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Matthew D. Taylor: Vance and Thiel misuse Antichrist concept as power tool

The Bulwark columnist argues the VP and his tech patron have inverted the theological warning to serve their own authority.

newest coverage 5h agosummary written 4d ago7 pieces6 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Vice President Vance stated in late August he would not be shocked if the Antichrist were alive today and claims to sense dark spiritual energy in world leaders—raising questions about apocalyptic theology influencing foreign policy.
  • His mentor Peter Thiel has been touring secret lectures and publishing essays on the Antichrist, condemning opposition to tech futures as spiritually dangerous.
  • Columnist Matthew D. Taylor argues both men have inverted Antichrist theology, weaponizing it from positions of power rather than heeding its warning against abuse of authority.
  • Thiel donated $15 million to Vance's 2022 Senate campaign and has been his financial patron and mentor throughout his political rise.

“Should American foreign policy be guided by impressions of a "certain darkness" or "dark spiritual energy" such as the vice president claims to have felt around other leaders at world summits?”

Matthew D. Taylor, Columnist, The Bulwark · The Bulwark ↗ · Oct 8

JD VanceJD Vance Vice President of the United StatesPeter ThielPeter Thiel Silicon Valley billionaire, Vance's mentor and financial patronMatthew D. Taylor Columnist, The Bulwark

Matthew D. Taylor: Vance and Thiel misuse Antichrist concept as power tool
thebulwark.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

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Oct 10Oct 11Oct 12yesterdaynow · 4:44 AM ET
  1. 1
    “Speaking from positions of immense power, they are using the idea as a tool to further their own power—precisely what the concept is meant to warn against.”
    — Matthew D. Taylor
    1. 2 outlets How Vance and Thiel Get the Antichrist Backwards

      first by Mastodon, 5d ago · also The Bulwark

    • "Speaking from positions of immense power, they are using the idea as a tool to further their own power—precisely what the concept is meant to warn against." @drmatthewdtaylor on Thiel, Vance, and the Antichrist:

      bulwarkonline@threads.netMastodon4d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch

    • "As Thiel himself once put it, 'Perhaps if you talk too much about Armageddon, you are secretly pushing the agenda of the Antichrist.' We would do well to take him at his word."

      bulwarkonline@threads.netMastodon5h agoview on Mastodon ↗

    • "Notably, Thiel and Vance both have the Antichrist entirely upside down: speaking from positions of immense power, they are using the idea as a tool to further their own power—precisely what the concept is meant to warn against." 💥💥💥 RE:

      mabsamabbin.bsky.social@bsky.brid.gyMastodon4d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. background

    Vance discusses Antichrist during evangelical podcast interview — During a conversation with Bryce Crawford, a 22-year-old evangelical podcaster, Vice President JD Vance shared stories about his teenage fascination with end-times prophecy and stated he would "not [be] shocked if the Antichrist was walking among us." He also described sensing "certain darkness" or "dark spiritual energy" around other leaders at world summits.

  3. background

    Thiel publishes Antichrist essay in First Things — Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel co-authored an essay titled "The Pope and the Antichrist" published in the right-wing religious journal First Things. This followed a series of secretive, off-the-record lectures Thiel has been conducting on the Antichrist over the past year.

What people are saying 1 voices from 1 site · best of 4 · verbatim