Christians / Christianity

[DanaC]

It all depends on which strand of Christianity someone follows. The 'prosperity gospel' is a travesty - it stands in stark contrast to the teachings of Christ.

It was a big part of the evangelical movement in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries - Hannah More wrote stories aimed at the literate poor (The Cheap Repository Tracts) many of which extolled the virtues of a. self reliance and b. acceptance of their station in life.

She also wrote a lot about women and femininity - generally extolling the virtues of women remaining in the domestic sphere and not engaging in activities that should best be left to men (such as writing political tracts:p) - whilst at the same time castigating men for not being manly enough and thereby forcing women to to take on a mantle they shouldn't have.

Economic conservatism has often gone hand in hand with the prosperity gospel.

And for all their good works, and they did engage in a lot of charitable activities, many of them also argued against things that might offer the poor a chance to lift themselves out of their distress - such as those who argued against free education for children because if they learned to read they would learn to hanker after more instead of accepting their place.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Flint

10 years, 20 years ago when I was vocally opposed to Christianity, on the grounds that it encourages people to disregard rational thought, and I felt strongly that there can't be any good results from that, people argued, why am I being such a dick? Let them live their lives, how are they affecting you? What's the worst they could do, knock on your door and try to talk to you about something that is a positive force in their lives?

Ladies and gentlemen: 2017. Here we are. People can't think. People accept unqualified talking points as 'gospel' truth. We think the Earth is flat. We don't believe in Evolution. We think the Earth is 6,000 years old and global warning is a hoax. We essentially don't believe anything that scientists say anymore.

Motherƒuckers that affects me. That affects my kids. That affects ALL OF US.

I worry about religion and other memes. I was raised in a church that focused on all that Vatican II hippie stuff which apparently Pope Francis is into. Over the years, I tried to duck the conflict between church and reality but couldn't do it. I got out while the right wing nuts were running my diocese. It seems Bannon had the opposite reaction doubling down on medieval bullshit.

Libertarianism was the other one I fell for, it's so simple and clean. Unfortunately, humans are not simple and clean.

We are all susceptible to accepting nonsense.

Originally Posted by fargon

We go to a church that lives the Word of the Lord, and they mean it. We support the homeless shelters, and food pantries. And take care of our own, and everybody else. We are a rich church with a mission, if the town got flooded out the doors would be open.

I like that.

Originally Posted by DanaC

It all depends on which strand of Christianity someone follows. The 'prosperity gospel' is a travesty - it stands in stark contrast to the teachings of Christ.

This is the face of the public church in the US. When Pence takes over we won't exactly miss Trump but there will be moments.