We will work and hope for the best. But the “heart of darkness “ revealed during the Trump presidency is a stain on our country. Taking away healthcare, putting immigrants into concentration camps, attempting to stop citizens from voting, turning ICE into a police state organization, putting Putin above the people of Ukraine- this cannot be whitewashed.
Thank you. We have to do a better job of teaching our kids what the founding fathers believed. And some Americans will not change. Anyway, good Liverpool win yesterday.
They used to be called Fundamentalists, until people started to look at them unfavorably. They were re-branded as Evangelicals, but it's the same credulous, emotion-driven crowd.
“That twisted mindset has led MAGA followers to cheerlead for treatment of immigrants that smacks of fascism.”
It doesn’t smack; it is fascist and so is the Christian Nationalist movement. If empathy is stripped from Christianity then the religion becomes a meaningless wasteland. Some Americans—and I do hope most—are decent, but that reputation for decency quickly erodes if we do not loudly and actively denounce Christian Nationalists every time they raise their ugly heads.
Religion has failed to provide peace to humanity. That is why we need to maintain a separation of church and politics/government. Human secularism can provide empathy without the shackles that religion can impose on people. It is with great sadness that humanity cannot raise itself to appreciate one another without greed or control over others.
Did you know you can edit your statement after it’s posted? The three little dots way over on the right, hit that, and you will have an edit option. If you pick that, you can change the note however you want to, and then repost.
First of all, will someone please print (yes…ink on paper) about fifty million copies of this and have it widely distributed.
Second, the first paragraph instantly brought to mind the distortion of Israeli democracy in which the repugnant ultra-orthodox live off of welfare, are exempt from military service, have “values” at odds with the majority of Israelis, and yet wield disproportionate political power with a right wing coalition.
Are they ‘at odds’ all that much? There is not one single candidate in Israel’s current election that supports a Palestinian state, or that supports any meaningful change on the “settlement” of the Occupied Territories.
Even the supposed left wing challenger, Yair Golan, said even talking about a Palestinian state is “destructive”.
I most certainly have separately come to the same conclusions over the last decade, plus, that these statistics now reinforce.
Here is the part I wrestle with. If Evangelicals believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and they form the basis of their spiritual being, what the f*ck???
What happened to goodness, forgiveness, morality, honesty, decency, faith and love?
These Americans are total, and utter hypocrites. And they are my neighbors, and sometimes my relatives. Absolutely unreal.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions? But I don’t even see good intentions. Just hatred.
An interesting point about that survey mentioned elsewhere: the group that had the highest percentage who said empathy is “foundational” were those not affiliated with any religion at all.
This was followed by “non-Christian religions”, presumably including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others that didn’t have their own category, then next by Jewish Americans.
Let’s quit calling these white nationalists Christians. They are not. A Christian is one who believes Jesus is the son of God, the Messiah and who live their life according to the teachings and principles of Jesus. White nationalists consider people in need to be parasites.
I would simply define Christianity on how followers live their lives in accordance to the teachings of Jesus. Most people do not know know themselves much less Jesus! Actions matter. Thoughts matter. God save me from people trying to regulate my ethical personal life just so they can control me for their own power trips.
Christian Nationalism is the realm of Authoritarians, bigots, and the anti-empathetic. They are Christian Nationalists because it is where they can get together with birds of their own feather and spout awful things without being shamed by normal people.
I have said for some time that American Evangelicals are the greatest current force promoting atheism. Their weird religion is so far from the Jesus of the Gospels and so far from any rational sort of god, that one must doubt the existence of any god. All religions are conjurings of humans, of course, and Evangelicals' conjuring is totally off putting. Our country accords religion, certain religions that is, a special place and many unwarranted protections and allowances. The longer I live, the less I believe that rationality will prevail any time soon. I have said that it defies belief that in the 21st Century many people live their lives as if the recorded thoughts of a long ago semitic people in the mideast should dictate how they live their lives and dictate their understanding of current reality.
I quoted that in a comment for The Banner and it got a downvote. Pretty scary that people who call themselves Christians don't recognize Jesus' words. Jesus showed empathy at all times, including for people like the Roman centurion and his servant.
The importance of welcoming the stranger is foundational in both Judaism and Christianity. This is empathy put into action. How can one be an observant Christian or Jew and reject empathy?
Sadly, even if the midterms go Blue, this lack-of-empathy trend will continue to flourish and be fueled underground, as it has been for decades. This is a true movement powered by a lot of money and savvy “cult” leaders. Dems would be wise to hire a flurry of social psychologists and others who specialize in deprogramming and undoing these cult networks.
They are a prime example of the wisdom for "separation of church and state" and "freedom of religion" in our US Constitution. Certainly, we do not want to go back to the days of the colonists before our rights were defined in the US Constitution.
We will work and hope for the best. But the “heart of darkness “ revealed during the Trump presidency is a stain on our country. Taking away healthcare, putting immigrants into concentration camps, attempting to stop citizens from voting, turning ICE into a police state organization, putting Putin above the people of Ukraine- this cannot be whitewashed.
"The more intensely people identify with white Christian nationalism, the more empathy-averse they seem to be."
Yet another reason for the Constitutional separation of Church and State.
Our founding fathers were wise and prescient.
Thank you. We have to do a better job of teaching our kids what the founding fathers believed. And some Americans will not change. Anyway, good Liverpool win yesterday.
But some of it can be undone quickly
That would be great. It may not be easy.
They used to be called Fundamentalists, until people started to look at them unfavorably. They were re-branded as Evangelicals, but it's the same credulous, emotion-driven crowd.
Their use of "evangelical" shows they do not know what that word means.
“That twisted mindset has led MAGA followers to cheerlead for treatment of immigrants that smacks of fascism.”
It doesn’t smack; it is fascist and so is the Christian Nationalist movement. If empathy is stripped from Christianity then the religion becomes a meaningless wasteland. Some Americans—and I do hope most—are decent, but that reputation for decency quickly erodes if we do not loudly and actively denounce Christian Nationalists every time they raise their ugly heads.
Religion has failed to provide peace to humanity. That is why we need to maintain a separation of church and politics/government. Human secularism can provide empathy without the shackles that religion can impose on people. It is with great sadness that humanity cannot raise itself to appreciate one another without greed or control over others.
Did you know you can edit your statement after it’s posted? The three little dots way over on the right, hit that, and you will have an edit option. If you pick that, you can change the note however you want to, and then repost.
Thank you for your suggestion Pam! I guess my lack of computer savvy is showing. I appreciate your input!
Looking at our history, it's very difficult to claim we're "decent."
-- Native American genocide.
-- Japanese concentration camps
-- Chinese railroad worker exploitation and torture.
-- Endless illegal involvement in Central and South America (and elsewhere)
-- Oh, and the neo-Soviet death cult called MAGA currently polling at nearly 40%.
And that isn't even anywhere near an exhaustive list.
We're not decent. We're not civilized. We are barbaric brutes.
Republicans are horrible people....period.
Mmm. You omitted slavery and endemic racism.
I did note that it wasn't an exhaustive list. :)
Just making sure, since it seems to be the basis of most internal hatred and fear. 🦅🦅🦅
First of all, will someone please print (yes…ink on paper) about fifty million copies of this and have it widely distributed.
Second, the first paragraph instantly brought to mind the distortion of Israeli democracy in which the repugnant ultra-orthodox live off of welfare, are exempt from military service, have “values” at odds with the majority of Israelis, and yet wield disproportionate political power with a right wing coalition.
Are they ‘at odds’ all that much? There is not one single candidate in Israel’s current election that supports a Palestinian state, or that supports any meaningful change on the “settlement” of the Occupied Territories.
Even the supposed left wing challenger, Yair Golan, said even talking about a Palestinian state is “destructive”.
Funny, ain't it? That model was copied, of course.
Except for the crazy xtians try REALLY hard to serve in the military and the FBI which should terrify us.
I most certainly have separately come to the same conclusions over the last decade, plus, that these statistics now reinforce.
Here is the part I wrestle with. If Evangelicals believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and they form the basis of their spiritual being, what the f*ck???
What happened to goodness, forgiveness, morality, honesty, decency, faith and love?
These Americans are total, and utter hypocrites. And they are my neighbors, and sometimes my relatives. Absolutely unreal.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions? But I don’t even see good intentions. Just hatred.
An interesting point about that survey mentioned elsewhere: the group that had the highest percentage who said empathy is “foundational” were those not affiliated with any religion at all.
This was followed by “non-Christian religions”, presumably including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others that didn’t have their own category, then next by Jewish Americans.
Let’s quit calling these white nationalists Christians. They are not. A Christian is one who believes Jesus is the son of God, the Messiah and who live their life according to the teachings and principles of Jesus. White nationalists consider people in need to be parasites.
I would simply define Christianity on how followers live their lives in accordance to the teachings of Jesus. Most people do not know know themselves much less Jesus! Actions matter. Thoughts matter. God save me from people trying to regulate my ethical personal life just so they can control me for their own power trips.
Christian Nationalism is the realm of Authoritarians, bigots, and the anti-empathetic. They are Christian Nationalists because it is where they can get together with birds of their own feather and spout awful things without being shamed by normal people.
I have said for some time that American Evangelicals are the greatest current force promoting atheism. Their weird religion is so far from the Jesus of the Gospels and so far from any rational sort of god, that one must doubt the existence of any god. All religions are conjurings of humans, of course, and Evangelicals' conjuring is totally off putting. Our country accords religion, certain religions that is, a special place and many unwarranted protections and allowances. The longer I live, the less I believe that rationality will prevail any time soon. I have said that it defies belief that in the 21st Century many people live their lives as if the recorded thoughts of a long ago semitic people in the mideast should dictate how they live their lives and dictate their understanding of current reality.
I'm not a Christian, but I seem to recall something from the Book of Matthew.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous* will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Those alleged "Christians" wouldn't know Jesus if he walked up to them and kissed them on the lips.
I quoted that in a comment for The Banner and it got a downvote. Pretty scary that people who call themselves Christians don't recognize Jesus' words. Jesus showed empathy at all times, including for people like the Roman centurion and his servant.
The importance of welcoming the stranger is foundational in both Judaism and Christianity. This is empathy put into action. How can one be an observant Christian or Jew and reject empathy?
And in most other religions like Islam, Buddhism, etc.
Sadly, even if the midterms go Blue, this lack-of-empathy trend will continue to flourish and be fueled underground, as it has been for decades. This is a true movement powered by a lot of money and savvy “cult” leaders. Dems would be wise to hire a flurry of social psychologists and others who specialize in deprogramming and undoing these cult networks.
The level of corruption , flagrant abuse of power, sleaze and sewage pouring out of the Trump administration is simply staggering!!
They are a prime example of the wisdom for "separation of church and state" and "freedom of religion" in our US Constitution. Certainly, we do not want to go back to the days of the colonists before our rights were defined in the US Constitution.
The Chrisnat cult is manipulated by Russia