We have it from the Evangelical mouth of Dr. James Dobson that Donald Trump has been reborn. Having accepted Jesus as his Savior, the man who hasn’t a clue to the difference between sanctity and sanctimony is now “a baby Christian” growing every day in the faith. If you don’t accept this on faith, you’re “a loser” and “stupid”—as The Donald will no doubt soon tweet.
This is truly epochal conversion news! Perhaps it doesn’t quite rank up there with the Emperor Constantine converting himself—and the Roman Empire—to Christianity. Or to France’s Henry of Navarre converting from Protestantism to Rome—becoming Henri IV—because “Paris is worth a mass.” It may also not get the media play of Bruce Jenner’s gender conversion.
Ronald Reagan converted from Democrat to GOP but without divine inspiration.
We Jews can only envy a coup that certainly outranks Sam Davis Jr.’s—or Madonna’s—conversion to Judaism. Trumps own daughter Ivanka’s conversion is also now just a footnote; did she fail to get him to follow in her footsteps? Let’s breathe a sigh of relief!
The Muslims scored a lesser coup some centuries ago when Zabatai Zvi converted, but only became the Turkish Sultan’s doorman. More recently, Rock ‘n Roll’s Cat Stevens became Yusuf Islam. The music has gone down hill. I would include Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali except that “Black Muslim”/Nation of Islam heterodoxy is a complication.
Reports are that Mel Gibson has been planning a film on the resurrection to follow up his crucifixion epic. Now, he can shift themes to Trump’s conversion: a “yuge story” in the chronicles of the making of the president 2016, no doubt—if not the greatest every told.
Leonard Cohen should add a verse to “Hallelujah.”
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