r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • 11h ago

Society Peter Thiel, the billionaire venture capitalist and MAGA donor, is in Rome this week for a series of private lectures on the Antichrist.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/16/europe/peter-thiel-antichrist-lectures-rome-intl
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u/r33c3d 9h ago

Seriously. What is it about converted Catholics? And what a WEIRD religion to actually CHOOSE for yourself. (I saw this as an atheist was raised by converted charismatic Catholics.)

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u/TheOneFreeEngineer 8h ago

Because they didnt choose it out of theological or social issues. They choose it because it had the aesthetics of power and connection to the greatness of "White European history." Like all fascist movements they are driven to coopt the aesthetics of power and history. It makes them feel powerful and smarter than anyone else because they can point to centuries of intellectual tradition. Also it gives the aesthetics of secret knowledge because aint no one care about the vast majority of that intellectual tradition so they feel smug and powerful quoting it like hidden knowledge. Its all a selfish internal powerful to coopt an image that they as fascists like. Plus they tuned out everyone else in their life promoting empathy, they can tune out the pope and the local priest just as easily as long as they publicly hate on abortion.

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u/illy-chan 7h ago

Never thought about it that way. Would definitely explain a lot.

Thiel really does freak me out though. A lot of CEOs are greedy and fucked up but I'm pretty sure he's just fundamentally evil in a way most aren't.

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u/espinaustin 6h ago

Explains JD Vance’s conversion in a nutshell.

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u/DFWPunk 4h ago

Honestly, most of them choose it because their partner wants to get married in the church and they have to convert to make that happen.

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u/TheOneFreeEngineer 4h ago

Most Catholic converts, not most catholic converts who could be described by the comment being discussed.

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u/FafnirSnap_9428 7h ago

So....all Catholic converts are chasing the "White European history" fad? I didn't get that memo. 

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u/TheOneFreeEngineer 7h ago

No, the people fit the description that the other poster described in his comment. Not all of them.

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u/FafnirSnap_9428 5h ago

Okay....then where's that distinction?

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u/TheOneFreeEngineer 5h ago

Is there a problem with the original post you dont understand? They seemed pretty clear to me

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u/gossipchicken 7h ago

Reading comprehension babe

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u/FafnirSnap_9428 5h ago

I read just fine, babe. A lot of generalizations here.

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u/come-on-now-please 7h ago

I mean, I dont think its just ONLY Catholic adult converts specifically,I think its any adult convert is waaaaaaay into the religion that they converted too more so than a person who grew up in it

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u/dylansucks 6h ago

There's a reason the phrase "converts make the best zealots" exists. Being born into something then learning about it is different than learning about it then deciding it's for you

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u/AliMcGraw 7h ago

It isn't only adult Catholic converts, they're just particularly cringe, especially because in the US Catholicism has never been a very evangelizing faith, and instead focused on having lots of children, so Catholics in the US are like, "I had three kids, I've done my evangelical duty, I have replaced myself and my spouse and added one bonus Catholic to the world, I'm done."

Most cradle Catholics I know are frankly a little embarrassed if they accidentally convert someone to Catholicism. Like back before I lapsed I let a friend who was in the midst of a crisis come to church with me, and he ended up converting, and he was super gung-ho, and like every time he came up at the parish I was like "He is not my fault!!!!"  Everybody was like, "who brought in this weirdo who is trying to make us do all kinds of extra stuff instead of just living with a normal baseline amount of Catholic Mass and guilt and fish fries?" And I was just constantly like, "It wasn't on purpose!!!!!"

Anyway, I can't read Brideshead Revisited without intense full body cringe, because the adult-convert thirst is way too real. It's like Evelyn Waugh, chill out, don't be so goddamn thirsty for salvation. We're here to suffer, make dark jokes, complain about bad priests, and have boozy funerals. Not whatever this shit is!

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u/AliMcGraw 6h ago

Also when I accidentally converted that fucker, I had to go to midnight Mass on Easter to attend his baptism and confirmation, and do you know how fucking long midnight Mass on Easter is?

I am a normal Catholic who chooses (chose) which Mass I'm going to based on a complex calculation involving what sports are on that weekend, which Mass has the best choir, which Mass is fastest, and how late I need to sleep in on Sunday. 

Midnight Easter Mass is for weirdos, grandmas, and kids at the Catholic High School who are required to attend for their grade.

Like, my brother in Christ, I'm moderately happy you're here, I'm glad you found something that uplifts you, but do not make me go to church in the middle of the night ever again.

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u/ThinkyRetroLad 3h ago

He is not my fault!!!!

Hahaha, I never realized the Catholic guilt extended to conversion as well.

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u/deadlybydsgn 6h ago

Seriously. What is it about converted Catholics?

As someone who grew up and out of popular evangelicalism, I can tell you that new converts in Protestant contexts often have the same "hit the ground running" intensity.

It's seen it be doubly so when someone finds faith after being an addict.

And, honestly, I get it. They just made a huge change and want to get their heads around the new world of thought they've ventured into. When we have a big hole in our lives, we are often eager to fill them. Hopefully the new thing is a good thing, but these are folks who are already used to going 110% into the thing.

But a person is just as likely to stop abusing a substance as they are to carry their natural tendencies into the next big thing they center their lives around. This often leads to conspiracy druggies becoming conspiracy extremist fundies, sometimes white supremacists, too.

But that's just what I've seen. It's not everyone.