Drama, division, and the relentless pursuit of golden calves

"The less talent they have, the more pride, vanity and arrogance they have.

All these fools, however, find other fools who applaud them."

-- Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus

By J. Basil Dannebohm

America is more polarized than ever, leaving many to wonder how our “indivisible” nation became so fiercely divided. While there were many factors that brought about our present reality, some by happenstance and others deliberate, one contributing factor to our division is the worship of golden calves. Ironically, our divided masses share a similar disdain and denial when told they are caught up in a cult of personality. The fact no less remains: Our celebrity obsession has fostered a breakdown in basic decency.

But let’s be honest: Asking Americans to stifle their fixations with dynamic personalities is like asking a chain smoker to forgo cigarettes. Healing the soul of a nation wounded by division won’t be an easy task. Nevertheless, here are a few good places to commence:

Stop worshipping politicians

While it’s easy to point out the obvious cult surrounding Donald Trump, the left isn’t without their infallible figureheads. It was obvious that former President Biden was hiding his own Easter eggs for much of his presidency. Say that to one of his fiercely devoted fans, however, and prepare to get “canceled” – just ask Jake Tapper. The cult was no different for Barack Obama.

Though Americans have a fierce loyalty to politicians, it’s by no means reciprocal. Whether it’s Trump, Biden, or any number of partisan quockerwodgers, as the old saying goes, believing that a politician genuinely cares about you is like believing that a stripper really likes you.

Stop worshipping “dynamic” pastors.

When it comes to the worship of religious personalities, the left tends to gravitate toward a defunct priest who still uses the clerical title “Father.” They’re also fond of a self-anointed “bishop” who relentlessly pontificates against the dangers of Christian Nationalism as he hypocritically attempts to impose a so-called “woke” version of the concept within the government. For their part, the right has an abundance of false prophets. Pastors of megachurches, garage-studio theologians, Catholic and Orthodox clergy with no apparent hierarchal oversight, and Evangelical charlatans are like gypsies on the conservative speakers’ circuit. Jesus would have called such individuals “vipers,” yet the gullible masses revere them as “godly,” often placing a higher regard on their words than the words of the very Gospel itself.

There are flocks of hungry sheep wandering lost inside a dynamic pastor’s pasture. They go unnoticed, however, because “Father” so-and-so is too busy livestreaming or finding some other way to stroke his narcissistic ego.

Stop worshipping “activist” sports figures

Sports enthusiasts on the left have a great deal of respect for Colin Kaepernick, a half-black man raised by upper-middle class white parents, who laments the plight of black people. Privileged from the day he was adopted, Kaepernick doesn’t know the first thing about race inequality. Yet his famous “take-a-knee” form of protest was celebrated in the woke movement. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is a popular sports figure among conservatives. In 2024, I did an interview with Baptist News Global’s Rick Pidcock about Butker, his Christian Nationalist tendencies, and the fringe Catholic cult to which he belongs. The piece, entitled, “The Harrison Butker story is so much weirder than you know” can be found on Google.

Stop worshipping television “doctors”

As a television personality, Dr. Mehmet Oz recommended miracle diet after miracle diet. Yet his daughter became a spokesperson for Weight Watchers. That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement of the doctor’s credibility. Nonetheless, he found a LOT of suckers to tune in for his medical advice.

In 1971, Phil McGraw lived in Topeka, Kansas, and ran the Grecian Health Spa. After purportedly taking advantage of prominent local investors, McGraw closed the business, filed for bankruptcy, and quickly moved out of the state. Like Oz, “Dr. Phil” was made famous by Oprah Winfrey, and it wasn’t long before he became a trusted source for "self-improvement."

Stop worshipping “reality” TV stars and online “influencers”

Whether it’s a Kardashian, a Chrisley, Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, or a demimonde of “Real Housewives,” their “reality” is largely hollow and superficial. Their sole means of survival is our attention, and drama is the snake oil peddled to maintain it.

Division is the bedfellow of drama.

Despite our polarization, Americans tend to agree that a healthier nation is a happier nation. While we are quick to embrace the latest fitness and diet fads, we overlook our insatiable appetites for drama purveyed by golden calves. Liberation from the cult of personality is imperative to restore civil discourse.