Christian author reveals that cultural shift has been 'bubbling for years' after the election.

One Christian author who remained unsurprised by President-elect Donald Trump's win on Tuesday believes that the culture has been shifting for several years, and those who have been observant have noticed this change.

Paul Anleitner, a pastor and author of "Dis-Ordered," acknowledges his lack of expertise in politics but contends in a lengthy thread on X that recent cultural events explain America's voting outcome last week.

Anleitner began by stating that he does not study politics but focuses on culture. He then discussed a cultural shift that has been developing in America for years, which most professional political analysts have overlooked.

The sequel to Tom Cruise's 1986 film about fighter pilots, "Top Gun: Maverick," was a massive success in 2022, with fans praising its patriotic and epic tone.

"Anleitner stated that "Top Gun: Maverick" heavily relied on classic modernist heroism themes, with Tom Cruise portraying a White, male protagonist who embodied these values as a traditional, rule-breaking figure committed to honor, duty, and meritocracy."

He stated that Maverick embodied traditional American values of meritocracy over aristocracy during a cultural revolution aimed at establishing a new inverted aristocracy.

The movie, which was nominated for a "Best Picture" Oscar, sparked controversy among some commentators due to its pro-U.S. military stance. MSNBC opinion editor Zeeshan Aleem described the film as both entertaining and "insidious," arguing that it promotes the idea that the American war machine is a beacon of virtue and excitement.

"Aleem stated that the nostalgia being experienced is poisonous and brings in a love for endless war into a celebration of live action," he added.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the movie attracted millions of viewers and grossed $124 million in its first weekend.

The growing popularity of nontraditional comedians, as seen in Tony Hinchcliffe's controversial joke at a Trump rally, reflects the current culture. Despite causing controversy, Hinchcliffe has a highly successful podcast. Along with Joe Rogan, Shane Gillis, Ari Shaffir, and others, these comedians have tapped into the middle-class market and have a unique brand of non-"woke" humor.

"According to the author, Joe Rogan, Theo Von, and others have a greater impact on everyday Americans, particularly men, than the traditional comedic vanguard of Saturday Night Live. Despite their lack of alignment with Franklin Graham and other conservative cultural bastions, these individuals' complete disregard for politically correct language and their opposition to "wokism" resonates with many working-class men."

Political observers on both sides of the aisle argued that Vice President Kamala Harris made a grave mistake when she declined to go on Rogan's podcast.

"Andrew Yang criticized the Harris campaign's decision to not engage with Joe Rogan, stating that he reaches millions of low propensity male voters, which is the exact population they should be targeting. He added that Rogan is not a hostile interviewer, but rather curious and interested in understanding people's beliefs."

The number of students enrolling in Christian schools in the U.S. has been increasing, indicating a shift in cultural values in education, as Anleitner observed.

"The unprecedented post-COVID spike in enrollment in private, Christian schools is not only due to their ability to provide more in-person education, but also because many families who do not identify as Christians are seeking educational environments that do not promote experimental, progressive ideologies on gender and sexuality."

In northern Virginia, Cornerstone Christian Academy was a standout example of a school that attracted hundreds of concerned parents when it opened in 2022. The K-8 Christian school offered an alternative to public school education for parents who wanted something different for their children.

"Dr. Sam Botta, Head of School, spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital about the numerous issues happening in public schools, including the gender issue and bathroom usage. He stated that parents, not just Christian families, recognize the foolishness of allowing children to choose their gender and use bathrooms of their choice. He emphasized that it is incomprehensible to tell a child who was born a boy that they can choose to be a girl. As a result, when this happened, parents ran, not just walked away."

The number of homeschooling increased nationwide after COVID-19.

Critics argue that DEI programs, which were established after the killing of George Floyd, have gone too far in their focus on racial preferences and quotas, resulting in major corporations cutting their funding.

In 2023, Google and Meta reduced staff and scaled back DEI programs, resulting in a 44% decline in DEI-related job postings. Additionally, DEI job postings on Indeed decreased by 23% in November 2023 compared to the previous year.

The Star Wars movies were indicative of a larger trend.

He noted that Star Wars has become a significant cultural myth and any challenges to its mythos are equivalent to challenges to cultural power and influence. As a result, when recent Star Wars shows like "The Acolyte" attempted to focus on more progressive or "woke" storylines, fans reacted negatively.

Despite receiving an 85% Rotten Tomatoes score, "Star Wars: The Acolyte" on Disney+ had a low 14% audience score, the lowest among all "Star Wars" content in terms of audience ratings.

"The Acolyte" received criticism from fans due to being labeled as the "gayest" offering from the Star Wars universe. In episode three, creator Leslye Headland addressed a controversial plot involving two powerful witches in an all-female society using force magic to create their female offspring.

The show was canceled after one season.

Anleitner questioned whether the revival of the rock band Creed, who gained popularity in the early 2000s with hits such as "Arms Wide Open" and "Higher," could have contributed to the changing times. In 2024, Creed reunited and experienced a viral resurgence of their most popular songs.

"Creed is back because people are tired of being cynical and sarcastic," he said. "The sarcasm and irony surrounding Creed have given way to genuine enjoyment, as people embrace the cheesiness and allow themselves to appreciate the wholesome."

Anleitner concluded that if you can read culture through studying cultural texts, you won't need political polls.

Planet Chronicle Digital's Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.