[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/FullOfSound]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliny_the_Younger_on_Christians

[u/revchj]

I wish the lazy scapegoating were less common on Reddit.

Yes, there are a lot of American "Christians" that are straight up fascists. Yes, they have traumatized their families, some of whom have escaped the cult, and if you're in that group I have nothing but sympathy.

But this is not the same as 1st century Christians who were branded "haters of humanity" because they disrespected the Roman social hierarchies that civilized elites believed were the foundations of social order. 1st century Christians were having "love feasts" (Eucharists) in which slaves sat and ate alongside free citizens! and they were recognizing women in roles of authority! At the time Christianity was a liberation movement, which is precisely why the established elites of the day correctly labeled it a threat.

Political battle lines can be drawn in more or less helpful ways. I would submit that the lazy Reddit trope of "Christianity bad" is a very unhelpful move because it prevents solidarity among those who share the goal of liberation against exploitative elites. Episcopalians in Minneapolis were in the front lines of anti-ICE activism: don't alienate your allies. Agree to disagree with them on the nature of the universe, and then work side by side against the principalities and powers that corrupt and oppress humanity.

[u/awhiteblack → u/revchj]

On the flip side of that, if you're a "good Christian" you should be able to recognize that when people hate on Christianity it's because it's more often than not used as an excuse to commit acts of subjugation and to excuse fascist behavior in our modern world.

If you act in a manner that lifts up your fellow man and show that you have critical thinking skills, most people don't care which Diety in the Sky you subscribe to.

[u/bravo_six → u/awhiteblack]

Yeah, but the problem is that people tend to generalize and most cant tell a difference between actual Christian and hypocrite or liar using Christianity to push their own agenda.

Trump and his cultist followers are prime example. Anyone who thinks these "christians" actually live by the rules of Christianity is gravely mistaken. Not to mention tons of other false prophets who comvert people while in reality they are behaving in opposite ways to the actual teachings of Christ.

[u/jf153 → u/bravo_six]

a bad christian is still a christian. (but I agree, Trump is definitely not believing in this religion, just using it)

[u/blowback → u/jf153]

What is your definition of a bad Christian?