QAnon is radicalizing Americans - USA TODAY

Posted: 31 Aug 2020 12:00 AM PDT

A far-right conspiracy movement is spreading through America. Coronavirus cases in the U.S. are higher than anywhere in the world. And in another episode of time appearing to be meaningless, it's almost September.

It's Ashley with Monday's news to know. Let's do it.

But first, hold on tight: Terrifying video shows a 3-year-old girl get accidentally carried into the sky by a kite at a festival. Thankfully, her family says she's OK.

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The QAnon conspiracy theory has gone mainstream

Been hearing about the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon lately? Me, too. So I asked my colleague, Nathan Bomey, to explain it to me. Here's what he had to say:

Before the internet, it was hard to share conspiracy theories. Now, however, it's really simple. And Americans are increasingly diving deep — so deep that it's getting dangerous. A growing number of people are falling prey to a patchwork of conspiracy theories called QAnon. The group circulates a wide range of conspiracy theories, but its main premise is the baseless assertion that President Donald Trump is protecting the world from a network of "evil" Democrats who are secretly leading a child-sex trafficking ring. The far-right movement is increasingly spreading their conspiracies on mainstream social media channels. Feeling the suffocating grip of social isolation and economic challenges amid COVID-19, many Americans are desperately searching for a sense of community — and they're finding it in QAnon.

But this isn't harmless clickbait: Extremism experts say they're concerned about signs that the "digital cult" is translating into real-world violence. In April, an Illinois woman who had immersed herself in QAnon theories was arrested in New York after traveling there with a stash of knives and weapons and threatening Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.

We've hit 6 million coronavirus cases

As much as we dislike reporting grim coronavirus milestones, they keep coming. The U.S. quietly surpassed 6 million coronavirus cases on Monday, just seven months and 10 days after the first case was confirmed in the country. With pressure to alleviate the crisis, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is willing to provide "emergency use authorization" for the use of a vaccine before Phase Three clinical trials are complete. An FDA official said that if a vaccine developer applies before concluding the crucial testing phase – involving tens of thousands of patients – the FDA might find authorization "appropriate."

Give it to me straight:

At least 183,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S.
Globally, there are 25 million cases and more than 846,000 deaths.

What everyone's talking about

State police return to Portland

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced a "unified law enforcement plan" to curb violence in Portland as the state's largest city was reeling after a fatal weekend shooting following clashes between Trump supporters and counter protesters. Brown said Oregon State Police would be returning to Portland to provide help amid the nightly protests that have taken place since the killing of George Floyd. A man was fatally shot Saturday shortly after a caravan of vehicles carrying Trump supporters rolled through Portland, drawing heated counter protests. Founder of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer, Joey Gibson, identified the victim as Aaron "Jay" Danielson.

What is Patriot Prayer? It's a group based in Washington state that has rallied Trump supporters for demonstrations in Portland since 2017. Gibson has complained that the group had been unfairly pegged as white supremacist.

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Ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn is back in the hot seat

The criminal case against Michael Flynn should not be dismissed, a federal appeals court ruled Monday in a major setback for President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, who has proclaimed his innocence. The ruling in Washington, D.C., which reverses a previous decision, is the latest in the long and politically fraught legal case of the former Army general. Flynn is one of half a dozen former Trump aides and advisers who were indicted as a result of the special counsel investigation on Russian election interference. Now, the case will head back to the District Court, where a judge is expected to hear oral arguments from the Department of Justice — which has argued in favor of dismissal.

Real quick

Legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson dies

Legendary Georgetown coach and Basketball Hall of Fame member John Thompson has died. He was 78. Thompson became the first Black head coach to win the NCAA men's basketball national title when he guided the Hoyas to the championship in 1984. Thompson coached several future NBA greats, including Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Patrick Ewing, the 1985 national player of the year and the team's current head coach. Following news of Thompson's death, Iverson paid tribute to him on Twitter: "Thanks For Saving My Life Coach."

A break from the news

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Evangelicals need to address the QAnoners in our midst - USA TODAY

Posted: 04 Sep 2020 12:00 AM PDT

Ed Stetzer, Opinion contributor Published 3:15 a.m. ET Sept. 4, 2020 | Updated 2:12 p.m. ET Sept. 4, 2020

QAnon has been making headlines but Evangelical Christians should not be swept up in the bizarre movement.

QAnon has been making headlines in recent weeks. It's going to make more.

QAnon is, among many things, an expansive conspiracy theory built around the idea that a "deep state," or cabal of elite leftists, is clandestinely working against President Donald Trump. A person (or small group) known as "Q" drops revelations in various forms online. At the core of the appeal is its ability to generate fear. Suggesting that there is a powerful figure or group subverting the country and empowering all manner of evil is frightening.

Some of the headlines about QAnon in recent days have connected it with evangelical Christians. In addition, many proponents describe their mission in religious and quasi-religious terms.

Legitimizing a new religion?

Some talk about QAnon as if some messianic figure is at work. Similar to the ancient heresy of Gnosticism in the early church, it lures people with promises of secret knowledge. It provides a sense of identity and belonging with code phrases like: "Where we go one, we go all." Many people, including active church members, are being drawn in.

QAnon is starting to shift things in ways that will particularly impact churches. According to a recent NPR article, many pastors believe it already has.

Here are ways Christians can engage this issue.

First, cultivate discernment:

In a 2018 poll we conducted at Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Research Institute, we found that 46% of self-identified evangelicals and 52% of those whose beliefs tag them as evangelical "strongly believes the mainstream media produces fake news."

The level to which people attended church correlated with this belief; the more active in church, the less trusting of news media.

Yes, news agencies have biases; this fact is not synonymous with producing fake news. CNN leans left; Fox leans right. But bias doesn't equal fake news, and too many are rejecting legitimate news sources while being discipled by their social media.

QAnon describes a deep state cabal of pedophiles. There are many of us, including evangelicals, who are strongly opposed to problems of child trafficking and pedophiles. Yet, one can oppose evil within the world without subscribing to the conspiracy theories like QAnon.

Second, recognize the resistant:

Many people and groups have issues with QAnon. The FBI expressed concerns about this group regarding potential domestic terrorism. Vice President Mike Pence said: "We dismiss conspiracy theories around here out of hand."

It is problematic that Trump noted his appreciation for QAnon supporters because of their support of his presidency. I am glad the vice president didn't, along with other notable leaders of their party such as Sen. Ben Sasse and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. We need to hear them.

COLUMN: Trump and Republicans are following the Goldwater model with QAnon. That didn't end well.

Point QAnon adherents to people they trust that have already spoken out against the bizarre nature of its claims.

Third, don't be duped by religious language:

QAnon says there is a coming storm or great awakening. They mention pedophile rings, the pandemic, and the deep state as part of a cosmic battle between God and Satan.

In Christianity, we believe God is at work, and if something happens we don't understand, God had a different plan, and we look to him for guidance. QAnon is following similar patterns — knowing the Q always has a plan in this cosmic struggle of good against evil.

Religious language appeals to religious people, but QAnon is not for Christians — it is a replacement, with its own messiah and demons, unrelated to Christianity and unmoored from the Bible.

Just because it's on social media doesn't mean it's true

Finally, pursue things that are true:

This is primarily a social media conspiracy. Social media is a petri dish for conspiracies, causing far too many to believe things like QAnon are true. I have often pointed out my disagreements with Democratic politicians. But that doesn't mean they are running a secret pedophile ring, nor should I believe that because it went viral on Twitter.

Believers are to be people of the truth as the Jesus we follow literally calls himself "truth" (John 14:6). Without a rigorous pursuit of truth we can see anger to the point that people will take up arms as we saw in Pizza-gate, where a guy came with a gun to rescue the children trapped in the basement — in a store with no basement.

Fighting actual fake news: Disinformation surges amid COVID-19, elections. Here are 3 ways we all can fight back.

Years ago, Mark Noll wrote about the "Scandal of the Evangelical Mind." If there is anything that represents the scandal of the evangelical mind right now, it's the gullibility of Christians who need to be discipled into critical thinking about how to engage the world around them. We need to be able to see through the bias and discern conspiracy theories that have risen to the level of messianic religion.

As seekers of truth, we need pastors, leaders, and everyday Christians to address this conspiracy, and others like it, before others are fooled. It's the Christian's role to speak up about this and against this, even when the president does not, and before more people get hurt.

Ed Stetzer is a dean and professor at Wheaton College where he leads the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center.

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