Post AljA4PAd9Tz9QfJr72 by thedansimonson@lingo.lol
(DIR) More posts by thedansimonson@lingo.lol
(DIR) Post #Alj2ozEmaZ0Oyaxj5k by futurebird@sauropods.win
2024-09-06T11:45:01Z
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I’ve been reading about the Red Scare & conservative conspiracy theories of the 50s, 60s. I knew liberal organizations like the NAACP, ACLU were accused of being communist— but I never knew of the allegations against protestant churches. In particular non-evangelical churche. And these are the churches that have waned in popularity since those decades. Their potential membership has become non-religious or been swept up by evangelical and prosperity gospel outfits.
(DIR) Post #Alj3EukDuq0SZT21ho by futurebird@sauropods.win
2024-09-06T11:49:43Z
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I often hear the lament “why are American Christians so bad at Christian values?” — it’s not by accident those values were purged and religious diversity narrowed as the white evangelical “charismatic” churches became the only option in many places. And with it many have forgotten what it could mean to be “Christian-like” to love thy neighbor etc.Those who might have preserved these values have drifted away from churches leaving them less able to adapt.
(DIR) Post #Alj3NnJKvItU7dgpnM by paninid@mastodon.world
2024-09-06T11:51:19Z
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@futurebird The Cold War messed with Christianity: https://youtu.be/0cYs7IYN9qg?feature=shared
(DIR) Post #Alj3ZJAqnULu85D8hE by mensrea@freeradical.zone
2024-09-06T11:53:24Z
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@futurebird and there is nothing inconsistent between them and the puritans. they went to america to get away from tolerance requirements
(DIR) Post #Alj4OibzymjBnBQJyi by InkySchwartz@mastodon.social
2024-09-06T12:02:38Z
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@futurebird Which is part of what leads to this:https://newrepublic.com/post/174950/christianity-today-editor-evangelicals-call-jesus-liberal-weak
(DIR) Post #Alj4QRuT344wZRt57Y by va2lam@mastodon.nz
2024-09-06T12:02:59Z
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@futurebird that didn't really happen in other places where the non evangelical churches also shrunk though?
(DIR) Post #Alj4j1E6TqgpJevW1g by justafrog@mstdn.social
2024-09-06T12:06:23Z
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@futurebird Some of the things in the bible seem socialist.Feed people only because they're hungry. Give them drink only because they're thirsty. Give people clothes only because they have none. Give people shelter only because they have none.Those are very literal things the Jesus in the bible says people should all do, when able.
(DIR) Post #Alj5QtQuoj79t3q9cu by Ponygirl@mastodon.social
2024-09-06T12:14:16Z
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@futurebird It's all about grifting the weak-minded.
(DIR) Post #Alj5Vn7xgmaJmJJJI0 by richpuchalsky@mastodon.social
2024-09-06T12:15:08Z
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@futurebird Jewish person here -- those Christian values never existed as widespread realities. They were PR for Christianity: actual Christians did not have some kind of golden age in the US when they followed these things.What this idea expresses is a trope called Restorationism in which Christianity had a mythical Golden Age:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restorationism
(DIR) Post #Alj8KzwC1Km8BYLnbk by michaelgraaf@cheeseburger.social
2024-09-06T12:46:49Z
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@futurebird Although it seems not to have gained traction in North America, elsewhere the Liberation Theology movement within Catholicism also alarmed the anticommunist inquisition, such that money was pumped into prosperity gospel nonsense to reduce support for that movement.
(DIR) Post #AljA4PAd9Tz9QfJr72 by thedansimonson@lingo.lol
2024-09-06T13:06:15Z
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@futurebird reminds me of, when FDR was accused of being a Communist, he often deflected with a simple response of “I’m a Christian.” I wondered what happened to that attitude, and I think I understand now.
(DIR) Post #AljBEUfJg0vtJz2xtY by randomphrase@emacs.ch
2024-09-06T13:19:16Z
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@futurebird Heather Cox Richardson's Democracy Awakening describes in detail the origins of the usage of "socialist" to describe progressive causes. I was quite surprised to find that it dates back to post-Civil War times, when it was applied to groups promoting Black voting rights.
(DIR) Post #AljCCDQ6vI1lD9Pbnc by donlamb_1@mastodon.online
2024-09-06T13:30:02Z
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@futurebird prosperity doctrine - god wants you to be rich now.
(DIR) Post #AljCR1tc3H5NoUH8Ea by donlamb_1@mastodon.online
2024-09-06T13:32:40Z
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@futurebird ah you already posted about it.
(DIR) Post #AljECN3bIE2R0Y5KSm by SteveClough@metalhead.club
2024-09-06T13:52:31Z
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@futurebird I would like to clarify that this is not precisely a pond difference - so many of their ideas are also impacting the religious right in the UK. So many supported Brexit for these sorts of reasons. It appears different, but the underlying ideas are the same.I would point people to Jon Ronsons podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011cprif you can access it, the first series in particular was a fascinating insight into cultural history.
(DIR) Post #AljPIKpZa94tKvZPSS by stevegis_ssg@mas.to
2024-09-06T15:56:51Z
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@futurebird "Christian values" have always been manipulated to support the dominant power structure. All the "be meek, trust us, do as you're told, forego pleasures in this life to be rewarded in an additional one for which you have no evidence" emphasis was selected for inclusion in the canonical bible by a council who wanted to make it palatable to the kings and dukes that then determined what could be taught to the masses.
(DIR) Post #AljXOc0zP6eC0FPkCu by OWOP@mastodon.world
2024-09-06T17:27:36Z
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@futurebird TWW: Heavy is the burden of faith and you will fail. What is asked of you are tasks beyond your skills and sacrifices that you cannot endure. Your mind will be twisted and your body broken, your friendships taken and fellows lost. All is a test of the life that is given to love. *If this TWW text doesn’t give you pause, check your pulse. Religion does not require faith nor does faith require religion. Faith does however require thankfulness. Peace for All. OWOP
(DIR) Post #Alk5sQoozbpkPK75bE by jonquass@techhub.social
2024-09-06T23:54:00Z
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@futurebirdI've always felt that if the Bible was real, it was the Quakers, the Amish, or the Mennonites who got it closest.I don't think most people will agree though, and I've found that trying to discuss the right way to be a Christian is not generally a useful way to spend my time.
(DIR) Post #AlkapUkV1LOmJ7Aghk by oblomov@sociale.network
2024-09-07T05:40:50Z
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@futurebird Christian values are too close to socialist values for comfort of the US ruling class.