An interesting article from John Pavlovits

[plimsoll]

A Funeral for My Christianity

I’ve been saying something like this for several years now, often to be met with fury by those who identify as Christians. In essence the current state is similar to the situation following the conference of Nicaea, what had been Christian is now heresy, and those of you who have considered yourselves Christian and liberal are now cast out. The Emperor Donald has declared the new orthodoxy, and “You ain’t it.”

I’m not going to discuss actual doctrine, or “the real Christ/Jesus,” because in the common parlance those finer points don’t signify. The media, center, right and far right universally use Christian as code for white nationalist. Even if that wasn’t the intent that is what it has become.

I’m sorry folks but you’re not Christian anymore. The question is no longer, “They can’t define themselves as the one true Christians,” because they didn’t the rest of society did it with them. The question is can we truly have a separation of church and state when one party is the Christian party in a Christian nation, and if we do should those of us who are “non-believers” be forced to subsidize our own subjugation.

[FM123]

1. Very interesting article.

This part really stood out to me:

Today, reading my old friend’s words I realized that whatever this thing is that she and I used to share as a common thread has frayed beyond repair. Her Jesus and mine bear no resemblance to one another. I don’t belong in this tribe anymore. I am the outlier now.

[CrispyQ]

2. I have a long list I'd like to send this to.

I’m not sure what all this angry, chest-thumping, bullying, “don’t tread on me” thing that we’ve come to call Christianity is, but here’s what I do know:
It isn’t the Gospel.
It isn’t Good News for the poor and marginalized.
It isn’t the Prince of Peace.
It isn’t the perfect love that casts out fear.
It isn’t Jesus by any measure.
It’s a toxic cocktail of power, control, fear, nationalism, and white privilege—and it looks much more like the bloated opulence of Rome than the early Church that resisted it.

People have said that the MAGA Evangelical movement has hijacked Jesus but I don’t believe that’s true. They have hijacked the word Christian. Jesus is of no use to them.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Persecution in the Roman Empire

ended with Emperor Constantine. So religions have risen and fallen before. Celts aren't numerous today, nor are Druids.

[edhopper]

4. He is always

very insightful.

[ratchiweenie]

5. "Christians" today look like the "Christians" of the inquisition.

[Laurelin]

6. I walked that path a long time ago

Got born again in my damaged young teenage years. Got tossed out of my church and turned on by my friends in my early twenties because I asked too many questions.

I was lucky because I could go home to my roots and upbringinging in the evangelical Lutheran church. It was difficult though, even for me. It took a while before I could find my faith again.

I feel really sad for Pavlovitz and all the other Christians who are persecuted by people they thought were brothers and sisters, and barred from what they thought was their home. I hope they find peace in a new spiritual home, whether or not they call themselves Christian. For myself,
I still believe in the Jesus of the gospels.

I wish I could tell him it will all be fine once he has his time to grieve. It will be.

[CrispyQ]

7. I have a friend who is Christian

& struggles that the rest of his family & a church that he attended for many years, have turned into the new type of Christian. You can almost tell what kind of Christian someone is by the political party they identify with. I grew up in a small town full of evangelical types & most of the kids I went to school with are republicans & post views I mostly disagree with. There's a lot of anger on that side, too. Going to a recent high school reunion was a big mistake. WTF was I thinking?

[plimsoll]

8. I had a difficult time figuring out how to respond to you.

I think it’s good to acknowledge their grief, but I think we need to grow accustomed to this.

What he is saying though has a more malevolent outcome than just the lost community. The Christians he’s alluding to don’t recognize others as Christians, you may belong to a church and your church may have a significant history not only in the USA but world wide, but in their eyes you are something else. As other, they don’t really consider that you have rights, or that you are not deserving of rights.

I feel sad for the people of what used to be called “mainstream” Christian denominations that haven’t realized that Christian doesn’t mean what it used to.