this post was submitted on 01 Jan 2024
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[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 81 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The only reason why most Christian’s aren’t violent psychopaths is because of their fear of going to hell. And even then, it’s not enough to keep them still.

For the rest of us- there’s morality.

[–] WFloyd@lemmy.world 17 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

I'm biased (a Christian myself), but the Christians I know are not violent, probably because they're at least half-decent human beings who at least try to practice what they say they believe (which doesn't include deepfry oil).

I know a handful of nuts, some claim to be Christian, some don't. Of the ones that claim to be Christian, none I know actually seem to live anything close to what they spout off. As a general trend in my circles, they're the loudest about their faith, the most political/patriotic (either side, but usually right leaning), and most likely to force their beliefs on others. The ones that don't claim to be Christians are pretty similar, just less hypocritical (opinionated, but not religious).

The issue is that anyone can claim to be a Christian, and as a Christian it's not for me to judge and say if they really are genuine or not.

All that to say, this article is a great example of not living out a good Christian faith, at all.

[–] Crikeste@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Still though, those violent people exist and your belief system enables them.

As long religious superiority exists, so will the terror of religion.

[–] WFloyd@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

As a follow on, I'll give a little more from my experience.

Where I grew up (child to expat parents in a very third world country), church is holistic - that is, we care for more than just people's spiritual state. Church organizations run the large majority of healthcare and education, and no one else will. We could get into the weeds about the value of the services provided, but the reality is it's between that or nothing.

The schools teach everyone, and the clinics treat everyone, not just Christians. This I believe is (just one) example of what being a Christian is about - loving others unconditionally. Anything that's contrary to loving others unconditionally is contrary to being a Christian. That doesn't mean anyone (least of all me) is perfect at doing this, it's not a yes/no distinction on "being a good Christian". What matters is where someone's heart is. But at the same time, if someone's heart is right, there should be outward signs of this.

For example, not trying to deep-fry people...

[–] WFloyd@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I agree, one of the failings of Christian culture (in many/most countries) is a false sense of superiority (edit: to clarify, there should not be a sense of superiority). It causes all too much hurt, and shields those who claim Christianity but do evil.

I believe this is especially pronounced in religious settings, but it's true for any power imbalance (family, church, school, government, work, etc). The thing is that any violence, abuse, and hate that come from Christians is so contrary to what we say we believe, it is that much worse - it undoes any of the (nonreligious, materially helpful) good that the Church does.

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[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You really should get out of that cult. Don't even try to say it's "not" a cult.

[–] WFloyd@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

At risk of taking the bait, I'm curious of other's experiences - is it all religion that's a cult, or Christianity alone? If so, is there a divide between Catholic/Protestant?

[–] Hobbes@startrek.website 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The only difference between a cult and a religion is size.

[–] WFloyd@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

So all ~~(mainstream)~~ religion is a cult apart from size.

[–] theangryseal@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

To me at least, the primary difference is time and size.

If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger is still alive or died recently, folks call it a cult.

If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger died a long time ago, folks call it a religion.

From my point of view it’s all the same, it’s just easier to add to the myth after a long time has passed. That and religions are widely accepted throughout wider culture as basic reality, and cults are considered fringe.

If those cults grow to represent wider culture, they’ll stop being called cults and instead be called religions.

This doesn’t take legal status into account or anything. It’s just an observation.

[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Any group that bends your mind into believing falsehoods and expects your loyalty is a Cult. No matter the religion, political party, etc.

[–] WFloyd@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (8 children)

Again, I'm curious. Personally, I have not found my loyalty as a Christian to be forced, it's of my own will. How can I ever prove (to myself or others) that it's of my own free will, and not being brainwashed? This applies to anything: religion, politics, sports, school affiliation, nationality.

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[–] SendMePhotos@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Why are you a bot account?

Also, I hear you. You don't see it often but it's because it isn't reported when a Christian does good Christian things, like volunteer, help people, etc.

Just as the right sees the LGBT community and only eats up the horrible news, ironically the Christians are seen that way to the left. Neither side sees the other in good light.

This is a general statement and not a representation of all views.

[–] WFloyd@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

lol Not a bot account, but you're right, opposing views feeds on the failures of the other, it's sad both ways. Sorry if I've been commenting too much!

[–] cactusupyourbutt@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

he said that because you are marked as a bot. you should be able to change that in your profile IIRC

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[–] Birdie@thelemmy.club 2 points 11 months ago

It's probably not reported when Christians do good Christian things, because those things are actually "good decent things". You don't have to be a Christian to volunteer, help people, etc.

I see plenty of reporting about volunteers, maybe because I live in a hurricane state. Very rarely does the report mention religion, because people of all faiths and people with no faith at all are out there saving people and pets.

[–] espentan@lemmy.world 65 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well, if that's what God wanted. /s

[–] Rediphile@lemmy.ca 37 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago

Ever read the Bible? The Lord works in homicidal ways, usually.

[–] febra@lemmy.world 45 points 11 months ago

There truly is no hate like Christian love

[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 38 points 11 months ago (2 children)

There's a version of MacBeth that's set in modern times at a fast food restaurant called Scotland, PA. Duncan is killed via deep fryer in it.

[–] Tum@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

that sounds really interesting. what's it called?

[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 13 points 11 months ago (2 children)
[–] tjsauce@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

This looks incredible

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

I'm almost certain I watched that movie and then forgot it existed.

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 28 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (7 children)

It's always fascinating to me that people are so shocked when Christians display extreme violent tendencies.

Have you cracked open a Bible lately? Their religion is founded on blood sacrifice and torture porn.

Or looked at any of their history.

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[–] orangeNgreen@lemmy.world 27 points 11 months ago (3 children)
[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Say hi to the hamburglar.

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[–] crsu@lemmy.world 26 points 11 months ago (1 children)

He's going to McHell for this

[–] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It'll be cold fries, uncomfortable hard plastic seats, and a broken McFlurry machine for all eternity.

[–] TomAwsm@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Surely a hell should be worse than reality?

[–] Spacebar@lemmy.world 25 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Waden, whose Facebook profile identifies him as pastor of Elevated Life International Ministries and a semitruck driver, was arrested on a charge of assault

[–] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 32 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Ah, so he's an evangelical trucker. That makes sense. He's a trucker first. R voter second. Pastor third.

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[–] tomatoisaberry@lemmy.world 25 points 11 months ago (1 children)

As a former McD's employee, that would've been hard to clean.

Nah, it's hot oil. All you'd have to do is scoop the human rinds and hair and you're good to go.

[–] verdantbanana@lemmy.world 18 points 11 months ago

baptism by oil

[–] tacosanonymous@lemm.ee 17 points 11 months ago

I’m pretty sure that what Jesus would do…

[–] sndmn@lemmy.ca 14 points 11 months ago

Usually "Pastor Arrested" equals "child molested".

[–] yesman@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

Pastor heard to say:

I'M NOT LOCKED IN HERE WITH YOU...

[–] labrat55@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Church looks like a sham.

[–] BlackSkinnedJew@lemmynsfw.com 4 points 11 months ago

Christofascists gonna christofascist..

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Yeah... they'll do that. 🤷‍♂️

[–] ReverendIrreverence@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

"...and may god's love be with you."

[–] slurpeesoforion@startrek.website 2 points 11 months ago

I remember you from reddit.

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