David Stark

I’m a research professor in biblical studies who helps emerging biblical scholars hone their craft.

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

Since 10 November 2024, this feed's content has substantively changed. To learn more about this change or for a wider range of content from me, please see these comments. https://t.co/9UKsO2qxEC

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

.@Prjct2025's much-discussed "Mandate for Leadership" nowhere expressly uses the #MAGA slogan. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

A number of difficulties with #MAGA's religious appeals have been discussed, but one has generally escapted close scrutiny. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

The #MAGA slogan's use in response to the 11 September terror attacks may have helped lay the groundwork for the slogan's subsequently greater religious entanglements. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

By portraying the religiously correct viewpoint as wholly on #MAGA's side, the movement insulates itself from religious critique. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

#MAGA's religious appeals regularly illustrate strategies for portraying the religiously correct viewpoint as wholly on #MAGA's side. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

Since 2012, the #MAGA movement has developed a custom of regularly fusing religious appeals with its own agenda. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

#MAGA's history since 2012 finds its beginnings in a policy dispute over healthcare legislation. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

Since 2012, the #MAGA program has characteristically not laid itself open to being in the wrong. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

The "visible" church is the church in its concrete manifestations as it must always, beset with many stumbles, seek to follow its Lord more perfectly. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

The "invisible" church is the church in its ideal that is "always right." https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

The need to be able to be found in the wrong is one way of explaining how the difference between the "visible" and "invisible" church arises. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

Any other person who or group that asserts an inability to stand in the wrong usurps this right of judgment. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

Ultimately, only the one Lord will judge right and wrong for all. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

A party's inability to lose means that it has lost the possibility of engaging in free and fair play. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

A party's inability to lose does not mean it has a assurance of winning. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

A party's dismissal of critiques does not attest to its correctness, only its decision to ignore ways of improving. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

To exercise its role properly, a given party must always lay itself open to being shown to be in the wrong or losing. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

To exercise its role properly, whether within the American political system or elsewhere, any given party *cannot be* always the "winner" in a contest with another. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

To exercise its role properly, whether within the American political system or elsewhere, any given party *cannot be* "always right" in a contest with another. https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby

[David Stark @JDavidStark]

"The notorious statement, 'The party (or the Leader) is always right' is … wrong … because it … shield[s] the leadership … from any criticism that might be true." ~H.-G. Gadamer https://t.co/habiKM0HkA @CentreKirby