{"id":590,"date":"2026-02-06T14:09:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T20:09:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/?page_id=590"},"modified":"2026-05-12T08:30:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T13:30:39","slug":"unproductive-strategies-for-changing-hearts-and-minds","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/understanding\/unproductive-strategies-for-changing-hearts-and-minds\/","title":{"rendered":"UNPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES FOR CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS"},"content":{"rendered":"

JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED<\/strong><\/p>\n

Note to Readers: See this link<\/a> for a discussion of the biblical scripture about judging and this link<\/a> for a detailed discussion of Christian Nationalism.<\/p>\n

Trumpism<\/a> is closely aligned with Christian Nationalism. In a 2026 poll PRRI<\/a> reports the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Group<\/th>\nChristian Nationalist Adherents\/Sympathizers<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Republicans<\/td>\n56%<\/td>\nMajority, driven by white evangelicals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MAGA (inferred)<\/td>\n~50-60%<\/td>\nHigh overlap but includes secular nationalists<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
White Evangelicals<\/td>\n67%<\/td>\nStrongest CN\/MAGA relationship<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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MAGA’s base heavily includes Christian nationalists, particularly on issues like cultural traditionalism, but not all MAGA supporters embrace CN ideology (e.g., explicit “Christian nation” governance). Two-thirds of CN adherents see divine purpose in Trump’s leadership.<\/p>\n

That means that Trumpism<\/a> is a hybrid philosophy of politics, patriotism, religion and personal self-interest. Therefore, just as commitments to these ideologies go the core of who people are in their hearts and minds, the same is true of Christian Nationalists. This means that any strategy that hopes to dissuade people from Trumpism also confronts the same obstacles that would exist if they tried to dissuade someone from their religious beliefs, as well as their politics, their sense of patriotism and\u00a0 personal self-interest. Anyone who has ever tried to argue these issues with someone knows that logic and reason do not change hearts and minds.<\/p>\n

Most rational, religious people consider it socially unwise to tell someone in a face-to-face conversation that they will go to hell if they don\u2019t change their religion. Although religious people believe that their religion is THE<\/strong> religion that God prescribes, they don\u2019t typically challenge other religious people about their faith. Extremist bible thumpers and many Christian Nationalists will not restrain themselves from such confrontations. The rest of us will show respectful restraint, even though we are convinced in our hearts and minds that they are totally wrong. There is an unspoken, mutual acceptance, if not respect, for other religions that restrains us from telling others that their religion is wrong and bullying or coercing them to change their religion.<\/p>\n

The same kind of attitude exists with respect to politics \u2014 more or less \u2014 until election time. Unlike the issue of religion, at election time there are no cultural taboos against arguing about particular legislation, policies, parties and candidates in civilized, face to face conversations. We agree to disagree and hopefully remain friends without calling each other names or criticizing their thinking. Freedom to call names is reserved for political candidates, partisan political pundits, bloggers, and some news commentators who express their opinions at a safe distance from the people they offend. Most civilized people don\u2019t do these things.<\/p>\n

It is wrong to think of MAGA as evil, stupid people whose politics and religion can be changed with reason, logic and facts. It is correct, however, to think of them as normal people like us. The only difference between us and them is that they have been deluded by fine sounding rhetoric that radically activates their political and religious beliefs. The other difference is that their ideas of truth\u00a0and lies are different from our own.<\/p>\n

People who are active in politics and\/or religion should find it possible to relate to Christian Nationalists because they might otherwise share some of their political and religious beliefs with Trump’s supporters.\u00a0 The main difference between mainline Christians and MAGA is MAGA’s misguided zeal for Christian Nationalist ideology that underlies their politics and religion and their ideas about truth. So, just as most people discretely avoid arguing about politics and religion with people who do not agree with us, and just as most people avoid name-calling and bullying as strategies for making friends, or selling a product to a customer, they would do well to avoid these aggressive, in-your-face strategies if they hope to changing hearts and minds of people who disagree with their politics<\/p>\n

Preserving the relationship with MAGA \u00a0is more important than telling the truth to them one time. If the relationship is preserved, the opportunity to tell the truth may come later.<\/p>\n

Liberals feel like they are at war with MAGA<\/span>. Liberals should not feel like they have lost the war because they had to retreat from a single battle (i.e. verbal confrontation.) More likely, they are creating the relational environment in which someone else can speak the truth. It is critical to remember that MAGA beliefs may be the result of a lifetime of hearing lies. It may take many, many repetitions of truth to overcome those lies. Repetition of truth is a<\/span>\u00a0productive strategy for changing minds just like retelling of lies is also productive strategy for changing minds in a negative way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another important thing to remember is that logic and facts are meaningless arguments against MAGA\u00a0 ideology. Logic and reason does not fit into their understanding of truth.<\/p>\n

Because most people know hypocrisy and insincerity when they see it, it is critical that truthtellers have the right heart attitude before they share truth without an invitation to do so.\u00a0 After that, it is just a matter of knowing which facts to share with whom and when.<\/p>\n

When imagining how MAGA extremists might respond to attempts to change their hearts and minds, it is reasonable to assume that they will be resistant to the truthteller\u2019s efforts at first. It is useful for truthtellers to put themselves in the shoes of MAGA. How would you respond to aggressive, in-your-face attempts to change your heart and mind regarding your political and religious beliefs?<\/p>\n

Whatever you imagine that your response would be is what you can expect from MAGA. That is why truthtellers must be discreet, covert, patient and loving. These tactics are necessary because, if people suspect that someone is trying to manipulate them into agreeing with their personal political and religious beliefs, they are very likely to resist, double down on their beliefs and practices, and maybe even attack the truthtellers before listening to them.<\/p>\n

With all these principles in mind, here are a few attitudes and behaviors truthtellers should avoid when talking politics and religion with Christian Nationalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a>RECOMMENDED THINGS TO AVOID DOING<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Do not think of yourself as a member of one or more elite, unique, racial, religious, social, ethnic, economic or political subgroups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Do not elevate yourself by thinking of yourself as being morally, politically or spiritually superior to anyone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • In your mind, writing and conversations, do not call people disparaging names.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Never repeat a lie.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • When, in your heart, you feel like you should share these recommendations with others who chronically do the recommended things that no one should do, do not resist what your heart is telling you to do. But before you do share, judge your own heart to make sure that your do not have a splinter in your eye.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • In your mind, writing and conversations, do not use labels to identify others as members of one or more racial, religious, social, ethnic, economic or political subgroups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Do not judge or condemn yourself or others if you find that you, or they, violate these recommendations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Never base your decisions on who to vote for on what you hear or read from partisan media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Do not participate in partisan echo chambers as a leader or follower.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Do not get your news only from media that have reputations for being highly partisan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Do not make decisions about who to vote for based on political rhetoric and what you learn from partisan echo chambers, political leaders or religious leaders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • When you encourage others to vote, do not identify your personal political affiliation. Best you can, keep your ideas about voting apolitical.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • When making decisions about whom to vote for, never think in terms of policies, self-interest or party loyalty. Always\u00a0evaluate candidates in terms of character.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • When talking about politicians and voting, limit your comments to issues of character.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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