Russ Moore and religious clickbait

Distraction is the basis of illusion

So my old classmate Russ Moore stepped forward a while back to demonstrate just what a court prophet in our new era will look like.  Russ isn't like some who simply align blindly with the leftwing colossus of our time.  He continues to keep one foot in the old time religion while trying desperately to stay friends with those whose feet are firmly planted in the profane. 

That is, after all, one of his selling points for the modern Left.  He maintains a 'still a Bible believing Christian at heart' identity while continually assuring the Left that all its hatred and accusations against Christians, especially Evangelicals, are spot on.  One of the few times the Left will spot you some dissenting views is if you make sure to confirm its hatred and contempt for others in your hated demographic. 

But how do you balance that 'I could never attend a gay wedding, but I sure could party at your gay wedding reception' approach without losing the old timer side of the aisle?  Easy.  You get back to basics now and then and do what worked in the past.  A little trick called distraction. Pay no attention to this hand, just look at what this other hand is focusing on.  Magicians use it all the time. 

In Russ's case, this is accomplished by getting our attention away from his mounting allegiance with the modern Left and pointing out that a major threat to America today is - drum roll please - Dungeons and Dragons!  I can almost conjure images of Russ on the set of the 700 Club next to Pat Robertson on this one.  Fantasy Roleplaying is hurting America!

That's as much a costless slab of meat for the more traditional supporters of Russ - and he still has them - as anything.  In recent years, his pronouncements have begun to make some who have stood by him a bit uneasy.  His claim that Evangelicals, being the racists we know they are, never cared about the unborn but used abortion to attack Jimmy Carter for daring to oppose racism, raised more than a few eyebrows.   

Likewise, his ardent anti-Trump rhetoric, in which he insisted that almost all support for Trump was from hypocritical fascist sexist Christians, ruffled more than a couple feathers.  It's worth noting that his famous 'Evangelicals are now what they once warned us about' quote deftly ignores the glaring hypocrisy of the Left in its condemnation of Trump over sexual behavior.  But that's a court prophet for you.

Just like this swipe at Dungeons and Dragons. He assuages fears of being a fundamentalist stereotype by snickering at the old 'it's of the devil!' concerns.  Instead, he says it's truly of the devil because of the terrible ways it portrays things like violence and heroism and fighting for a cause that stinks more of ancient pagan virtues than Christian ones.  

Which is likely fair.  But what he doesn't mention is that this is simply a small part of a broad pop culture attitude that can be found every bit as much in the latest Marvel movie or Disney outing as any D&D book on the dinner table. 

Why not throw all of the modern pop media culture offerings onto the fire?  Why pick on D&D?  That's what Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell would do. Like them or not, they didn't just stop with screaming at D&D, but would launch full form against Hollywood, the whole of the entertainment industry, vast corporate interests, or anything they saw as a threat to their Christian values and understanding of the world.  

But why doesn't Russ do that?  Why single out D&D?   Because regarding D&D, even in 'the age of the Geek' when geekdom and nerdiness are mainstream and even powerful, the old stereotypes that emerged from media brainwashing in the 80s still apply.  So it's an easy target.  It's what old timers called 'shooting cripples.'  Attack something that will cost nothing in return. 

But Marvel Studios?  Disney?  Modern Hollywood?  The general media culture of our day?  That's where the money is.  Buck such outlets and you might just loose those cushy dinner parties and media events hobnobbing with the beautiful people.  And we can't have that.

So just throw out a little slab of meat to the uneasy in your more traditional camps.  And make darn sure to ignore the donkey in the living room, since that might jeopardize your next media dinner party.  Look at the D&D in my hand, not the cozy relationship with vast powers opposed to the Faith in the other.   A little sleight of hand, a bit of the old distraction, but that's how it needs to be done.  For now at least.