Straight White American Jesus - The Orange Wave Ep. 9: This is How it Ends
Aired: 2022-05-10
Duration: 03:43


=== End Times Enthusiasm (02:38) ===

[00:00:00]  Axis Mundy
[00:00:08]  Axis Mundy I thought a lot about the end of the world after I converted to evangelicalism.
[00:00:38]  Most mornings I wondered if Jesus would return that day, maybe at lunch or during a quiet moment in the afternoon when everyone was rushing to fifth period.
[00:00:47]  The idea of the end of the world both enthralled and terrified me.
[00:00:51]  I wanted Jesus to return so I could go home with him to paradise.
[00:00:55]  But that would mean eternal damnation for those who didn't know him, including many of my friends and family.
[00:01:01]  It motivated me to proselytize to anyone I came into contact with.
[00:01:05]  From my brothers, to my cousins, to complete strangers at school or outside the local movie theater.
[00:01:12]  When I think back to that version of myself, the one who awkwardly asked unwitting teenagers about their eternal salvation, Or jammed religion into casual conversations with second cousins at family functions.
[00:01:23]  I cringe.
[00:01:24]  It's hard to remember that strong-willed teenager without wincing.
[00:01:28]  The one who eschewed cares for social norms in order to complete the mission of telling every person possible about the imminent end of all things.
[00:01:37]  In some ways, however, I'm proud that I was ready to live out my beliefs, as misguided as they now seem.
[00:01:44]  The end of the world may be militant, but my actions were based on a sincere belief that every human being needed the love of God in order to be saved.
[00:01:53]  Even if I now view my evangelism as intrusive and anti-pluralist, it's not impossible for me to see it as a sincere reaction to the imminent end of days.
[00:02:03]  My goal was not to rule the world.
[00:02:05]  It was to save as many as I could from the end of it.
[00:02:09]  As it turns out, the end of the world doesn't work like that for everyone.
[00:02:13]  Many see it as an opportunity to gain power, wealth, and prestige.
[00:02:18]  The fires destroying civilization are, for some, the blazes clearing a path to a new way of life.
[00:02:25]  One where they will seize control and live as gods, or at least the representatives of God on Earth.
[00:02:32]  The apocalypse, in other words, is the new beginning some are waiting for.
[00:02:36]  The portal to a new world order.

=== The New World Order (01:05) ===

[00:02:38]  Thanks for listening to this free sample of The Orange Wave.
[00:02:55]  My name is Brad Onishi, the author and creator of the series.
[00:02:59]  I want to invite you to head over to our show notes and to hit the link if you'd like to continue listening to The Orange Wave.
[00:03:05]  I know a paywall isn't something you want to see, and I get it, but I poured my heart and soul into making this docuseries, and we're an indie podcast.
[00:03:13]  We're self-funded, self-produced.
[00:03:15]  We do everything we can on our own to do this work.
[00:03:19]  And so, it's a nominal fee, and your contribution will help us make more of these docuseries, continue to do our show a couple times a week, and simply keep an eye on everything that's happening with the religious right, Christian nationalism, and so many other things.
[00:03:35]  If it's just not possible, send us an email and we'll get something worked out so you will have access and be able to continue to listen to this series.
[00:03:43]  Thanks again.