. He said a lot around it, a lot needs to happen on prevention. He also spoke very clearly, not specifically, but very clearly. In his mindset, this is about faith. At one point later he becomes quite divine and says that God and Jesus Christ will give us the renewal in the Church. What does not happen is what we demand here in Germany – the realistic and concrete changes of actions by responsible people in the church. The help of God is asked for. That's why I'm not surprised he says addressing others on commitments to God and Church.

Interviewer: Back again. Young people should be the main actors in their own lives and also in the church, the letter says. Does this resonate with young people or are these words that fall flat?

Laudage-Kleeberg: I don't know if you read 77-page Vatican papers like this when you were young. I think the format is very young, pleasant and fresh by Vatican standards. But completely out of place for the actual target audience, in my opinion. Still, if you get through it, there's a lot of great stuff in there. We put it on as postcard slogans, because some young people collect postcard slogans. There are a lot of very nice encouraging things in there, for example, "The heart of a young person is holy ground.". So the adults should please take off their shoes.

There is a lot of encouragement and a lot of promise: make your decisions, develop yourself, let people accompany you. That's a great invitation to faith, that's already great. There is a lot of strong stuff in it, also a lot of balanced stuff. That's good.

Interviewer: You just have to translate it a little bit, or how does it come across to the young people??

Laudage-Kleeberg: Yes, and very neatly. The translation effort is now the "To Do" for us people who act in the youth field.

Interviewer: Again, bottom line, what does the paper bring to work with young people?

Laudage-Kleeberg: For us, it brings a lot, because it confirms, of what we do. The Pope has said there are two central lines of action for youth ministry: one is the search for God, the other is to accompany young people to develop and clarify their own identity. Exactly what we are doing. In this respect, it is a great confirmation and encouragement for what we are doing.

Internet Governance Forum: Access, Privacy and User Rights in Coronaziten

Suitable for the current Corona pandemic has the 15. Internet Governance Forum (IGF) of the United Nations the title "Internet as a means of human resistance and solidarity" given. Since Monday, the first advance debates in Phase I run. The official program of the 9. to 17. November in Phase II ongoing event is under the motto "Internet governance in times of uncertainty". Guided by the Sudolnian city of Katowice – therefore virtual IGF (VIGF) – expect the organizers about 4000 to 5000 participants to the more than 250 individual events.

COVID-19 has staged the this-year program of the MegaConference, not only due to the little surprising decision to completely relocate the event into the net. More than two dozen discussion rounds are explained by the importance of network communication under the conditions of the pandemic. The inequality occurs in times of stay home by missing or poor infrastructure? What disadvantages result for schoolers from households without access or hardware? What about the situation in the host country Poland?

Urgent: Privacy in the times of pandemic

In addition to the enormous impact light that the pandemic has thrown on the problem that there is still nearly 50 percent of world-free-of-network access, such as Vinton Cerf, the "Father of the internet", Terrified on Tuesday, numerous events also look at the question of whether the data protection can be used in times of health crisis.

The European Fundamental Rights Agency (EU AGENCY for Fundamental Rights, FRA) takes the topic of health data and KI from the occasion of the pandemic and the adult Corona apps under the magnifying glass. Who wants, can also visit the Chinese event at the same topic. The FRA suggests the connection of health data and Ki the arch to the second coarse theme of many workshops: How should companies and governments regulate artificial intelligence (Ki)?

The importance of standardization in the fully automated world has also recognized the host, UN General Secretar Antonio Gutres. In his in summer finished "Timetable for digital cooperation" Is the topic Ki far above. Apart from political initiatives for more access to the networks, the corresponding know-how and the appointment of a "Tech envoy" United Nations 2021, is the appeal of an international expert commerce on KI as a concrete maaking in the timetable.

Role of the UN and IGF

With his digital timetable and the Art Tech Envoy, Gutres underpinned his intention to make the United Nations to a platform for international digital policy. How difficult this is, shows the hard controversial topic cybersecurity, to the Gutres carefully from a further exploration of the member states in the direction "Common formulations" writing.

Especially in the field of cybersecurity this has "Multi-stakeholder chaos" good proposals made and thus an example supplied for this, how a multi-stakeholder IGF can unfold effect. The IGF Active Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) has developed a number of standards in broad consultations, including the protection of the nuclear infrastructures of the network. The latter has taken up the European Parliament last year and included in the EU Cybersecurity Directive.

In addition, the core area protection is now supported by 75 states of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) to Cybersecurity of the UN, said the Dutch government official Nathalie Jaarsma, Ambassador AT-Large for security policy and Cyber, with one of the first IGF preliminary events.

A little grassroots in the un?

Even more toothing between the so far as a Plauderstube Verwuslieb Forum hopes Wolfgang Smallwachter, Volkerrechtler, member of the GCSC and German Internet Governance Expert, from the upcoming reform of the IGF. In his timetable, Gutres given Grunes light for the expansion of the IGF to IGF +. Also this development is the topic of the upcoming IGF, which is on 25. November still a two-hour session for the completely open discussion with the potentially several thousand participants.

A few good ideas for the IGF + sees small width also come from Germany. The more active involvement of parliamentarians, which was launched in the IGF 2019 in Berlin, a lot of meaning, he says, because ever-passed laws were adopted nationally, which relate to the development and use of the Internet as a whole. The meeting will be repeated this year. In addition, in a paper, Berlin has just handed over together with the United Arab Emirates to Gutres, further proposals, such as national IGFs with the coarse IGF and the IGF with the UN committees and other normic bodies cooperate, so smallwaktern.

Real policy

In all the confidence of the IGF optimists, it does not apply to the rough gap between UN, IGF and diplomacy on one and the real policy on the other hand not to forget. A sequence of it thumpes at the VIGF 2020 a panel for the interlocking of the Internet Society. The organization warns with the Global Encryption Coalition against worldwide ongoing legislative initiatives, which want to force access to interlocked communication for law enforcement. The contradiction between the lodging and non-eliminated front turks gain politicians and other IGF participants later declared in the course of the event week.

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