In the 1986 movie Hannah and Her Sisters, an embittered painter named Frederick (who is also an Atheist) is lamenting the grave state of the world to his partner, when his anger turns toward Christians, saying, “If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up.”
I wrote a letter to my local paper but it was rejected because I they don't take "concerned citizen" as a signature and I'm too scared to sign my actual name. This was exactly what my letter was about. I just posted it here on Substack. 😅
There's a church on every corner but I don't see any of them being vocal about the inhumane acts by Trump and now DeSantis (if you're in FL). I was raised up in a church that constantly talked about living that neighbor with no exclusions but now... It's love that neighbor but only if they're straight and white.
And the saddest part of this is these so-called Christians justify their thinking bc this human who they think is a man of god says so. I’m so done with this.
All my life I've tried to emulate this. You know I've always felt blamed shamed and not worthy. I'm the only one I mean I'm alone. I have all this illnesses. I had my own business for 30 years. You know I just do all this and I still feel like I'm nothing you know and that's the kind of Christian I'm supposed to be. I'm confused. It's just so hard. I don't know if I am a Christian, but I do know that I think everybody deserves to be. You know everybody deserves to be alive, live and Let live
I walked away years ago from institutional western religion which seems to reflect the worst traits of the societies they sprang from.I made the best choice for myself because things have only gotten more poisonous and filled with such hatred and exclusion. My road is an Eastern one. Best for my peace of mind.
I have been contemplating on how to write this so it is not misconstrued. I do believe those of criminal element who have continued their illegal ways here and endangered everyone belong back where they originated. However, I draw the line on those who came here seeking safety, a chance at a future, with families who want a better life, let us give it to them. We all came here from somewhere else most legally through Ellis Island or Castle Garden and some came here illegally and have worked, paid taxes and raised families. What bothers me is the people who are working, paying taxes and are afraid to go through the citizenship process are now afraid of losing everything as they will be tossed back to their home countries leaving children behind who ARE legal under the Constitution. What judge or populous can play Solomon to tear families apart.
One has to fully comprehend the sadistic horror that is US Immigration system to appreciate how bad it must be at our countries of origin to decide to come here and subject ourselves to THAT. I tried to describe it - and my fourteen-year experience in the system wasn't even the worst - but I don't think one can fully take it un unless they go through it.
Yeah, sure, some of us are crooks. So are Americans. Except, when an immigrant commits a crime, they might get shot or arrested and deported. When an American commits a crime, they might be elected President.
Jokes aside, there are many truly fantastic, detailed data sources, addressing popular myths about immigrants, including statistics on crime rates among immigrants vs. those across the US in general and information about legal import of drugs across the US border by US citizens.
Something else to remember: 9/11 terrorists were in this country perfectly legally. That's to those who still believe that having a monster immigration system somehow keeps bad people out.
My whole family. I sent my 96 year old am email saying goodbye.. cuz I have to let her go and I love her dearly and she is still of sound mind and body.. It's tragic but my health Is on the line. I've been through so much stress this plus numerous amounts of things getting me all at once and that's pretty much my life overwhelmed. I've been having a flare-up of another autoimmune disease. I already have one and I fear I'm going to have this other one. I'll find out on Wednesday
I just can't quiet my mind.s she says I'm on the wrong side and ignores all the chaos Trump creates and my family stances that my and mother and dad immigrated from Holland and they did it the right way I guess so they don't want this because they think they're just running in and not doing exactly what my family had to do 65 years ago
Sending love and support. Your letter reveals the collateral damage this demented, cruel man is inflicting on us as a people and a nation. This, too shall pass.
Thank you so much for your words. I just yeah they're willing to throw me away because my mother and my sister are you know preparing for the life here after and I just didn't quite match up so I'm in the dirt
Christians... If your church is preaching hate and admitting other parish members who preach hate, then leave. Do you need a building? Do you REALLY need the book that is merely a translation of a translation of a translation, written by many men over centuries, tainted with the biases of various time periods? You don't need any of that to follow the teachings of Jesus.
Any of us - Jews, Buddhists, wiccans - will happily take you in. We love Jesus! Yes, some of us do not believe he was the son of God. But if his views and teachings are truly important to you, does it matter whose son he was?
It's been noted over and over that many atheists and pagans are better Christians than people who call themselves Christians. So come join us. All that is asked of you is acceptance of those, whose beliefs might differ somewhat from your own, as long as you are all working toward common goals. You don't need a building. You don't need a book. You don't need a pulpit. Most of all... you don't need hypocrisy, hate, and loud declarations about being a Christian. Come along!
I blame Constantine first, and the Church Fathers who embraced Empire and domination, then Martin Luther, who paved the way to a "personal" faith that answers to no one and is responsible for no one. In another place and time, white Christian nationalists would have been denounced by the Church as heretics, but today they run the show.
Yep: this. My "favorite" post-Nicea episode of the inhumanity of Christianity is the murder of the philosopher Hypatia (a Neoplatonist, scientist, and pacifist) in 415 CE by a mob of violent monks sent to kill her by the bishop of Alexandria, Cyril, who was CANONIZED as an honor to his super-violent autocratic activities rounding up and murdering people he disagreed with, including Jews and people of other religions. He was considered a "great" theologian and "champion" of the Church. Uh-huh.
The dark chapters of church history need to be acknowledged instead of being glossed over. Denial and secrecy perpetuate shame and set the stage for further violence against the soul.
This is one of the most important and beautiful pieces I've read in many days. My heart cries out for what is going on with people who like you said are calling them selves Christians. My Bible also says ' out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh' and 'if you've done this to the least of these you've done it unto Me '. My Bible also says that 'we shall know them by their fruit ' Also says that 'people look on the outside but God looks on the heart ' so I also don't claim to know who really Knows Jesus except for the person's actions - the words coming out of their mouths. So what then am I called to do? Jesus says to 'pray without ceasing '. And He also says to pray for our enemies ( I must admit that one is sometimes very hard to do when I see what is happening in our country and our government.) Where are the leaders to stand up to the mess? My heart is breaking over and over again on a minute to minute basis and trying to tell people to just take a look at what is going on is also heartbreaking. I number one do not want to be one of the people who are deceived ( like the Bible talks about) number two I don't want to be blown about by every wind of doctrine either. 'Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength and Love others as you love yourself '. That's so simple - so easy to understand. I don't know WHY people struggle with that. If I don't want someone doing something to hurt me or harm me - then WHY would I do it to someone else? Or stand by and watch someone else continue to do it? To someone else? I do believe that every day that I wake up and cry - Jesus is also crying. This has to stop. One madman is on the loose and someone somehow has got to say "ENOUGH"!! AND STOP THE MADNESS!!
This is exactly what we must not do. That's capitulation to the madness and we must stand against it. Jesus Himself would want HIS people to continue to pray and speak out and educate our fellow neighbors. I Corinthians 13 still says it all. So as weary and disappointed as I feel on a daily basis - I myself am not giving in or giving up 🙏🏾🙏🏽🙏🏼🙏🏻🙏🙏🏿
My way of handling things right now, after a week that has literally made me sick to my stomach, is to remind myself over and over to keep God/Jesus/Holy Spirit in the center. God is love and God is the constant. Know enough to fight back against the evil injustice and tyranny, but I’m no longer immersing myself in all the repetitious coverage. Hope is definitely an action word, so whatever I can do to resist is time very well spent.
I know I'm crying now. I just I don't know all the stress and stuff is causing me to have another autoimmune and it's just and it's not a good one. So I have to keep my stress leveled down so I have to really work at not overthinking things in my mind and that's so hard cuz that's the type of person I am because you know it affects my head. It affects my central nervous system and that's b******* why?
My mother says I'm of the world and I'm rebellious and turning my back on God and going to hell and stuff like that and it's just so hurtful. It just confuses me even more with what I've gone through. It's very hard to believe that there is a sovereign God that loves me. It really is and I don't think I have that much time left here on Earth but I have let my mother go I think
I take that back. I'm going to be in the process of letting her go for quite a while but I have to and I am working at that because I have to give myself mercy and love and kindness the things I would want from my mother so my work is just beginning
I know. I had some hugs resentments and forgiveness is not easy when the person continues to harm.. But I do believe I'm running short on time (I would love to be a fly on the wall if my mother outlived me) anyways I feel very deeply and my emotions have just been all over the map that's why I'm getting sick. But I finally have let my mother go and by letting her off the I finally realized that I have to let myself off the hook as well. I have not been nice to me. I've been so hard on myself running away from the pain. Thought I could outrun it but I don't think I can because it's now in my face. So all that I want for my mother. I have to give to myself and I have to forgive myself because I've caused myself a lot of grief as well. I have a beautiful dog named Josie and she's my companion and she's the one who has brought me to where I am. Truly, I'm so grateful for her. Thank you so much for answering my book. More will be revealed but I'm constantly under the gun and stress so it's it's been a process to get here
Peggy HE does love you. I've spent over 40 years now in the Lord and it took me a long time to figure out how to love myself. Forgiveness for others took a very long time because there were so many people to forgive. But because I also felt so condemned I couldn't believe that the Lord God Almighty Christ Jesus - the Lord of the universe (s!) could love a 'wretch like me'. But once I started to forgive myself and see that I was worthy of love-HIS love - then I learned that in order to love others as I love myself -- I had to love MYSELF!! AND that's when things got easier for me. How can I love others as myself if I don't love myself?? Rest easy. Jesus is very real and HE DOES LOVE YOU 💓
As always, a thoughtful and accurate take on a frightening situation. I have been out of "mainstream" Protestantism since I was nineteen and figured out I shouldn't try to live two lives. I was given the opportunity to accept being gay instead of trying to soldier on in a Baptist church where I knew I would be condemned on many levels. But I never lost the desire to have a higher power and higher purpose for my life. I had to figure out how to be both a Christian and gay. I assure you, it's not easy, but it can be done with the right support network. I attended and worked for a progressive Catholic church for nearly twenty years, but eventually, the Church's sellout to Trump soured my experience and I had to move on.
As Christians, we are taught to "see Jesus" in everyone we meet. We are taught to treat others, especially the dispossessed, with kindness and love. Unequivocally. Since Bishop Budde's brave inaugural sermon, I have been reading about some so-called "Christian" leaders referring to empathy as a sin. What is wrong with people? I recently posted a diatribe on my Facebook page encouraging anyone on my friend list including family members, who voted for Trump to remove themselves if I hadn't already done so. I've been systematically removing any family members who posted racist or anti-immigrant things ever since the election cycle began. One of my former church friends told me he refused to "unfriend" me since I should respect and tolerate his differing opinions. Well, that didn't set well with me since this has never been about tolerance for differing opinions. I guess he didn't understand the "Block" feature.
I'm to the point where I honestly don't care if I am the only person left standing who refuses to stop speaking out. I still have a few family members who can be trusted, and many supportive friends have joined me. We can't stay quiet and let this happen to us without challenge. Thanks for the safe place to share, we need all the safe places we can find.
Many have left not only the churches, but religion entirely, over the actions of the supposed believers through history. That includes me. I started hearing/seeing the self-satisfied hatred what I call "pre-MAGA" back in the 90s. Believers who actually put their beliefs into action have been a rarity in my life. They are so easily swayed into hatred and violence by their leaders. If my experience is any guide, heaven will be sparsely populated. I agree with Mike Giess.
Oh, John. Not only my gut but my heart is sick this morning, and so many mornings. Yours was the first post I read, which made me realize I'm not alone in my feelings. For years now I've been appalled that people who claim to be followers of Jesus are acting more like the powerful, selfish, frightened powers who crucified him. Jesus asked us to care for one another, to speak the truth, to steer toward the light. These are dark times, but I plan to keep my feet on that path. Thanks for casting your light on it.
It’s hard to stomach justification of persecution on the notion that “We did it the RIGHT way,” as though that right way were available to others. It’s especially hard to stomach derision by family members who choose their own “rightness” over care, loyalty, and respect for family members. But that is the nature of cult behavior.
God bless you, Peggy. May your health challenges ease as you let go and find peace.
Oh thank you so much for your comment.. I'm awake again in the middle of the night with heavy heart and reading this helps. I just think so opposite of my entire extended family and although it is nothing new 60 years later .. It seems the weight is so much greater. I'm trying to keep my head above water as I'm alone with my dog in a hotel because my house is with black mold and needs care. Friends fade away as I'm trying to be true to myself. I'm in murky waters and just starting this self care journey so the only way out is up. Here I go.:)
None of us have steak at this land here on Earth. We're all just passing through. It's a temporary thing. People are just trying to better themselves and get away from What they're experiencing I don't know what do I know right? If that's Christianity, it does not attract me one bit. It's just sad
So thankful your demonstrating a true Christian heart! I haven’t been able to attend a church or be anywhere near so-called Christians since the first appearance of Trump in 2016! As soon as I witnessed the unbelievable acceptance of him in the so-called “believers,” I wanted nothing to do with their hypocrisy!
As bad as these last two weeks have been, the next two weeks will be even worse and so on, and so on. So,hang in there John,we need your voice!! Thank You, and will reStack ASAP 🙏💯👍
I don't have a computer and I touch my phone to scroll and it just jerks me all around.. Like I have to search again, where I just was that kind of thing. It's probably just me laugh out loud but I'm hanging in there but it is frustrating
However, we must not use the name Christian to define these people. That’s very much like using the word Muslim for terrorists. These followers of such a cruel bully as Trump need a different name. Or, what will those of us who are on The Way, disciples of the Christ call ourselves. So far the clearest and most articulate plea for mercy came from a church. From a priest, from a Christian. And, yes, a woman.
Check out the article in Atlantic magazine about the 7 story mountain
theology that claims to be taking over our institutions to prepare for Christ's second coming. It is a dangerous and heretical movement that is behind all of Trump's actions. I will break it down in my substrack. Their Prayer vigil takes place in my county.
I wrote a letter to my local paper but it was rejected because I they don't take "concerned citizen" as a signature and I'm too scared to sign my actual name. This was exactly what my letter was about. I just posted it here on Substack. 😅
There's a church on every corner but I don't see any of them being vocal about the inhumane acts by Trump and now DeSantis (if you're in FL). I was raised up in a church that constantly talked about living that neighbor with no exclusions but now... It's love that neighbor but only if they're straight and white.
Truly and insanely sad. I'm glad I "rebelled" and left the church long time ago. They have evolved into a warped way of thinking.
I may not have the right way figured out but I definitely know what I don't want to follow.. Thanks for comments
And male, their kind of Christian and Trumpublican
:(
And the saddest part of this is these so-called Christians justify their thinking bc this human who they think is a man of god says so. I’m so done with this.
All my life I've tried to emulate this. You know I've always felt blamed shamed and not worthy. I'm the only one I mean I'm alone. I have all this illnesses. I had my own business for 30 years. You know I just do all this and I still feel like I'm nothing you know and that's the kind of Christian I'm supposed to be. I'm confused. It's just so hard. I don't know if I am a Christian, but I do know that I think everybody deserves to be. You know everybody deserves to be alive, live and Let live
I'm a retired therapist, and believe that forming a healing alliance with one can be life-giving. If you can, find one you like and feel better.
Thank you.
I walked away years ago from institutional western religion which seems to reflect the worst traits of the societies they sprang from.I made the best choice for myself because things have only gotten more poisonous and filled with such hatred and exclusion. My road is an Eastern one. Best for my peace of mind.
P
I have been contemplating on how to write this so it is not misconstrued. I do believe those of criminal element who have continued their illegal ways here and endangered everyone belong back where they originated. However, I draw the line on those who came here seeking safety, a chance at a future, with families who want a better life, let us give it to them. We all came here from somewhere else most legally through Ellis Island or Castle Garden and some came here illegally and have worked, paid taxes and raised families. What bothers me is the people who are working, paying taxes and are afraid to go through the citizenship process are now afraid of losing everything as they will be tossed back to their home countries leaving children behind who ARE legal under the Constitution. What judge or populous can play Solomon to tear families apart.
One has to fully comprehend the sadistic horror that is US Immigration system to appreciate how bad it must be at our countries of origin to decide to come here and subject ourselves to THAT. I tried to describe it - and my fourteen-year experience in the system wasn't even the worst - but I don't think one can fully take it un unless they go through it.
Yeah, sure, some of us are crooks. So are Americans. Except, when an immigrant commits a crime, they might get shot or arrested and deported. When an American commits a crime, they might be elected President.
Jokes aside, there are many truly fantastic, detailed data sources, addressing popular myths about immigrants, including statistics on crime rates among immigrants vs. those across the US in general and information about legal import of drugs across the US border by US citizens.
Something else to remember: 9/11 terrorists were in this country perfectly legally. That's to those who still believe that having a monster immigration system somehow keeps bad people out.
Unbelievable...
My whole family. I sent my 96 year old am email saying goodbye.. cuz I have to let her go and I love her dearly and she is still of sound mind and body.. It's tragic but my health Is on the line. I've been through so much stress this plus numerous amounts of things getting me all at once and that's pretty much my life overwhelmed. I've been having a flare-up of another autoimmune disease. I already have one and I fear I'm going to have this other one. I'll find out on Wednesday
I just can't quiet my mind.s she says I'm on the wrong side and ignores all the chaos Trump creates and my family stances that my and mother and dad immigrated from Holland and they did it the right way I guess so they don't want this because they think they're just running in and not doing exactly what my family had to do 65 years ago
Sending love and support. Your letter reveals the collateral damage this demented, cruel man is inflicting on us as a people and a nation. This, too shall pass.
Thank you so much for your words. I just yeah they're willing to throw me away because my mother and my sister are you know preparing for the life here after and I just didn't quite match up so I'm in the dirt
I just shared the following meme on Bluesky:
When someone tells me they are a Christian, I ask: Classic Jesus or Republican Jesus?
Exactly
Christians... If your church is preaching hate and admitting other parish members who preach hate, then leave. Do you need a building? Do you REALLY need the book that is merely a translation of a translation of a translation, written by many men over centuries, tainted with the biases of various time periods? You don't need any of that to follow the teachings of Jesus.
Any of us - Jews, Buddhists, wiccans - will happily take you in. We love Jesus! Yes, some of us do not believe he was the son of God. But if his views and teachings are truly important to you, does it matter whose son he was?
It's been noted over and over that many atheists and pagans are better Christians than people who call themselves Christians. So come join us. All that is asked of you is acceptance of those, whose beliefs might differ somewhat from your own, as long as you are all working toward common goals. You don't need a building. You don't need a book. You don't need a pulpit. Most of all... you don't need hypocrisy, hate, and loud declarations about being a Christian. Come along!
I'm on my way
I blame Constantine first, and the Church Fathers who embraced Empire and domination, then Martin Luther, who paved the way to a "personal" faith that answers to no one and is responsible for no one. In another place and time, white Christian nationalists would have been denounced by the Church as heretics, but today they run the show.
Yep: this. My "favorite" post-Nicea episode of the inhumanity of Christianity is the murder of the philosopher Hypatia (a Neoplatonist, scientist, and pacifist) in 415 CE by a mob of violent monks sent to kill her by the bishop of Alexandria, Cyril, who was CANONIZED as an honor to his super-violent autocratic activities rounding up and murdering people he disagreed with, including Jews and people of other religions. He was considered a "great" theologian and "champion" of the Church. Uh-huh.
The dark chapters of church history need to be acknowledged instead of being glossed over. Denial and secrecy perpetuate shame and set the stage for further violence against the soul.
This is one of the most important and beautiful pieces I've read in many days. My heart cries out for what is going on with people who like you said are calling them selves Christians. My Bible also says ' out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh' and 'if you've done this to the least of these you've done it unto Me '. My Bible also says that 'we shall know them by their fruit ' Also says that 'people look on the outside but God looks on the heart ' so I also don't claim to know who really Knows Jesus except for the person's actions - the words coming out of their mouths. So what then am I called to do? Jesus says to 'pray without ceasing '. And He also says to pray for our enemies ( I must admit that one is sometimes very hard to do when I see what is happening in our country and our government.) Where are the leaders to stand up to the mess? My heart is breaking over and over again on a minute to minute basis and trying to tell people to just take a look at what is going on is also heartbreaking. I number one do not want to be one of the people who are deceived ( like the Bible talks about) number two I don't want to be blown about by every wind of doctrine either. 'Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength and Love others as you love yourself '. That's so simple - so easy to understand. I don't know WHY people struggle with that. If I don't want someone doing something to hurt me or harm me - then WHY would I do it to someone else? Or stand by and watch someone else continue to do it? To someone else? I do believe that every day that I wake up and cry - Jesus is also crying. This has to stop. One madman is on the loose and someone somehow has got to say "ENOUGH"!! AND STOP THE MADNESS!!
Yeah. If we close our hearts, shutter our houses, and in general numb out, they win.
This is exactly what we must not do. That's capitulation to the madness and we must stand against it. Jesus Himself would want HIS people to continue to pray and speak out and educate our fellow neighbors. I Corinthians 13 still says it all. So as weary and disappointed as I feel on a daily basis - I myself am not giving in or giving up 🙏🏾🙏🏽🙏🏼🙏🏻🙏🙏🏿
I play Pandora on random and it just played the song by Muse uprising. Very fitting
So we don't have to let that happen ❤️
My way of handling things right now, after a week that has literally made me sick to my stomach, is to remind myself over and over to keep God/Jesus/Holy Spirit in the center. God is love and God is the constant. Know enough to fight back against the evil injustice and tyranny, but I’m no longer immersing myself in all the repetitious coverage. Hope is definitely an action word, so whatever I can do to resist is time very well spent.
I know I'm crying now. I just I don't know all the stress and stuff is causing me to have another autoimmune and it's just and it's not a good one. So I have to keep my stress leveled down so I have to really work at not overthinking things in my mind and that's so hard cuz that's the type of person I am because you know it affects my head. It affects my central nervous system and that's b******* why?
My mother says I'm of the world and I'm rebellious and turning my back on God and going to hell and stuff like that and it's just so hurtful. It just confuses me even more with what I've gone through. It's very hard to believe that there is a sovereign God that loves me. It really is and I don't think I have that much time left here on Earth but I have let my mother go I think
I take that back. I'm going to be in the process of letting her go for quite a while but I have to and I am working at that because I have to give myself mercy and love and kindness the things I would want from my mother so my work is just beginning
I know. I had some hugs resentments and forgiveness is not easy when the person continues to harm.. But I do believe I'm running short on time (I would love to be a fly on the wall if my mother outlived me) anyways I feel very deeply and my emotions have just been all over the map that's why I'm getting sick. But I finally have let my mother go and by letting her off the I finally realized that I have to let myself off the hook as well. I have not been nice to me. I've been so hard on myself running away from the pain. Thought I could outrun it but I don't think I can because it's now in my face. So all that I want for my mother. I have to give to myself and I have to forgive myself because I've caused myself a lot of grief as well. I have a beautiful dog named Josie and she's my companion and she's the one who has brought me to where I am. Truly, I'm so grateful for her. Thank you so much for answering my book. More will be revealed but I'm constantly under the gun and stress so it's it's been a process to get here
Peggy HE does love you. I've spent over 40 years now in the Lord and it took me a long time to figure out how to love myself. Forgiveness for others took a very long time because there were so many people to forgive. But because I also felt so condemned I couldn't believe that the Lord God Almighty Christ Jesus - the Lord of the universe (s!) could love a 'wretch like me'. But once I started to forgive myself and see that I was worthy of love-HIS love - then I learned that in order to love others as I love myself -- I had to love MYSELF!! AND that's when things got easier for me. How can I love others as myself if I don't love myself?? Rest easy. Jesus is very real and HE DOES LOVE YOU 💓
I'm praying for you and the grace of God the Father to touch you and heal you in Jesus Name 💞
🫂
As always, a thoughtful and accurate take on a frightening situation. I have been out of "mainstream" Protestantism since I was nineteen and figured out I shouldn't try to live two lives. I was given the opportunity to accept being gay instead of trying to soldier on in a Baptist church where I knew I would be condemned on many levels. But I never lost the desire to have a higher power and higher purpose for my life. I had to figure out how to be both a Christian and gay. I assure you, it's not easy, but it can be done with the right support network. I attended and worked for a progressive Catholic church for nearly twenty years, but eventually, the Church's sellout to Trump soured my experience and I had to move on.
As Christians, we are taught to "see Jesus" in everyone we meet. We are taught to treat others, especially the dispossessed, with kindness and love. Unequivocally. Since Bishop Budde's brave inaugural sermon, I have been reading about some so-called "Christian" leaders referring to empathy as a sin. What is wrong with people? I recently posted a diatribe on my Facebook page encouraging anyone on my friend list including family members, who voted for Trump to remove themselves if I hadn't already done so. I've been systematically removing any family members who posted racist or anti-immigrant things ever since the election cycle began. One of my former church friends told me he refused to "unfriend" me since I should respect and tolerate his differing opinions. Well, that didn't set well with me since this has never been about tolerance for differing opinions. I guess he didn't understand the "Block" feature.
I'm to the point where I honestly don't care if I am the only person left standing who refuses to stop speaking out. I still have a few family members who can be trusted, and many supportive friends have joined me. We can't stay quiet and let this happen to us without challenge. Thanks for the safe place to share, we need all the safe places we can find.
Many have left not only the churches, but religion entirely, over the actions of the supposed believers through history. That includes me. I started hearing/seeing the self-satisfied hatred what I call "pre-MAGA" back in the 90s. Believers who actually put their beliefs into action have been a rarity in my life. They are so easily swayed into hatred and violence by their leaders. If my experience is any guide, heaven will be sparsely populated. I agree with Mike Giess.
Oh, John. Not only my gut but my heart is sick this morning, and so many mornings. Yours was the first post I read, which made me realize I'm not alone in my feelings. For years now I've been appalled that people who claim to be followers of Jesus are acting more like the powerful, selfish, frightened powers who crucified him. Jesus asked us to care for one another, to speak the truth, to steer toward the light. These are dark times, but I plan to keep my feet on that path. Thanks for casting your light on it.
It’s hard to stomach justification of persecution on the notion that “We did it the RIGHT way,” as though that right way were available to others. It’s especially hard to stomach derision by family members who choose their own “rightness” over care, loyalty, and respect for family members. But that is the nature of cult behavior.
God bless you, Peggy. May your health challenges ease as you let go and find peace.
What a metaphor for the Dark Night of the Soul! I hope you can rid your house of that nasty mold.
Oh thank you so much for your comment.. I'm awake again in the middle of the night with heavy heart and reading this helps. I just think so opposite of my entire extended family and although it is nothing new 60 years later .. It seems the weight is so much greater. I'm trying to keep my head above water as I'm alone with my dog in a hotel because my house is with black mold and needs care. Friends fade away as I'm trying to be true to myself. I'm in murky waters and just starting this self care journey so the only way out is up. Here I go.:)
None of us have steak at this land here on Earth. We're all just passing through. It's a temporary thing. People are just trying to better themselves and get away from What they're experiencing I don't know what do I know right? If that's Christianity, it does not attract me one bit. It's just sad
So thankful your demonstrating a true Christian heart! I haven’t been able to attend a church or be anywhere near so-called Christians since the first appearance of Trump in 2016! As soon as I witnessed the unbelievable acceptance of him in the so-called “believers,” I wanted nothing to do with their hypocrisy!
I can't stomach it.. It leave me in limbo grappling for internal ease... But I know what I don't want.
As bad as these last two weeks have been, the next two weeks will be even worse and so on, and so on. So,hang in there John,we need your voice!! Thank You, and will reStack ASAP 🙏💯👍
What does restack mean..I get so frustrated in here but being able to navigate..
Thank you for your post
It's simply forwarding or sharing 😉
I don't have a computer and I touch my phone to scroll and it just jerks me all around.. Like I have to search again, where I just was that kind of thing. It's probably just me laugh out loud but I'm hanging in there but it is frustrating
However, we must not use the name Christian to define these people. That’s very much like using the word Muslim for terrorists. These followers of such a cruel bully as Trump need a different name. Or, what will those of us who are on The Way, disciples of the Christ call ourselves. So far the clearest and most articulate plea for mercy came from a church. From a priest, from a Christian. And, yes, a woman.
Check out the article in Atlantic magazine about the 7 story mountain
theology that claims to be taking over our institutions to prepare for Christ's second coming. It is a dangerous and heretical movement that is behind all of Trump's actions. I will break it down in my substrack. Their Prayer vigil takes place in my county.
Seriously? 😣