Federico Finchelstein - renowned historian

 From "A Brief History of Fascist Lies" (2020 book on how supporters 

of Fascist ideologies regard political lies as truth incarnated 

in their leaders).  Historical quotations and propagandistic 

appeals from Mussolini, Hitler, Trump, Bolsanaro;

The current fascist-populist talk of "post-truth" has a long political and intellectual

lineage that we cannot ignore.

FROM: Chapter 7 THE FASCIST UNCONSCIOUS

pages 61-3 =

Mussolini conflated the desires of the people (as deduced by himself)

with those of the sacred.  In 1926 he stated that when thinking about the historical

destiny of the nation, he was able to "see" the work of a sacrosanct will, "The

Infallible hand of providence, the infallible sign of divinity" in the unfolding of

events. . .For fascists, instincts, soul, character, and personality were mythical

embodiments, biological realties as well as collective legacies of the imperial past.

[n.b. for Mussolini Italy's past was a divinely-led Roman empire of the Caesars

and furthermore the Holy Roman Empire]

. . .The idea that a subject would find transcendental value "in pain and war" is

a testament to the dehumanizing dimensions of the fascist idea that truth belongs

to the world of the supernatural rather than to human history and agency.

This belief in a sacred form of truth had clear Christian theological connotations.

In NT statements and declarations:

the Lord's truth contrasts with the lies of men (Romans 3:4 NRSV) "Although

everyone is a liar, let God be proved true."

those who do not believe the truth of God are literally demonized (I John 2:22)

"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist,

the one who denies the Father and the Son."

the lies of the unfaithful emanated from the devil.  They wanted to judge according to

human standards and stood against the truthful understanding that only faith could provide:

"Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word.  You

are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires.  He was a 

murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth

in him.  When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father

of lies (John 8:43-45)

Fascism's idea of truth grew from this traditional set of oppositions between divine truth

and demonic lies. . .

BRIEF HISTORY OF FASCIST LIES (2020, Univ. of CA Press) by Federico Finchelstein