If American fundamentalism is "Christian," how much worse would the country it be if wasn't? I suggest it would be better because it would put human beings before dogma and theology. Imagine a world where people see each other as human beings and not through the cloud of language, culture, geographics, appearances, preferences, etc. Accepts people where they are and see to it that we take of each other. Less fear. More acceptance and cooperation.
There's been a lot of horrible stuff perpetrated by people who were quoting the Bible in all sincerity and earnestness. Believing something to be true doesn't make it so. I don't think any of the current "religious leaders" surrounding Trump have any capacity for self-reflection. A very simple question is: What makes you think your view of what God "wants for America," etc. is any more accurate or trustworthy than the claims made by fervent confederate God-fearing Bible-believers that the institution of slavery was godly.
The reality is that people make God in their image. This is so obvious in a political context and it doesn't just happen with Christianity. People conflate their deity to "think" and "act" a certain way that comports with their politics, biases, prejudices, etc. People who believe a deity is on their side have almost no limit to their actions, which are always seen as justified.
Thanks, Michael, for your insights. My understanding of the Gospel does see all people as created in the Image of God, as human beings worthy of dignity and respect. I agree that too often the Gospel has been confused with ideology--and hateful ideology at that. Whether we're Christians, Jews, Muslims, or have no religious identity, caring for each other is not only good for the country, it's human! Thanks for reading and responding!
Thanks that was lovely. And correct. Great confusion a to Evangelical blind spot on all of this.
Thanks, Kimberly. And thanks for reading.
If American fundamentalism is "Christian," how much worse would the country it be if wasn't? I suggest it would be better because it would put human beings before dogma and theology. Imagine a world where people see each other as human beings and not through the cloud of language, culture, geographics, appearances, preferences, etc. Accepts people where they are and see to it that we take of each other. Less fear. More acceptance and cooperation.
There's been a lot of horrible stuff perpetrated by people who were quoting the Bible in all sincerity and earnestness. Believing something to be true doesn't make it so. I don't think any of the current "religious leaders" surrounding Trump have any capacity for self-reflection. A very simple question is: What makes you think your view of what God "wants for America," etc. is any more accurate or trustworthy than the claims made by fervent confederate God-fearing Bible-believers that the institution of slavery was godly.
The reality is that people make God in their image. This is so obvious in a political context and it doesn't just happen with Christianity. People conflate their deity to "think" and "act" a certain way that comports with their politics, biases, prejudices, etc. People who believe a deity is on their side have almost no limit to their actions, which are always seen as justified.
Thanks, Michael, for your insights. My understanding of the Gospel does see all people as created in the Image of God, as human beings worthy of dignity and respect. I agree that too often the Gospel has been confused with ideology--and hateful ideology at that. Whether we're Christians, Jews, Muslims, or have no religious identity, caring for each other is not only good for the country, it's human! Thanks for reading and responding!