My sister, a Christian, says she can’t even stand the word anymore. And her son is named Christian (after a One Life to Live character lol). I told her to focus on that.
I can easily understand that. I think it's important, though, to try and focus on the "Christ" part, rather than the "-ian" suffix. In just about every case with regard to figures venerated religiously, it's their FOLLOWERS that end up being the problem. Followers, ultimately, are human and therefore are naturally infused with human feelings and emotions, some of which can cloud judgement and thoughts. If one strips away all the crap added by some misguided adherents through the ages and looks at THE central tenets of what Christ stood for—and incidentally what many other great spiritual leaders have also espoused—it's all about love and treating your fellow humans the way you would yourself be treated. People seem to have lost track of that message and don't realise that if every single solitary human being on this planet could do that 24/7/365 (REALLY allow yourself to think about what the implications of that could be), there is nothing we could not accomplish as a species. The dreamers dream and try and preach that, but others come along and twist and destroy that message for their own benefit...again, human nature, sadly. It matters not at all to me if people want to reject any worship of Christ—indeed, I think Christ himself doesn't want that either—but look at what he and others tried to get us to see. That is where I try and keep my focus. Thanks for coming to my TED talk for today...LOL.
"It's their FOLLOWERS that end up being the problem. Followers, ultimately, are human and therefore are naturally infused with human feelings and emotions"
The problem with followers is that they're followers. Its a personality type. The 2 best Christians I know (who walk the walk) no .longer are affiliated with any church...The NEED to 'follow the group' is in ITSELDF highly problematic
Yes. Not meaning to overtly smear my own faith, but there are so many hallmarks of "cult mentality" one can find in any religious adherence. I think what can separate one from that mentality is the ability to THINK freely and openly and not be afraid to ask questions. Too many "zealots" seem to lose that ability and just blindly follow...that sense of wanting to "belong". What curious beings we mortals are...
As a Christian, I sure the fuck am! But, of course, THEY wouldn't think I was a Christian because my beliefs are all "woke" and "Sermon on the Mount" and shit.
As a Christian I am definitely offended by the fundamentalists. Of course, because I’m a mainline Protestant, those fundamentalists think I’m not a “real” Christian anyway.
consider yourself redeemed and welcome to the real world...it's amazing, isn't it, how well we "fallen away" cat'lics managed to survive without a priest's blessing...
Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, so he clearly didn't hate homosexuals. He did mention helping those in need (he was for it) and religious bigots (he was against them). As for equating homosexuality with Sodom - it's wrong The sin of Sodom was inhospitality to strangers. Who today is guilty of that?
Funny how they are such cafeteria Christians with Leviticus; they'll go straight from their church where they get the sermon all about teh gayz to brunch at Red Lobster because it's endless crab legs week...
First off, yes to the Ben/Erin shout out. I know they’re people of faith (Ben’s dad was a pastor) but they’ve always featured diverse groups of people and also seem like good folk themselves. My sis and brother in law are Christians and they also love and respect everyone, though they are struggling mightily with Trumpers.
Well per Matthew 7:21-23: Donald Trump and Jesus did have ONE thing in common
I Never Knew You
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; You might have served me coffee once, I don't know. But I really don't know you...no"
The irony being that these particular hate-filled Christians are ones who claim that "works" are useless, that "faith" is all God ACTUALLY cares about. Souls are what matters, not physical bodies. So it's more like they would say "Lord, I have spoken in your name, I have displayed thy symbols, and I have witnessed unto the masses" and the Lord would still respond "Nope, you selfish bastard, get in that lake of fire".
Never heard of these people before I read your article. But, if the AFA hates them, they must be doing something right. Is the Odious Bryan Fischer still around?
Your Bible verses were, of course, appropriate. But, nothing like that is about people such as the AFA (or other similar cookie cutter groups). They know those words of disapprobation are always for those "other people." They are the people who, when hearing (from Jewish or Christian scripture): " Love your neighbor as your self," ask, "Well...who IS my neighbor?" The person who asks that question, is never "the good guy."
As soon as I’m back in full employment, I’m subscribing because Evan’s posts always give me exactly what I need in the morning, besides a cup of tea: laughter and solidarity in outrage at these absolute motherfucking people who, elsewhere in the world, are the very worst stereotypes of Americans.
I deeply dislike Chip and Joanna’s style. The shiplap! The barn doors! Whatever those ugly lights are called! The tchotchkes! I’m glad. Chip made this statement but I still won’t watch.
Ta, Evan. Until this moment, I had never heard of Chip and Joanna. The reaction to the inclusion of one (!) gay couple with kids is totally predictable.No matter the religion, fundamentalism is ALWAYS centered on hatred.
It's never enough with those people. They expect absolute perfection and are relentless in their condemnation and judgemental abuse. Their "faith" is so tenuous it can't survive any hint of reality that doesn't match the one they've designed around their house of cards interpretations. Someone should start methodically chipping away at them, maybe with David and Jonathan's relationship.
Because these people are scared shitless that their God will destroy America, and themselves along with it, because we allow teh gayz to exist. I'm sorry, but I cannot wrap my brain around the logic of a God who creates people just so He can destroy them later on the flimsiest pretext.
I can't wrap my brain around a Diety capable of speaking the entire Universe into existence, only to be VERY obsessed with the politics of a minor faction of one group of beings on one insignificant planet.
*”Matt Walsh sells stuffed animals of himself in a diaper, for children.”*
I hate you for informing me of that. I really could have gone to my grave without knowing that the weird beard man who always looks like he has recently been through a mangle, sells plushies of himself in a diaper for kids.
Yeah, these are stomach-churning people, and for how much they claim to hate teh gay, their politicians are curiously the only ones to perpetually crash Grindr year after year at their so-called DC "conventions". Hmmmmmmm.
The idea of Grindr pinging Matt Walsh as in my area DTF would be enough to make me burn my phone I think 🤮
But honestly, these are very warped people. They have been told from a very early age - well before they become sexually aware that the totally normal urges that come with puberty are dirty and sinful and will send them to hell. Subsequently they have no idea what healthy sex is, and often substitute control / domination (not in a fun way) for sexual pleasure. Hence the ridiculous amount of Domestic Abuse, rape and child abuse emanating from their churches.
You’d think if the whole ‘no homo’ thing was a big deal Jesus would have said something about it? But no, Jesus kept banging on about wealth and inequity.
"No, but if RuPaul is reading this, I sense crossover potential for a show about drag queens in conestoga wagons and the like."
The 'The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert'/'Oregon Trail' mashup we all want!
"You have died ... 𝙊𝙁 𝘼𝙒𝙀𝙎𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙀𝙎𝙎!!"
That’s what I pictured too! Please, TV people reading this, make this show!
I'm really disappointed that we are not getting home made sex lube out of frontier maple syrup. I'll not let the dream die.
I think this could easily be crowd-funded.
How dare these fundamentalist presume to speak for all Christians. Were I Christian, I'd be offended.
Trust me. I'm a Christian and we are.
My sister, a Christian, says she can’t even stand the word anymore. And her son is named Christian (after a One Life to Live character lol). I told her to focus on that.
I can easily understand that. I think it's important, though, to try and focus on the "Christ" part, rather than the "-ian" suffix. In just about every case with regard to figures venerated religiously, it's their FOLLOWERS that end up being the problem. Followers, ultimately, are human and therefore are naturally infused with human feelings and emotions, some of which can cloud judgement and thoughts. If one strips away all the crap added by some misguided adherents through the ages and looks at THE central tenets of what Christ stood for—and incidentally what many other great spiritual leaders have also espoused—it's all about love and treating your fellow humans the way you would yourself be treated. People seem to have lost track of that message and don't realise that if every single solitary human being on this planet could do that 24/7/365 (REALLY allow yourself to think about what the implications of that could be), there is nothing we could not accomplish as a species. The dreamers dream and try and preach that, but others come along and twist and destroy that message for their own benefit...again, human nature, sadly. It matters not at all to me if people want to reject any worship of Christ—indeed, I think Christ himself doesn't want that either—but look at what he and others tried to get us to see. That is where I try and keep my focus. Thanks for coming to my TED talk for today...LOL.
"It's their FOLLOWERS that end up being the problem. Followers, ultimately, are human and therefore are naturally infused with human feelings and emotions"
The problem with followers is that they're followers. Its a personality type. The 2 best Christians I know (who walk the walk) no .longer are affiliated with any church...The NEED to 'follow the group' is in ITSELDF highly problematic
Yes. Not meaning to overtly smear my own faith, but there are so many hallmarks of "cult mentality" one can find in any religious adherence. I think what can separate one from that mentality is the ability to THINK freely and openly and not be afraid to ask questions. Too many "zealots" seem to lose that ability and just blindly follow...that sense of wanting to "belong". What curious beings we mortals are...
indeed!
👆👆👆🎯
Beautifully said. Thank you (got me a little choked up).
Like Bruce, I am a Christian, and I am offended.
As a Christian, I sure the fuck am! But, of course, THEY wouldn't think I was a Christian because my beliefs are all "woke" and "Sermon on the Mount" and shit.
Loaves and fishes, love your neighbor, turn the other cheek, all that commie stuff. ❤️
I am a Christian, and I’m deeply offended.
I would make a point of becoming Christian (at least on a temporary basis) long enough to be wildly offended. at the very least.
As a Christian I am definitely offended by the fundamentalists. Of course, because I’m a mainline Protestant, those fundamentalists think I’m not a “real” Christian anyway.
You think you got problems? (joke) I'm an ex-Catholic and therefore unsalvageable to them. Hallelujah!
I’m sure with some work we could make this into a Four Yorkshiremen bit.
I had to look that up. Not surprised to find some Pythons lurking.😄
consider yourself redeemed and welcome to the real world...it's amazing, isn't it, how well we "fallen away" cat'lics managed to survive without a priest's blessing...
Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, so he clearly didn't hate homosexuals. He did mention helping those in need (he was for it) and religious bigots (he was against them). As for equating homosexuality with Sodom - it's wrong The sin of Sodom was inhospitality to strangers. Who today is guilty of that?
Funny how they are such cafeteria Christians with Leviticus; they'll go straight from their church where they get the sermon all about teh gayz to brunch at Red Lobster because it's endless crab legs week...
Do they have 2 refrigerators to separate the meat from the dairy? Of course not. It's much easier picking on Gay people than trying to stay kosher.
Not to mention wearing multiple fabrics at the same time. 😱
Poly-cotton blends are like the standard uniform of the Fundagelical gawdbotherers, isn't it?
That's the one I CANNOT and WILL not diverge from...NOTHING is more important than different fabrics not touching each other...How COULD it be?
Paul is the one who yakked a lot about TEH GHEY and he... had some issues.
That's putting it mildly.
🤔. Who indeed
First off, yes to the Ben/Erin shout out. I know they’re people of faith (Ben’s dad was a pastor) but they’ve always featured diverse groups of people and also seem like good folk themselves. My sis and brother in law are Christians and they also love and respect everyone, though they are struggling mightily with Trumpers.
Well per Matthew 7:21-23: Donald Trump and Jesus did have ONE thing in common
I Never Knew You
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; You might have served me coffee once, I don't know. But I really don't know you...no"
The irony being that these particular hate-filled Christians are ones who claim that "works" are useless, that "faith" is all God ACTUALLY cares about. Souls are what matters, not physical bodies. So it's more like they would say "Lord, I have spoken in your name, I have displayed thy symbols, and I have witnessed unto the masses" and the Lord would still respond "Nope, you selfish bastard, get in that lake of fire".
quite convenient n'est ce pas?
Never heard of these people before I read your article. But, if the AFA hates them, they must be doing something right. Is the Odious Bryan Fischer still around?
Your Bible verses were, of course, appropriate. But, nothing like that is about people such as the AFA (or other similar cookie cutter groups). They know those words of disapprobation are always for those "other people." They are the people who, when hearing (from Jewish or Christian scripture): " Love your neighbor as your self," ask, "Well...who IS my neighbor?" The person who asks that question, is never "the good guy."
Evan is a gift, he makes reading about horrible people enjoyable. The Napiers are not Trumpers but they are surrounded by them in laurel.
As soon as I’m back in full employment, I’m subscribing because Evan’s posts always give me exactly what I need in the morning, besides a cup of tea: laughter and solidarity in outrage at these absolute motherfucking people who, elsewhere in the world, are the very worst stereotypes of Americans.
I deeply dislike Chip and Joanna’s style. The shiplap! The barn doors! Whatever those ugly lights are called! The tchotchkes! I’m glad. Chip made this statement but I still won’t watch.
It appears the world of Christofascists is falling apart at the seams.
How very sad.
ANYWAY...
Ta, Evan. Until this moment, I had never heard of Chip and Joanna. The reaction to the inclusion of one (!) gay couple with kids is totally predictable.No matter the religion, fundamentalism is ALWAYS centered on hatred.
Could it be that one of their kids has come out as LGBTQA?
Love "Queen Priscilla"💜
It's never enough with those people. They expect absolute perfection and are relentless in their condemnation and judgemental abuse. Their "faith" is so tenuous it can't survive any hint of reality that doesn't match the one they've designed around their house of cards interpretations. Someone should start methodically chipping away at them, maybe with David and Jonathan's relationship.
Because these people are scared shitless that their God will destroy America, and themselves along with it, because we allow teh gayz to exist. I'm sorry, but I cannot wrap my brain around the logic of a God who creates people just so He can destroy them later on the flimsiest pretext.
I can't wrap my brain around a Diety capable of speaking the entire Universe into existence, only to be VERY obsessed with the politics of a minor faction of one group of beings on one insignificant planet.
Your last sentence sums up my reason for leaving church permanently.
*”Matt Walsh sells stuffed animals of himself in a diaper, for children.”*
I hate you for informing me of that. I really could have gone to my grave without knowing that the weird beard man who always looks like he has recently been through a mangle, sells plushies of himself in a diaper for kids.
Yeah, these are stomach-churning people, and for how much they claim to hate teh gay, their politicians are curiously the only ones to perpetually crash Grindr year after year at their so-called DC "conventions". Hmmmmmmm.
Eeeeeeeewwwww! Brain bleach and a vigorous scrub with mental floss tonight.
The idea of Grindr pinging Matt Walsh as in my area DTF would be enough to make me burn my phone I think 🤮
But honestly, these are very warped people. They have been told from a very early age - well before they become sexually aware that the totally normal urges that come with puberty are dirty and sinful and will send them to hell. Subsequently they have no idea what healthy sex is, and often substitute control / domination (not in a fun way) for sexual pleasure. Hence the ridiculous amount of Domestic Abuse, rape and child abuse emanating from their churches.
You’d think if the whole ‘no homo’ thing was a big deal Jesus would have said something about it? But no, Jesus kept banging on about wealth and inequity.
Not gonna lie, a sex lube made from maple syrup and rainwater would be hawt! I’d tune in for that.