I think it is fair to say that, while faith in Christian dogma is waning somewhat in this country, Christian ethics are still generally accepted. A discussion of Christian ethics is far too broad for a blog post, but suffice it to say that they include humility, honesty, marital fidelity, compassion, charity, and a sense of fair play. The ultimate sanction, of course, is the Last Judgment.
Anyone who has seen Trajan’s Column and the various arches in the Roman Forum knows that pagans didn’t necessarily believe in keeping their light under a bushel. That said, classical myths and literature make it clear that the Greeks and Romans understood that humanity was flawed and subject to the whims of higher powers; the Greeks did invent tragedy, after all. Narcissus, Achilles, Daedalus, Oedipus–the list of characters would go on and on.
The record unequivocally shows that Trump’s career is a negation of Christian ethics. What is more surprising is that, his business disasters in the 90’s notwithstanding, he doesn’t appear to have any pagan sense of vulnerability and tragedy. To all outward appearances, he operates in a Nietzschean/Randian moral universe with himself in the middle as the Great Man in History. I’m guessing that is what ultimately drove him to run for President.
This matters, because it means the normal sources of restraint would not apply to a President Trump. Respect for the law? After his comments over the last few weeks? Patriotism? He only pledges allegiance to his own greatness. Christian or pagan ethics? See the above.
Our system was set up to keep people like Trump in check. Let’s hope the voters understand that.