I agree w/ the 1st sentence but I'm not so sure enough churches will do the work he talks about.
"Christian nationalism is not actually faithful to Christianity. In churches, pastors, they’re the ones who are going to be crucial to pushing back against the forces of extremism because they’re the ones who need to speak to their neighbors, friends and church members about the idea that America is a Christian nation is actually not faithful to historic Christianity."
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/05/us/white-christian-evangelicals-blake-cec
Spoken in what manner? Fighting against the extremism or are they encouraging it?
@see_the_sus fighting against extremism.
Glad to know. Gives me some hope.
@see_the_sus many are fighting the good fight, but it’s still an uphill battle for sure
There needs to be more promotion of those fighting. They need to be more vocal to the general public about their efforts.
@see_the_sus promotion from whom? The media? Fat chance.
Living in FL, we need more vocal involvement, regardless of religious beliefs.
I agree more vocal involvement is needed across the board but how are those of us who aren’t religious going to know of the attempts by Episcopal congregations to fight the extreme evangelicals?
@see_the_sus make friends with those who are religious...
Like me.
I have a couple of friends, IRL & on SM, who are religious. One IRL friend is Catholic & we do not talk about religion because we disagree vehemently about the topic. I'm a Recovering Catholic.
My point is, that knowing a few people online and in real life isn't going to get the message out about their attempts to the wider public.
It's the same issue that frustrates me about the Democrats. Unlike conservatives, they suck at speaking up loudly.
@see_the_sus go to any Pride parade/event.
The churches present are the ones who are most vocal. Every church I’ve been involved in my adult life has been in the trenches.
5-6 years ago I was in Berkeley marching with Kamau Bell and an interfaith coalition against the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer, but all anyone cared to talk about were the Black Bloc and Antifa.
Don’t tell me we’re not doing the work or being loud enough.
@see_the_sus as to the Dems, if you don’t like it, do something about it.
I am, and now I’m making real positive changes and impacts. In Florida.
@see_the_sus Just like with the House republicans, anybody who dares speak reasonable truth is immediately disregarded, demonized and shown the door.
@see_the_sus A few notable examples aside, for the most part, pastors are not leading this surge. It's a grassroots movement that is circumventing all of the structures, conventions, and guardrails.
Research is pointing to an on-record, intentional rejection of Jesus Christ's teaching, while people continue to tenaciously grasp the label "Christian" in order to push for conservative extremism.
This phenomenon is spreading internationally.
It's truly a bizarre moment.
The few times I've gone with my mom to her church, (Catholic), and every time I hear the Catholic radio she listens to, Relevant Radio, they're very vocal against and spread lies about women's rights to have control over our bodies, the LGBTQ community, anything to do with Biden & other members of his administration, climate change, etc. I'm no fan of Biden but I also don't stand for lies.
@see_the_sus It's saturated with lies, and it's all bent toward animosity.
Social media and talk radio are the places where the influence is being felt the strongest, in my opinion. They're taking free speech for a joyride,.
The internet is full of stories of the people fleeing this crap -- the numbers are bearing it out. The church is shrinking and its broader influence is shrinking...but that is making who is left behind more concentrated, more desperate, and in control of the resources.
@see_the_sus My parents are evangelical in Canada, and I see the same thing happening to them.
They're becoming increasingly radicalised, falling for every conspiracy including the current shenanigans around "parental rights."
It's bewildering to watch the people who raised me to be rational, empathetic and generous take this ride so eagerly.
My mom managed to stop listening to the assholes at Focus On the Family but she still gets caught up in conspiracy chatter that Relevant spews. She didn’t used to be so extreme but ever since my dad died 25 years ago, she gave up in a lot of ways and became more obsessed with religion.
@see_the_sus It's hard to take. When the core of the religion is about giving and loving and eradicating prejudice, to see it twisted in this way, on this scale, is profoundly disturbing.
@see_the_sus this is certainly spoken about in many Episcopal congregations nationwide.