## The Dangers of Millenarianism and the Deification of the Common Man - The author begins by quoting William Butler Yeats' poem "[[The Second Coming (poem) | The Second Coming]]," which speaks to a sense of societal decay and the potential rise of a dangerous, powerful figure. - The author then draws a parallel between the poem's themes and the rise of [[Adolf Hitler]], arguing that Hitler's horrific power was, in a way, a product of the very progress, equality, and democracy he opposed. - The author criticizes the deification of the common man and argues that this deification, coupled with the pursuit of equality, contributed to the rise of figures like Hitler. - The author argues that contemporary political movements, while superficially secular, exploit the same millenarian expectations that figures like Hallner promoted, leading to harmful outcomes. ## The Perils of Mixing Religion and Politics - Using the example of his great-grandfather, Reverend Hallner, the author illustrates how mixing political and spiritual salvation can lead to flawed interpretations of events and dangerous predictions about the future. - The author criticizes Hallner's belief that the [[United States]] was divinely appointed to usher in a new era of peace and rebuild [[Jerusalem]], highlighting the dangers of intertwining religious beliefs with political agendas. - The text contrasts the perspectives of Rev. Hallner and H.L. Mencken on President Woodrow Wilson's role in [[World War I]], with Hallner viewing Wilson's actions as divinely ordained and Mencken criticizing them as manipulative political rhetoric. ## The "Booboisie" and Societal Decline - The author criticizes the "booboisie," a term used to describe the perceived intellectual cowardice and susceptibility to manipulation of the masses, arguing that this tendency is pervasive across nations and has led to widespread [[Societal collapse | societal decline]]. ## Sources - [website](https://jrnyquist.blog/2024/08/26/twenty-centuries-of-stony-sleep/)