Top Trump administration officials will address a mass prayer meeting in the heart of Washington Sunday – an event organisers bill as reclaiming the country’s religious foundations, but critics say is a quasi-official rally for Christian nationalism.
EDIT: Apologies for the reply length!!
I respectfully, sincerely, beg to differ.
Yes, that’s definitely a picture we get when seen through the lens of headlines. We see the loudest and most obnoxious, hateful, and arrogant. We see ‘megachurches’ dodging taxes and preaching patriotism and idolatry to a flag and empire. We see crosses paired with those stupid red hats. We see gospel music “rockstars” at Turning Point rallies.
Raised hackles mean clicks! And clicks mean money. Our enemies boost this coverage to rile up their fanbase and demoralize their opponents.
We don’t see the number of faith based initiatives and charities desperately filling holes left by a gutted social system. We don’t see the everyday believers and even churches who are trying their best to stay sane and love their neighbors (and enemies!) as Jesus instructed.
I’m not even Catholic but kudos to the Pope for calling out the US goons’ nonsense!
Heck, look how long it took for the Guardian to actually report on Christians who are vocal against this stolen identity the Republican fascists are waving around. Ministers and other believers of a multitude of faiths are at protests, getting maced in the face by jackbooted govvie thugs. Churches are delivering food and supplies to families hunkering down trying to avoid capture by ICE.
And keyboard warriors want to lump them as enemies because they have belief?! How about all the people of differing queer identities that believe? Yeah, there’s lots of them too. God bless them, that’s got to be rough.
I’d argue the “vast majority” of Christians are pretty neutral: They could be doing a lot better. They just want to stay out of it, but they’ll try to help other human beings if they can, but they don’t read their Bible too deeply and are easy to lead astray.
The republifascists want to recruit these neutrals by taking over their church’s narratives, by equating faith with patriotism, and that gets easier when these poor (often self inflicted) ignorant neutrals keep getting bombarded with “ReLiGiOuS pPl SuK” messaging. It makes the bad guys look like friends. Then those neutrals become radicals.
A LOT of money has gone into this narrative that Christianity is simply “conservative by default.” Why? Because Christians used to be a leftist thorn in the side of capitalists! (Highly recommend “Behind the Bastards: How the Rich Stole. Christianity”
We’re harder to see. I definitely could do a better job, but we’re there.
The hard-right lean on pretending to be Christian because it serves two purposes: It galvanizes their radicalized blind fanbase, and attempts to snuff out the followers of Jesus that still remain. Letting them win is a net negative.
Thanks for listening to my ramble and for your thoughtful reply. I have to get back to work hahaha. XD