How Trump got religion — and why his legendary minister’s son now rejects him

Washington Post ^ | January 21 at 5:38 PM | Paul Schwartzman

[TBP]

Trump, who has described himself as a Presbyterian, has cited Peale and touted “The Power of Positive Thinking” during interviews when asked about the role of faith in his life and whether he has ever sought God’s forgiveness.

“The great Norman Vincent Peale was my minister for years,” Trump told CNN last July, a sentiment he repeated in Atlanta and in Iowa during stops in Ames and Dubuque.

Peale said he became upset last fall after reading a Politico article that claimed that Norman Vincent Peale helped shape Trump.

“It ignored the major focus and contribution of a spiritual and Christian nature that my father was making in humility and sincere desire to be helpful to other people,” John Peale said. “There’s the power of Jesus Christ that can effect that change. I never heard of anything that came out of Trump that had anything to do with that.”

Told that Trump praised “The Power of Positive Thinking” as “fantastic,” Peale said: “There’s no content to that statement. It’s like kids saying things are awesome.”

[TBP]

Interesting article on Trump and how he differs from the very spiritual roots he cites.

It reflects a common misunderstanding of "positive thinking" and prosperity teachings.

[Pravious]

“Interesting article on Trump and how he differs from the very spiritual roots he cites.”

Only if you enjoy reading anti-Trump propaganda from the media.

Otherwise, just one in a million limp hit pieces, doomed to spark some teeny little part of Cruz supporters’ brains, but otherwise utterly meaningless.

[Mr Apple]

I never heard of anything...

Stopped reading this horse chit by sleazy demorat Schwartzman right there!

[TBP]

http://spectator.org/articles/63940/difference-between-donald-trump-and-norman-vincent-peale

Perhaps Peale was being overly kind to his congregant. Because if one were to ask Donald Trump’s fans what they like most about him, it is highly unlikely “a profound streak of honest humility” would be mentioned. Trump’s questioning of John McCain’s bravery at the Iowa Family Summit meeting, his unceremonious ejection of Jorge Ramos at the New Hampshire press conference, his calling Megyn Kelly a bimbo or broad brushing Mexicans as criminals and rapists demonstrates neither honesty nor humility let alone positive thinking.

Can anyone honestly imagine Donald Trump will ever admit he was wrong to question John McCain’s bravery? Can anyone conceive that Trump will ever say he was wrong to broadly characterize Mexicans as criminals and rapists? Can anyone conceive that Trump will ever say he made a mistake to call Megyn Kelly a bimbo? After all his bluster about Peale, Luntz pressed him about whether he sought forgiveness from God to which Trump replied, “I don’t bring God into that picture.”

Well, of course he doesn’t. How can Trump possibly ask God for forgiveness, let alone anybody else, when he is unable to admit that he is wrong?

[KGeorge]

This is. . .interesting considering the many stories about Trump’s kindness to others- even coming from people like Erick Erickson (who dislikes him, otherwise).

What a contrast with Jerry Falwell, jr. More here than meets the eye?

[SubMareener]

Reuters Jan 19-22 Trump up 7.2% points Cruz down 5.8% points
January 22, 2016
582 Respondents

Donald Trump 40.6%
Ted Cruz 10.5%
Ben Carson 9.7%
Jeb Bush 9.2%
Marco Rubio 7.2%
Wouldn’t vote 5.8%

January 19, 2016
629 Respondents

Donald Trump 33.4%
Ted Cruz 16.3%
Jeb Bush 11.3%
Ben Carson 10.8%
Marco Rubio 8.1%
Wouldn’t vote 6.2%

[euram]

So, it’s come down to digging up Trump’s minister’s son for his opinion. What next, getting the opinion of his baby-sitter, his school crossing guard, the hall monitor?

I heard that Trump once dipped the ponytail of the girl sitting in front of him in his inkwell. He even had an overdue library book, and was once caught chewing gum in class.

[lee martell]

Peele’s elderly son is entitled to his opinions. That’s all they are, opinions. He holds a cloistered elitist view of a populist hero (his late father,Norman Vincent).

Sometimes the apple does fall far from the tree, and by deliberate design for effect. Recall Ron Reagan and pretty Patty’s rebellious antics of the 1990’s. Where are they now?

[Behind the Blue Wall]

Buried are the direct quotes from Norman Vincent Peale speaking favorably of Trump, who co-hosted his 90th birthday party. Instead, WaPo leads with quotes from Peale’s son, a Democrat, about how his father’s teachings are being misinterpreted as applied to Trump.

[GilesB]

when did he “broadly characterize Mexicans as criminals and rapists”?

Or are you just uncritically accepting Jorge Ramos’ broad characterization of Trump?

[hoosiermama]

Listen to latest radio ad

https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/RR_Trump_Falwell.mp3

[nickcarraway]

So, Trump never met Peale, right?

[nickcarraway]

Okay, so Peale officiated his first wedding.

[TBP]

Norman Vincent Peale presided at Trump’s first wedding.

Your point?

[TTFlyer]

“Interesting article?” Says who?

[digger48]

Why do you ignore what Trump actually said about McCain and Mexicans?

[PAR35]

Well, someone should tell John Peale that his father was a bad pastor and terrible theologian. He may have been a decent Freemason.

[entropy12]

Reuters Rolling average: 01/21/16

[dfwgator]

Wasn’t Norman Vincent Peale pretty much the original “Joel Osteen”?

[vette6387]

“Buried are the direct quotes from Norman Vincent Peale speaking favorably of Trump, who co-hosted his 90th birthday party. Instead, WaPo leads with quotes from Peale’s son, a Democrat, about how his father’s teachings are being misinterpreted as applied to Trump.”

We have devolved into a society where when the truth is incovenient, it’s ignored. So in this turkey’s mind he’s willing to trash Trump as a Democrat, and not as a “man of God!” I guess politics “trumps” religion even for our “religious leaders.” Now how about a big high five for pope francis while we’re at it!