I didn't get to pick, although I've speculated what would have happened had anyone along my childhood said wait, stop, that's fucked up, we're stepping in. But in my part of the world physical abuse was nothing compared to the number of sexual abuse cases going on, which took all the foster beds just dealing with that. So even mandated reporters didn't report because they knew nothing useful would come of it, and probably only make matters worse.
Charity and kindness are charity and kindness, regardless of the motivation, but it never seems as ... solid ... when it's done out of fear. Too easy, I think, to change the instructions ("Help people or BURN! Wait? Did I say 'help'? I meant judge people or BURN! And vote for my candidate or BURN!")
Except the kind of charity and kindness preached back then was mostly directed towards proselytizing, and some degree of taking care of their own. Actual service to the broader community, not with the expectation of repayment in belief, but simply because that is what Christians are called to do, was not their thing. In fact, I use that as my functional dividing line between Fundamentalist and conservative Evangelical - the latter will do work in the community without requiring anything religious of those who receive it; the former will not. That distinction makes fundies effectively useless for anything like disaster relief where genuine altruism is required.
The old joke about how Jews don’t recognize Jesus as Messiah, Protestants don’t recognize the Pope as head of the church, and Fundies don’t recognize each other at the liquor store? I've never heard it phrased that way before. I have to admit, I laughed.
I spent six months a couple of years ago rooming with a Fundie couple.Ever since I've been allergic to Conspicuous Christianity. Even somebody praying in public makes my hackles rise now. Ironically, I've become a better Christian since I left the fold.
I think a person living their faith does not generally call attention to the source of their inspiration. It's one thing to put a sign out with your name on it as you're doing the work, but entirely another to raise your banners and neglect the poor.
It's nice to hear that, because you still had faith, you found a church home that would let you live it, be it, and use it to bring kindness to others ('salvation' is a completely different thing from basic kindness). I've never understood fear-based Christianity-- it's as if people never realized Jesus was the New Testament, not the Old. They are vastly different.
Somehow my faith in something greater than myself didn't ever die in all of this. Maybe I needed that to survive. I absolutely agree with your sentiment that there are many Christians who seem to be worshipping the god of the Old Testament, the one that was bloodthirsty and vengeful, as if he was pissed off at his own creation. Then again, interpreting the Bible is the subject for me of long essays and college courses :).
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Yes! He did. :)
And what an awful way to be raised. Seriously.
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Thanks for reading! :)
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Thanks for reading! :)
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I've never heard it phrased that way before. I have to admit, I laughed.
I spent six months a couple of years ago rooming with a Fundie couple.Ever since I've been allergic to Conspicuous Christianity. Even somebody praying in public makes my hackles rise now. Ironically, I've become a better Christian since I left the fold.
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Thanks for reading!
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It's nice to hear that, because you still had faith, you found a church home that would let you live it, be it, and use it to bring kindness to others ('salvation' is a completely different thing from basic kindness). I've never understood fear-based Christianity-- it's as if people never realized Jesus was the New Testament, not the Old. They are vastly different.
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Thanks for reading!
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