cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/3377375
I read an essay by a christian a while ago that pointed out that the separation of church and state wasn’t about protecting the state from religion - it was about protecting religion from the state.
The gist of the argument was that religion should be concentrating on the eternal, and politics, by necessity, concentrates on the immediate. The author was concerned that welding religion and politics together would make religion itself political, meaning it would have to conform to the secular moment rather than looking to saving souls or whatever.
The mind meld of evangelical christianity and right wing politics happened in the mid to late 70s when the US was trying to racially integrate christian universities, which had been severely limiting or excluding black students. Since then, republicans and christians have been in bed together. The southern baptist convention, in fact, originally endorsed the Roe decision because it helped the cause of women. It was only after they decided to go all in on social conservatism that it became a sin.
Christians today are growing concerned about a falloff in attendance and membership. This article concentrates on how conservatism has become a call for people to publicly identify as evangelical while not actually being religious, because it’s an our team thing.
Evangelicals made an ironically Faustian bargain and are starting to realize it.
Sorry but no, that’s way too broad of a brush. There definitely ARE sects of christianity that are good, kind, and loving. They might be the minority (or at least seem to be the minority) but they do exist, and there are millions of those congregants.
While no one is perfect, Jesuits are a good example.
Quakers, Episcopalians, UUs generally seemed on the decent side, at least with what they claim to believe and based on my personal anecdata.
And what’s their reward? A dying denomination.
The only growing Christian populations are the hateful ones. I have to deal with the Christians that actually exist.
I always try to keep in mind that when talking about groups to which I am not a member, they are likely more diverse than their representation would suggest. Examples like this really help clear things up. These are people to whom I would be proud to be an ally.
Now look at what the Jesuits were up to 3/400 years ago and see whether you still want to be associated with them.
Only 40 years ago, my best friend was pissing and shitting his pants. He’s an alright bloke, these days.
I don’t care what they did hundreds of years ago. I judge people on who they are, not on who their grand parents were.
Joining a club is different from who your parents were, one is a deliberate choice.
But yay child-abuse-enabling religion I guess.
Not once have they spoke out of denounced their radical brethren.
By the logic of ACAB, it’s not just bad apples it’s the whole damn bunch.
You’re not cynical enough yet. Humanity itself is the bunch.
actually I am but I am open to being wrong and therefore Pleasantly surprised.
🤔 You know, extraterrestrials could be too. If they naturally evolved, it’s almost guaranteed. Life selects for evil behavior.