Cults

 Paul Campos hits on an important idea here: we live in an Age of Cults. These are fundamentally irrational belief systems that rely on the idea that cult members have some special knowledge that non-cult members don't have. The various cults that Campos lists are overlapping niche areas of belief (I guess Trumpism can't be considered niche) that paint a picture of "savvy" inside knowledge. 

Take the Ur-Cult: QAnon. Adherents cling to a bonkers belief with no medical or criminal evidence to support it: the harvesting of hormones from children. The messianic return of JFK, Jr. is just the icing on the crazy cake, but the basic populist idea of elites killing children has no rational basis in anything. Actual events like Epstein can be folded into the belief system as needed. 

I know that I've had students who believe in the genius of Elon Musk and the appeal of crypto, which is a sort of techno-cult. Of course, the evangelical protestants and fundamentalist Catholics who make up the Republican base constitute a form of unreasoned belief in the divine mission of Donald Fucking Trump. Belief in a form of mystical Christianity can, I guess, lead you to believe that that odious ambulatory sack of selfishness was sent her by God.  Sure, Jan.

The question Campos doesn't address is why we live in an age of Cults. If I had to guess, I'd say it's precisely because we live in an increasingly secular world. The ancient religious texts are not especially relevant in language or literal meaning to millions of Americans. Religion, for all its many faults, provides a sense of purpose and belonging. Those are largely absent in modern life. 

People adrift will cling to anything that floats, I guess. There was a time when religious "awakenings" led to reforms, but these cults aren't really about that.