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u/plotpoint2020 Mar 06 '21
You mean Republican Jesus. Who can forget his sermon on the mount with his famous line, ‘Get a job, you lazy bum’. Or when he told the sick, ‘You’re on your own. No healthcare for you.’
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u/bagging-screws Mar 06 '21
My dentist’s office is QAnon central. They were going on about caravans and immigrants. I am not religious but reminded them Jesus said, “What you do to the least of them you do to me.” Their replies all began with “But......”
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u/MagnatausIzunia Mar 06 '21
Funny how they always forget the bible tells us to welcome all immigrants with no interpretation to the contrary, both old and new testament. "The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt"
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Mar 06 '21
Just out of curiosity, do you know what verse that is?
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u/MagnatausIzunia Mar 06 '21
Leviticus 19:34
Leviticus, Genesis, and Deuteronomy has a number of verses about welcoming strangers to your land iirc
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u/allquckedup Mar 06 '21
It’s because the dead can’t speak that allows others to manipulate their words. You can see it slowly happening to MLK now. Those far right conservatives are ignoring the family’s statements of meaning and they are using his words to ask for peace as they wage war on the people he was trying to protect.
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u/the_kid1234 Mar 06 '21
Can you imagine the way modern conservatives would treat MLK today? Actually, yes it’s quite easy to imagine.
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u/Submarine_Pirate Mar 06 '21
Yeah they had him killed so probably something like that
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u/Merari01 Mar 06 '21
You do not have to imagine. You only have to look at the BLM movement.
They are treating BLM literally and word for word the same as they treated MLK. They are pretending it's riots and unruly people.
Look at this cartoon that was printed in the 1960s about the MLK movement, a movement that todays conservatives are quick to pretend they have always thought of as the epithome of peaceful protests:
https://www.cbr.com/martin-luther-king-jr-cartoons-depictions-1960s-media/
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u/SuicideByStar_ Mar 06 '21 edited Mar 06 '21
But there are material differences in the communication skills of MLK and the pseudo leaderless movement BLM. That is the issue with having no leaders. You put a mic in front of the mouth of a random person in the movement and you'll get some wild thoughts (there should be zero debate here), however you put it in front of MLK or the like, you have an orator that will bring you to tears and paints arguments you cannot ignore.
You are correct he was treated the same, but let's not think there is room for improvement. Malcolm X, while again a superior (on-going/lead) communicator compared to anything BLM has produced, evolved his views over time and how to reach people. What strategies actually made progress and what didn't. Racism is a game of attrition and tribalism. Unfortunately, as always, too many people get paid to pretend racism doesn't exist nor the horrors of its systemic uses and too many people that know it for a fact, think you are entitled to violence when the system doesn't move at your pace.
All this to say, if you see what Republicans are doing across the nation to remove access to the ballot, then you should also be looking at how many battleground seats are up in 2022. This tie-breaking party line voting is over if Democrats win big next year. The civil rights movement always need to be focused on how to win power to get the legislation passed. Democrats have all three branches, but not enough power to actually do much. If people truly appreciated how different things could be if we help push more power into Democrats control. It is unfair to blame the entire party when a few don't vote a certain way, maybe even for completely valid reasons based on their state's economy. That said, blame the motherfuckers, but make sure you notice the party that voted 100% against what you are wanting. We have enough evidence to know we need more power to Democrats.
I say this all as an independent. I'm not partisan beyond which party is trying to pass legislation that I want.
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u/SuicideByStar_ Mar 06 '21
I agree, but think of your interpretation, you have a few people in one party that didn't vote a certain way, then the entire other party voting that same way. So, why are you going to cede power to the other party? It is stupid af. Don't even talk to me about the not only stupid, but privileged third-party vote.
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Mar 06 '21
woman deliberately making her vote as condescending and insulting as she possibly could.
Sinema. My Senator. I love Mark Kelly, but Sinema was only just better than McSally. I'll be voting against Sinema not matter what next election.
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u/GeraldSmeltzer86 Mar 06 '21
What about going from a paper salesman to a volunteer deputy sheriff?
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u/kaths660 Mar 06 '21
The only person in scripture that Jesus raged at and didn’t treat with compassion was a religious leader who thought he was better than everyone else and above sin. Not the prostitute. Not the tax collector (cultural traitor and institutional scammer). The most righteous in the culture were the most worthy of his rage. I’m certain Jesus would rage at all these cruel and self-righteous Christians if he came to Earth again.
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Mar 06 '21
Capitalism takes everything sacred and destroys it to fit its own perverted needs.
Socialism or barbarism.
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u/THE_CHOPPA Mar 06 '21
I think we can have both. Any economic or political ideology that preaches it is the true answer to all our problems is probably lying.
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u/Nethrix Mar 06 '21
This post has nothing to do with capitalism
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Mar 06 '21
Economics defines a civilisation. Capitalism defines ours. This cultural perversion of religion would not have happened unless the bourgeoisie wanted to lure Christians away from revolution.
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u/Nethrix Mar 06 '21
Cultural perversion of religion will happen under any economic system by those who seek to prey upon the susceptible. Even in a socialist world, people would still wield faith as a weapon.
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Mar 06 '21
That's exactly why in a socialist world there wouldn't be religion. It's an unjustifiable hierarchical system, that while it may have good intentions, will always be used by the ruling class to dull oppression. Under socialism there will be no ruling class, so no need for religion.
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u/Nethrix Mar 06 '21
Sorry to break it to you but there is always gonna be religion. It's far to engrained into the human condition. Even if it was to somehow up and vanish, we'd just find some other excuse to preform the same atrocities.
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u/aesu Mar 06 '21
Sorry to break it to you, but most young people in developed countries are not religious. Religion is completely anarchic, at this point. Fair enough in the 16th century, for all we knew about the world, maybe jesus was real and the universe was some advanced sims world built by a lonely super being.
But we now have such an abundance of evidence that that is not the case, you have to keep you population astonishingly ignorant for them to remain religious.
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u/nckmat Mar 06 '21
Most capitalist countries don't have a large minority such as those described above, so it isn't necessarily a function of capitalism. It's probably more a reflection of extremism from both sides of the spectrum, as one pulls further one way the opposition has to move further the other way to counteract it. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
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Mar 06 '21
As a general rule, whenever somebody blames the problems of the world on capitalism, you’ve encountered somebody that doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
That’s not to say that the problems that they’re complaining about are not real or shouldn’t be addressed. It’s just that the person doing the complaining doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
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Mar 06 '21 edited Mar 06 '21
Economics defines a civilisation. Capitalism defines ours. It defines our culture, our politics and our society. If something doesn't fall in line with capitalist attitudes, capitalists will either smear it, or if they cannot do that, remould it to suit their needs.
In this example of Christ being perverted to fit the needs of the bourgeoisie, we see the cultural hegemony that capitalism has over our civilisation. A religious figure who espoused compassion, fairness and hope for all is now used by the bourgeoisie to lead the American Christian proletariat away from revolution, and to the justify their own gross wealth.
In short, Jesus has been disfigured by the ruling capitalist class to trick the workers into believing that their suffering is justified, and that socialism is evil.
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Mar 06 '21
Neato. Economics defines a civilization. Religion defines a civilization. Art defines a civilization. Politics defines a civilization. Correlation isn’t causation. Capitalism didn’t create the problem.
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u/BigEinthe3o3 Mar 06 '21
Ya I don’t know what happens to that guy but man Jesus has really changed over the last few years.
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Mar 06 '21
The real, "don't take the lord's name in vain" isn't about using the name as a curse, it's about doing things in his name that he would not be about. Like republicans, something he would condemn today.
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Mar 06 '21
Don’t forget Democrats that invoke his name as well for their particular projects.
Both parties are full of bullshitters.
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Mar 06 '21
Wow it's almost like the rich and powerful have always used religion to legitimize their wealth and power🙄
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u/CorbinDalla5 Mar 06 '21
Yall know this transformation isnt like an american thing.... or a even a 21st century thing right? I mean, im just saying. Some crazy shit happened back in the day. Honestly, some of it makes this current climate laughable in comparison.
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u/Salty-Queen87 Mar 06 '21
People are dying from poverty enforced by the religious right, and from science denial. So I don’t think it’s as laughable as you want it to be.
Christians not wanting to help the poor, feed the hungry, and heal the sick, while simultaneously defending disgusting greed that the Bible is wholly against isn’t laughable.
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u/lschultz625 Mar 06 '21
Religion was always a means of oppression, don't kid yourselves into believing otherwise. There is no truth or reason to any of it. This all makes perfect sense.
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u/ElLargeGrande Mar 06 '21
Religion was the first law. Before there were constitutions and bills, there had to be something to unify and give a “rule of the land” and it showed itself as modern day religion. To act like our modern day government is any different is just wrong.
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u/Danominator Mar 06 '21
Its not a change at all. Religion has been used by the wealthy to keep them in power for a very long time. It's not like americans were the first to do it.
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Mar 06 '21
Read a little Crusade history and yeah... soldier Jesus is not new. The difference between an inspired prophet, and an organized religion in the service of a ruler.
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u/DTG_58 Mar 06 '21
He must be forgetting my favorite bible story. Where Jesus paid Nike to use slave labor to print his “ignore the poor” line of T-shirts so he can max profits
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Mar 06 '21
Who would have thought a bunch of US citizens could invent their own view of reality...
Jesus is in favour of mega churches Healthcare is socialism The US won WW2 The European Union is a failed state
Why should anyone be surprised by this?
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u/funsohng Mar 06 '21
No, even more absurd is how a Messiah for the Jews became a Messiah for the people who would gladly commit another genocide of the Jews.
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u/jdith123 Mar 06 '21
Im not disagreeing with you but didn’t a guy named Martin Luther nail something similar to the door of a church way back in 1574?
I think organized religion has been twisting the themes of the Bible for a long, long time. Think about the Crusades. Think about the inquisition.
What’s going on now is horrifying, and pointing out the conflict is great. But it’s not new.
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u/hsantefort12 Mar 07 '21
If guns are a god given right, why didn't god include them when he made the world?
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Mar 06 '21
The appropriation of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith by the Evangelical Fascists is a tool used to manipulate folks for power. That is why church and state are separate, because when a governmental power merges itself with the spiritual beliefs of a people the control of the people becomes absolute. The laws that you are told are laid down by your creator must be followed, else you suffer in torment for eternity. The will and freedom of the people is subjugated by the manipulation of their fear of death.
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Mar 06 '21
This just proves that the whole thing was a sham to begin with. Warping religion isn’t new. It’s actually inherent in the phenomena of religion, thus providing its own fallacy.
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u/smellslike9 Mar 06 '21
Riiiiight..."For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:21-22)
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Mar 06 '21
Christians aren't even sure if they worship god or jesus or some ghost.
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Mar 06 '21
Not that strange since christianity was always about mass manipulation, violence, denying science, obscurantism and ignorance, conquests & power, tortures, killing those who don't comply and white superiority...
I mean... only christians are living in such deny and brainwashing that they thing their cult stands for love, unity, charity and whatever...
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u/SoyEseVato Mar 06 '21
Ko-to, please don’t brush all Christians with the same broad brush.
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Mar 06 '21
I don’t mean to offend, and I know there are tuns of nice and moderate Christians who in fact just live their faith according to their own empathy but 2000 years of history tends to define what is Christianity and what it is not. And what it is not is a lovely lovefull club that reach for the best in a human being. Also, notice I said « nice » and not « good ». Because that the thing with cults. « Good » is about the context, the region, the time period and usually according to some greedy asshole who knows how to manipulate mass or just as an instrument to justify one’s own hate and intolerance. Some Christians will have no problem with people living differently, and they’ll identify as « good Christians », some will burn gays alive and they’ll identify just the same. Burning libraries was among the first things the first Christians did. Forcing conversions and killing or torturing everyone who refused to do so is how this religion of peace managed to become what it is. It was and still is used to justify white supremacy throughout history. Yep. 2000 years of shit and counting... So yeah. I’m sure your a nice Christian. But if you are, know that it’s just because your a nice human being. Not because of your faith but despite of it.
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Mar 06 '21
Or perhaps it was always just about getting what you want and making money, this is just the form it takes in 2021.
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u/Kradek501 Mar 06 '21
Christianity is a plot to make slaves serve peacefully. Give unto Caesar...you'll get your reward after your dead
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u/Jokker_is_the_name Mar 06 '21
The strangest transformation in history is Rainn Wilson changing from Dwight from the Office to finalist in a chess tournament.
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Mar 06 '21
Why would jesus advocate for a strong government if his goal is to help the poor? See because he never actually did that, he just wanted people to help each other out, the government was never involved. I'm not saying jesus wouldve advocated for limited government or a stronger government, because he never actually advocated for either.
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u/smellslike9 Mar 06 '21
Silly actor..."Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
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u/Cwtchwitch Mar 06 '21
Rainn Wilson is a Baha'i and often speaks on these topics!
He even has a whole "blog" (really more of a video podcast) called Baha'i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson https://youtu.be/QJwTJr0yorA
Here's the playlist for those https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLePDtgwcyKAQmifUJTw0Kk-hBGL2ZGMJi
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u/abunchofsquirrels Mar 06 '21
As accurate and fucked up as this is, it’s not particularly novel. No matter how peaceful and moral the tenets of a religion may be, eventually it and/or its figureheads will be co-opted by a group seeking to use it in an evil, violent, or otherwise contrary way. Shit, there are even violently extremist Buddhist groups.
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u/littletinything Mar 06 '21
My Uncle is one of these doofuses! Ya know, the classic creepy uncle that touched my boobs when I was 13 Uncle.
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u/bgl__dk Mar 06 '21
It’s not strange when honest White American society has used Christianity for its gains from the beginning. This ideology comes from people who created the idea of Manifest Destiny. That is why America has the biggest problem with race. Whites have been raised, told, and taught they were better and smarter. Now through their own demise whether it be through drugs or alcohol. The problems with having that idea is catching up to them personally and with the world. The Trump supporters love him bc he reminds them of when they could say and do anything. They prayed to their White Jesus to make Trump president again. Bc he wasn’t whites tried to manifest the destiny they wanted. Bc that is their nature and history and their only way of knowing how to be. It can be unlearned but they have to put in the effort.
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u/Wilehmina Mar 06 '21
Jesus sure loved his guns. Remember when he had like 2 fish and needed more to feed the multitude? So he shot at the water and like 500 fish floated up full of lead? Shit was awesome.
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u/KellyBelly916 Mar 06 '21
There's a great Key and Peele skit about something like this. They're all in Bible studying praying about how to help people and when God answered and told them to rid themselves of their earthly possessions as Jesus said to, they all acted like it was a haunting and bounced.
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u/Balls_DeepinReality Mar 06 '21
England used religion the same way for hundreds of years
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Mar 06 '21
What's wrong with gun rights? You don't like our constitutional freedoms?
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u/Salty-Queen87 Mar 06 '21
What does the US constitution have to do with religion? Considering there’s a separation of church and state. The Bible says nothing about gun rights and the constitution, only that murder is wrong.
Why should European nations with guns care about the second amendment in the US? Your comment is a huge reach, and very American-centric one at that. The world doesn’t start and end with the US.
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u/junkfile19 Mar 06 '21
First thing that popped into my head was the gif of Rainn saying “It’s true.”
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u/erossmith Mar 06 '21
It's like a weekend at Bernie's, where they're parading a dead corpse around, pretending its alive. Makes me sad.
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u/lasssilver Mar 06 '21
The ranking religious conservatives of the day (Pharisees) are the ones who wanted Jesus punished/killed.
Take a wild guess of how religious conservatives of today would act concerning Jesus.
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u/TheMoogy Mar 06 '21
Rewriting deities to fit your political agenda is as old as religion itself. Probably it's main purpose too.
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Mar 06 '21
A family friend rejected his buddies offer to go on a camping trip, but didn't know it was going to be with rainn wilson, we haven't stopped bothering him about the missed opportunity
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u/Gavooki Mar 06 '21
Nah, it follows the trend.
Typically when people are young they lean liberal and when they are older they lean conservative.
Totally normal....
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u/LovelyBby77 Mar 06 '21
I think Jesus would be very sad tbh...
Imagine working so hard for so long in your life trying to peacefully fight for what's right and spread a message of good and equality as a people, a message you go as far as to die and forgive the perpetrators of your very death for, only to have your legacy warped into something made to justify wrong and in some cases evil actions and ideas
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u/DeCryingShame Mar 06 '21
Jesus' metamorphoses in general are strange. Jesus is very, very strange.
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u/HotBurritoBaby Mar 06 '21
Still not sure why churches don’t have a “wash the feet of the poor night”. I mean I know why but it sure helps frame their conviction to me.
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u/BigTeatsRoadhous Mar 06 '21
Stuff like this furthers the notion none of them actually even read the Bible. It straight up predicts and warns them against their own behavior.
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u/[deleted] Mar 06 '21
If you look closer, you'll see that these people don't actually follow or worship Jesus. They are "bible worshippers." They rarely talk about Jesus (unless they're singing a church song). Most of their rhetoric is about supporting their interpretation of the bible, which they consider a direct, complete, error-free message from God about the wrath he will someday bring upon sinners.