Time for a Trump 'Purge?'

President Donald Trump posted a prayer to social media on Sunday, asking Saint Michael for help battling "the wickedness and snares of the Devil" — just days ahead of his return to Butler, Pennsylvania, where in July a Democratic donor shot him and killed the heroic patriarch of the Comperatore family. The prayer and accompanying image of Saint Michael vanquishing Satan, reposted by the Trump campaign, were largely well received. Michael is recognized as an archangel in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and the prayer simply asks for help routing evil. However, a number of leftists reflexively expressed shock and horror, in some cases showcasing cultural and historical ignorance — just as Ana Navarro of "The View" did when responding to Trump's happy birthday wishes to the Virgin Mary on the feast of her nativity earlier this month. Former Clinton Labor Secretary and Harris booster Robert Reich led the pack in ignoring or at the very least overlooking the fact that the post coincided with Michaelmas, the feast day of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, which is celebrated by Catholics — of which there are nearly 1.4 billion worldwide and at least 52 million stateside, including Trump's wife, Melania — as well as by Lutherans and Anglicans. 'By the power of God, cast into hell Satan.' "Trump increasingly suggests that he is God's chosen instrument of wrath and that his opponents are 'evil spirits' to be 'cast into hell,'" tweeted Reich, whose fellow Democrats helped set the stage for two known assassination attempts with incendiary rhetoric. "If you don't find this terrifying, you're not paying attention." Reich, now a public policy professor at the University of California, Berkeley, apparently found this prayer terrifying: Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. The prayer was written by Pope Leo XIII following an Oct. 13, 1884, vision of demonic attacks on the church from within — and of the archangel tossing the offending demons back into the abyss. It was long recited after Mass, though that obligation ended in 1965. However, when discussing preparations for spiritual battle 13 years after he was wounded in an assassination attempt, Pope John Paul II said, "Even though today this prayer is no longer recited at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, I invite everyone not to forget it, but to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world." According to the Diocese of Gary, Indiana, Pope Pius XI ordered the recitation of the prayer in 1929 for the conversion of Russia. 'But the sword / Of Michael from the Armorie of God / Was giv'n him temperd so, that neither keen / Nor solid might resist that edge.' Saint Michael is one of the three angels mentioned by name in the scriptures and is regarded by multiple Christian denominations as the patron saint of the police, firemen, and members of the military. Michael is also the patron saint of numerous countries and cities, including Kyiv, Ukraine. EWTN indicated that Michael is referred to in two chapters of the Old Testament (in Daniel 10:13, 21 and 12:1) and in at least two books of the New Testament (Jude 1:9 and Revelation 12:7). Revelation 12:7-9 states: And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. The prayer Reich found terrifying not only has religious significance but engages a key character in the Western literary canon. In Book Six of John Milton's "Paradise Lost," Saint Michael introduces the proud and rebellious Lucifer to something called pain: But the sword Of Michael from the Armorie of God Was giv'n him temperd so, that neither keen Nor solid might resist that edge: it met The sword of Satan with steep force to smite Descending, and in half cut sheere, nor staid, But with swift wheele reverse, deep entring shar'd All his right side; then Satan first knew pain. Robert Reich's concern-mongering post was not only slapped with a community note on X, highlighting some of this context, but ridiculed. 'You're totally delusional Robert.' Auron MacIntyre, podcast host and columnist at Blaze Media, responded, "Any public expression of Christianity is now interpreted as a threat to our ruling order." Conservative commentator Michael Knowles noted, "Today is Michaelmas, which Christians have celebrated for ~1,500 years. This specific prayer, composed by Pope Leo XIII, was recited after every Low Mass in the world for 86 years. Religious and historical ignorance among our 'elite' is reaching record highs." Seamus Coughlin of FreedomToons wrote, "Leo XIII: I will compose a prayer to scare the devil away[.] Marxist Professor: This prayer is terrifying." "This is one of the most popular prayers in the Catholic faith and in no way suggests that Trump is saying he's God's 'chosen instrument of wrath,'" tweeted conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck. "You're totally delusional Robert." Reich admitted in March that the lead-up to the election would test the "individual and collective capacities." In the months since, he appears to have found his limits on his blog, where he blamed Trump for the two apparent Democratic assassination attempts against him. 'We will FEAR NOT.' Reich was not alone in expressing displeasure about Trump's prayer post. New Atheist author James Lindsay wrote that it's "a damn shame Trump has been pulled into this, probably on bad advice." Claiming he grew up Catholic but had virtually no experience with Michaelmas, Lindsay suggested, "The Left will use it to characterize Trump as a religious warlord type, fitting the worst of the Operation Christian Nationalism motifs. Because of the Left/Right dialectic in play in the op, we'll all be forced to take a side or dip out into irrelevance." Lindsay was similarly met with some notes indicating, again, projection might be at play. While the posting of the prayer may have factored into a broader strategy to appeal to those American Catholics now cluing into Kamala Harris' antagonism for their faith and beliefs, Trump appears to have adopted a more prayerful outlook since his brush with death on July 13. "It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness," he wrote on July 14. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

For centuries, our distant ancestors believed in a plethora of gods and goddesses, having a close relationship with the nature around them and personifying many natural occurrences. But there were some civilizations that moved past that polytheistic belief. They believed that there is only one God - a singular deity above all else. This was known as monotheism, and the Near East is one of its earliest cradles. So, what compelled those ancient cultures to step away from the polytheistic peoples that surrounded them? How did they structure their lives to be centered on a nuanced belief that there is a singular deity? Near East, The Cradle of Change The ancient Near East, often regarded as the cradle of civilization, witnessed the development of some of the most influential and enduring religious systems in human history. It was here that the earliest known examples of polytheistic worship - where societies believed in and venerated multiple gods - flourished. However, among these complex belief systems emerged a revolutionary idea: monotheism, the belief in a single, all-powerful deity. This transition from polytheism to monotheism did not happen in a vacuum. Instead, it was the product of cultural, political, and theological shifts over millennia. The rise of monotheism, particularly through the faith of the Israelites and later reinforced by Zoroastrianism and early Christianity, altered the religious landscape of the Near East and set the stage for the Abrahamic religions that dominate the world today. Read moreSection: NewsGeneralReligionsMyths & LegendsAncient PlacesHistoryAncient TraditionsPremiumPreviewRead Later 

For the first time in 3,500 years, scientists have revealed a likeness of the face of Amenhotep I, the Egyptian pharaoh who founded the Valley of the Kings. This was made possible through a combination of modern technology and historical expertise, offering an intimate glimpse into the appearance of a ruler who ushered in one of ancient Egypt’s golden ages. The Pharaoh Behind the Valley of the Kings Amenhotep I, the second ruler of Egypt's 18th Dynasty, reigned from around 1526 to 1506 BC. Known for his reign of peace and prosperity, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Ahmose I, who expelled the Hyksos invaders and reunited Egypt. Amenhotep I’s reign laid the groundwork for the New Kingdom’s rise to power, and he is credited with establishing the Valley of the Kings as the final resting place for pharaohs and nobles of this era, writes the Daily Mail. Not only was Amenhotep I revered for his military achievements, which included campaigns in Libya and northern Sudan, but he also oversaw significant religious and architectural projects, earning the devotion of his people. After his death at around 35 years of age, Amenhotep I was worshipped as a god, and his mummified body was meticulously preserved. Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyHistoryFamous PeopleRead Later 

The death toll from powerful storm Helene jumped above 100 on Monday, with one county in North Carolina alone reporting 30 deaths, authorities said, as rescuers battled to reach people in need across the southeastern United States.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the 1999 movie The Sixth Sense, Haley Joel Osment had a chat with Entertainment Weekly, where he spoke about his relationship with Bruce Willis, who is now retired due to his Frontotemporal Dementia diagnosis. He recalled how Bruce would call and leave voicemails often, years after they co-starred in the thriller. They also made trips to Japan together to open the movie, and Bruce never failed to “just say hi” before these journeys. Haley Joel Osment on working with Bruce Willis THE SIXTH SENSE, Haley Joel Osment, Bruce Willis / Everett Bruce played Dr. Malcolm Crowe in The Sixth Sense, while Osment’s Cole Sear was his psychic son. Osment was excited to work with Bruce, as he had seen some of his movies before they filmed together. He also noted that Bruce was his first major celebrity co-star whose fame he was conscious of. He gushed about Bruce’s charm and delivery, noting that he was the kind of person to set a movie’s tone. It is no surprise that the former actor snagged leading parts for most of his career, which lasted for four decades. THE SIXTH SENSE, Haley Joel Osment, Bruce Willis / Everett Osment, who was 10 when he worked with Bruce, admitted that he has yet to speak with him since he was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia. He says he knows Bruce’s oldest daughters, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah, quite well. However, he has not reached out to the family yet. Bruce Willis / Instagram Bruce’s condition has tampered with his ability to communicate, thereby hampering his acting career. He is unable to read and recall his lines. He is currently in the care of his family, which includes ex-wife Demi Moore; however, his current spouse, Emma Hemming Willis, has been his primary caretaker. Next up: Dolly Parton Discovers That She Is Actually Related To This Huge Pop Star The post Haley Joel Osment Says Bruce Willis Checked In On Him For Years After ‘Sixth Sense’ appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A

Kurt Cobain’s daughter is now a first-time mom as she announced the birth of her baby boy, Robin Walker Cobain Hawk, via Instagram over the weekend. Frances Bean Cobain shared black and white photos of Robin and his tiny feet, plus one with his dad, Riley Hawk. She accompanied the post with Robin’s date of birth, 17th September, and a cute note that read, “Welcome to the world’s most beautiful son. We love you more than anything.” Fans of Kurt and Riley’s father, Tony Hawk, celebrated the new addition with sweet comments. Fans react to photos of Kurt Cobain and Tony Hawk’s grandson Kurt Cobain’s grandson / Instagram Frances’ post went viral, with nearly 300,000 likes and thousands of comments admiring the cute baby. Among those who dropped heartfelt notes were Bruce Willis’ daughter Tallulah, who called Robin a beautiful gift to his special parents. “WE LOVE YOU tiny prince!!” she exclaimed. Tony was also in the comments, proudly noting that Robin is his favorite grandson. “Heart is swooning for you 3 angel!!! Congratulations mama,” singer Jessica Veronica gushed. Fans wished the couple happy parenting, adding that they would make great examples for Robin. Kurt Cobain / Everett Collection Frances Bean Cobain and Riley Hawk’s relationship Riley and Frances went public with their relationship in February 2022 with PDA photos on the latter’s Instagram page. “I wanted to share a few moments that were captured/created this past year that brought me a great amount of joy,” the 32-year-old said.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Frances Bean Cobain (@thespacewitch) Their duo got together five years after Frances’ previous marriage to Isaiah Silva, which lasted only three years. Their divorce battle was a messy one as Silva accused Frances of conspiring to kill him to recover one of her father’s guitars, which later sold at auction for $6 million. Next up: Haley Joel Osment Says Bruce Willis Checked In On Him For Years After ‘Sixth Sense’ The post Kurt Cobain’s Daughter Is Now A Mom After Giving Birth To Baby Boy appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A

It's the Hard News Monday edition of Five O'Clock Somewhere and, after spending Sunday evening getting caught up on 48 hours of one big story after another, have I ever got some stuff to say today. Advertisement…

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