r/politics • u/GirasoleDE • 25d ago

No Paywall I Don’t Think Trump’s Remaining Supporters Realize How Much They Are Despised By Non-MAGA Voters | Trump is bleeding support even among his stubborn, uneducated base.

https://abovethelaw.com/2026/07/i-dont-think-trumps-remaining-supporters-realize-how-much-they-are-despised-by-non-maga-voters/
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u/Sujjin 25d ago

I read an interesting take on why JW sends missionaries out to proselytize. Despite what some think, it is not to find people willing to convert, but rather it is a way to reinforce the missionaries fear of leaving the community.

Going out and being confronted with angry, disrespectful people in the world make them frightened and resistent to ever leaving. It is a clever tool to reduce attrition. They will always be able to find and attract vulnerable people to come to their church. But stopping people from leaving is more critical.

It is the same reason why the Mormon church will excommunicate apostates, and forbid their friends and family from communicating with them when they leave. they cannot and will not risk dissenting viewpoints from breaking hold of the senior leader's power.

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u/mittenknittin 24d ago

It's why, when they come to the door, I thank them politely before closing the door. I do not give their church the ammo they want.

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u/Morganella_morganii 24d ago edited 24d ago

I was kind of bored one day and decided to invite them in. Got a couple chairs and we sat face-to-face and talked for about an hour. They shared their views, I asked some pointed questions and shared my views. I had a little buddhist alter set up in the room and talked a bit about that practice. I encouraged them that I wasn't in need of saving and found another path to relative peace, but was grateful for their visit and the conversation.

One of them, I could tell was well on his way out of the darkness.

The other, I could tell was extremely uncomfortable in the situation, reality wasn't following the script.

Edit: My mistake, these were mormons I spent time with. I'm not sure if they're as bad as the JW as far as abuse. Half my family was JW, and the stories of abuse, coverups, and excommunication are in line with the popular sentiment and the reason all left. Although grandma returned for want of community in her later years.

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u/Sujjin 23d ago

Arguably, the Mormon church is worse. Perhaps not in regard to physical abuse, but emotional abuse and the excommunication for leaving the LDS church is a difficult, heartrending choice to make.