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While I don’t deny that an uncomfortable proportion of people who are Christian are racist, sexist, homo/transphobic, xenophobic, etc, but to clump everyone into that category is straight up religion based discrimination.
I think you are frustrated by Christians who are bad people, not Christians in general. I know a lot of Christians, some who are terrible, and some who are genuinely good people. I also could say the same about the atheist people I know, the Jewish people I know or the Muslim people I know.
I think the problem is discrimination, which is common among (and contradictory to) Christianity.
Christianity teaches intolerance of homosexuals and trans people. Full stop. Fuck them and anyone who still wants to be labeled as such. If you do not agree with those teachings then it’s time to find a new label to set yourself apart from them. To me it is akin to saying I’m a Nazi but I’m not racist.
I am not frustrated by bad people who identify as Christians I am disgusted by what Christianity has become. The funny thing is that if they actually followed the teachings of Christ we would be having a different conversation.
I dunno about that. I think almost all of big box churches and even medium sized churches teach that. I would guess that over 90% of Christians believe that nonsense. But I would argue that they are not actually practicing the teachings of Jesus. Jesus loved everybody — sex workers, diseased people, etc. if Jesus were alive today I wholeheartedly believe he would be among trans folks and accepting them for who they are. Ultimately LGBTQ+ folks are fighting for the right to love which is also what Jesus fought for.
The Bible does not tell a story of Jesus rejecting homosexual people or transgender people, and in fact tells a story of someone who would love everyone, including the ones most Christians hate. Full stop.
Church + religion != Christianity.
For what it’s worth I am a staunch atheist.
It’s possible we are misunderstanding each other because that is exactly my point. Jesus taught about love and acceptance, and don’t even get me started about what he would think of capitalism.
For what it’s worth I am not an atheist. I have no idea and honestly no one does. I would consider myself agnostic I suppose.
I guess that’s my point. For example, someone close to me is deeply committed to Christ and is a genuinely good person. She left the Christian institution that she was a director of because of the bigoted and homophobic management. She started her own Christian space that is welcome to everyone and has spent the past year without salary creating a space for children to grow and feel welcome and loved (I’m leaving details out for anonymity).
If someone were to be rude to her because she identifies as Christian, under the assumption that she is transphobic or whatever, I would consider that person to be a fool.
I know my example is a rare one, but it’s important to realize that clumping all Christians together and making assumptions about them to the point where you are willing to be rude to them site unseen is textbook discrimination, which is the very thing you supposedly don’t like about Christians.
Judge a person on their actions, not their identity.
So I guess we should make the same exception for people who identify as Republicans then. Some of them are not racist and don’t hate poor people but they continue to support an organization that does. I’m not okay with that. That is great that your friend does not agree with those things but I would argue that she isn’t a Christian then which is why I say they need to find a new organization that represents their ideas and beliefs.
Correct: it is false that 100% of republicans are bad people.
Further to that point I find it bizarre that people identify so strongly with their vote. I think it is more common in America, but in Canada where I am from it is common to vote for one party provincially and another party federally. I regularly change my vote based on policy. As a side note, conservatism practiced by a good political party can be an incredibly powerful and good movement. Unfortunately I have not lived under good conservative leadership in my lifetime, nor during good conservative campaigning and as such have never voted for a conservative government. But that doesn’t make conservatism bad in my eyes and by golly I do not hate people because they vote differently than me. I have had thought provoking discussions though.
I think that people identifying themselves and others with a belief system or a social construct is the root cause of the problem we’re addressing. My friend does not need to invent a new religion because she is not transphobic. She loves Jesus Christ and is therefore a Christian. Just like a bigot can love Jesus and is also therefor a Christian. They are different people. This idea that if you identify a certain way that you somehow pledge allegiance to the socially perceived version of that thing and are somehow identical to everyone else in that group is so problematic, not to mention simple minded. The world is not black and white. It’s complicated and full of nuance.
FFS just talk to someone outside of your circle and you’ll realize you probably agree on most things. And if not, move on — or better yet let them attempt to change your mind, or read a book about it, maybe you’re wrong. Either way, hatred is not with the energy.
Perhaps your are right. I will be sure to verify that they are intolerant of homosexuals and trans before I am rude. Based on your own thoughts on the percentage (90% as you said) I’m sure it will be few and far between.
The assholes are the real christians and always have been from the beginning. The peace love joy shit is just propaganda, only to be brought out like a set of fine china until you let them take the power to kill you.