Politico: I Watched Orban Destroy Hungary's Democracy. Here's My Advice for the Trump Era.

[wnylib]

53. I know that Hitler comparisons are overworked sometimes

but they hold true on the "divine cult" tactic. Hitler used it very effectively. He used religious quotes and prayers in public speeches that implied that he had divine approval and that Germany had a divine destiny.

The Nazi Party installed influencers in churches to persuade people to those views. They created the German National Church. Several clergy resisted openly and in underground resistance activities. They were arrested and put in concentration camps where some were executed while others died of starvation and disease along with other camp prisoners. A few survived. Some who were from other countries were deported.

Trump is copying those tactics i.e. his use of Ave Maria at his rallies, his sale of "patriotic Bibles." Christian Nationalists are getting elected and appointed to givernment positions. Their version of Christianity has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus and everything to do with personal power.

Cults are not always religious, but religion is a ready made organization for cultists to take over. OTOH, it is also a ready made organization for resistance among churches that do not subscribe to the cult of merging religion with politics.