<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">never</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">know</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">how</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">feel</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">about</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">things</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">like</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">this</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">There</span><spanclass="s1">'s a part of me that wants to respond back about this idea that "Satan was talking too much sense," but I also realize that sentiments like this are born from a traumatic experience with one form of Christianity, and it makes me feel genuinely sad that the positive experience I had growing up was the exception rather than the rule</span>
<spanclass="n">Especially</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">when</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">there</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">are</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">takes</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">like</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">these</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">which</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">ring</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">far</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">truer</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">than</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"Satan was talking a lot of sense."</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">ESPECIALLY</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">since</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">last</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="mi">4</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">years</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">have</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">shown</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">us</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">with</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">MAGA</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Trumpist</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">crowd</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">how</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">easy</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">it</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">appeal</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">selfishness</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">don</span><spanclass="s1">'t know, I just...feel heartbroken? About this, that something that has been such a blessing and comfort in my life, was abused and twisted into something that left a man that I respect and admire so traumatized. It just makes me sad.</span>
<spanclass="n">Oh</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">realize</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">It</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">just</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">makes</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">sad</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">happens</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">because</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">fallout</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">someone</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">having</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">traumatic</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">association</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">with</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">something</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">deeply</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">meaningful</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="s1">'s been a help and a blessing</span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'ll confess that I stay here because this server/podcast and Slacktivist is the most Christianity I can handle and it'</span><spanclass="n">s</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">really</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">really</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">hard</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">work</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">do</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">so</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">don</span><spanclass="s1">'t identify as a Satanist but I hang out with a lot of them and I think I can discuss this idea of Satan</span>
<spanclass="n">Mainly</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">he</span><spanclass="s1">'s seen an avatar of sticking it the the Man</span>
<spanclass="n">Standing</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">up</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">saying</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"this is wrong"</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">When</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">you</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">look</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">at</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">how</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">thoroughly</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">much</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Christianity</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">has</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">been</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">coopted</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">justify</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">abuse</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">power</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">it</span><spanclass="s1">'s easy to see the appeal</span>
<spanclass="err">@</span><spanclass="n">Tim</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"The Tool Man"</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Taylor</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">He</span><spanclass="s1">'s one of the main people who represents everything I hate about American fundie Christianity. I don'</span><spanclass="n">t</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">fault</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">anyone</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">wishing</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">he</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">was</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">no</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">longer</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">alive</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">because</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">he</span><spanclass="s1">'s someone who'</span><spanclass="n">s</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">done</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">lot</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">actual</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">harm</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">world</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">not</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">just</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">someone</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">with</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">opinions</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">dislike</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">Plus</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">once</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">he</span><spanclass="s1">'s dead they can immediately cancel The 700 Club</span>
<spanclass="n">Freeform</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">only</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">still</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">shows</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">it</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">because</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">they</span><spanclass="s1">'re required too, I bet they'</span><spanclass="n">re</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">quietly</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">looking</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">forward</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Pat</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Robertson</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">kicking</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">bucket</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">Pat</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Robertson</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">one</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Frank</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Zappa</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">scorched</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">song</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">from</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="mi">80</span><spanclass="n">s</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">called</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk."</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Sad</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">think</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Zappa</span><spanclass="s1">'s gone but grogger-worthy people mentioned in the song like Robertson and Jim Bakker are still around.</span>
<spanclass="n">That</span><spanclass="s1">'s the thing, I think, that separates what I grew up with versus what I found after moving to the States. Because, like so many other things, Christianity has been co-opted and used by White Supremacy and American Imperialism to justify and glorify them</span>
<spanclass="n">Whereas</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">meanwhile</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">what</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">grew</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">up</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">with</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m Austria? The Anglican Christ Church in Vienna was a truly multicultural church; I remember seeing what I think were ambassadors and their families from various African nations in attendance. They were so regal looking, it was like seeing Tolkien Elves like Galadriel and Elrond.</span>
<spanclass="n">Because</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">all</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">what</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">see</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">with</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Satan</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">isn</span><spanclass="s1">'t so much a character who "sticks it to The Man," because...that'</span><spanclass="n">s</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">what</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Jesus</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="err">?</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">And</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">don</span><spanclass="s1">'t think Catholicism is anywhere near past that</span>
<spanclass="n">But</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">what</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m trying to get at is, the appeal, for me, of Jesus is the idea that God incarnated into a human life, to live like us and be with us, not as like, a prince or king or emperor, but as a working class man. Who called out those in power, because they were using their position and authority to take advantage of others.</span>
<spanclass="n">That</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">who</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">what</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">t</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Jesus</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Whereas</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Satan</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">meanwhile</span><spanclass="o">...</span><spanclass="n">attempts</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"rehabilitate"</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">him</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">feel</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">like</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m being made to read that "Lex Luthor: Man of Steel" comic series? The one where Lex is the main character, and he and the story try to "justify" Lex'</span><spanclass="n">s</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">worldview</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">his</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">vendetta</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">against</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Superman</span><spanclass="o">...</span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">instead</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">whole</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">story</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">comes</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">across</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">as</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">most</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">damning</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">indictment</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">against</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Lex</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Luthor</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">everything</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">he</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">stands</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">for</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">think</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">what</span><spanclass="s1">'s going on is that to those of us who experienced a different side of Christianity, that whole image of Jesus feels like... when a politician does the whole "man of the people" thing and it fools no one</span>
<spanclass="n">Or</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">worse</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">like</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Kim</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Jong</span><spanclass="o">-</span><spanclass="n">Un</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">style</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"look, I suffer with you"</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="p">(</span><spanclass="n">Narrator</span><spanclass="p">:</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">he</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">didn</span><spanclass="s1">'t) and meanwhile relentlessly punishing the slightest dissent beyond all proportion</span>
<spanclass="n">It</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">honestly</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">feels</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">like</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m living this picture in real life. And that just...it frustrates and grieves me?</span>
<spanclass="n">Probably</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">much</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">way</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">feel</span><spanclass="err">?</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">So</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">absolutely</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">disgusted</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">you</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="p">(</span><spanclass="n">meaning</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">also</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="p">)</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">haven</span><spanclass="s1">'t gone to an actual church in years, not even for Easter or Christmas or any other religious holiday</span>
<spanclass="n">Most</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">swallow</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Jeezus</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">unquestioningly</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">because</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">they</span><spanclass="s1">'re taught not to question</span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'ve mentioned it in the past that the best way I can describe myself is "Naytheist by attrition"</span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">never</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">had</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">any</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">interest</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">church</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">because</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">it</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">wasn</span><spanclass="s1">'t fun and therefore I didn'</span><spanclass="n">t</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">give</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">shit</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">lol</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">i</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">just</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">can</span><spanclass="s1">'t come around to believe with all the bad shit going on in the world</span>
<spanclass="n">no</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">they</span><spanclass="s1">'re disgusted by what caused the alienation</span>
<spanclass="n">We</span><spanclass="s1">'re gonna use the Bible but we'</span><spanclass="n">re</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">removing</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">everything</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">written</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">by</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Paul</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">No</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">no</span><spanclass="err">?</span><spanclass="o">!</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m saying that I fully understand why you'</span><spanclass="n">d</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">be</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">so</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">disgusted</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">alienated</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">by</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">what</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">preached</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">these</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">churches</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">you</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">would</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">decide</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">leave</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">faith</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">altogether</span><spanclass="o">!</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">feel</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">disgusted</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">too</span><spanclass="o">!</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">feel</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">alienated</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">too</span><spanclass="o">!</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">The</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">only</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">reason</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">why</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m still hanging on to my faith, personally, is because of my VASTLY DIFFERENT experience growing up in Austria, growing up with a mother who explicitly chose not to be like her Fundamentalist, Baptist parents!</span>
<spanclass="n">Might</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">be</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">weird</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">include</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Buddha</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Bible</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">but</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">we</span><spanclass="s1">'ll work it out</span>
<spanclass="n">Most</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">can</span><spanclass="s1">'t afford to live in good places lol</span>
<spanclass="n">Of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">course</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Old</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Testament</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">full</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">doing</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">genocides</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">God</span><spanclass="s1">'s name, including in the last episode of this very show iirc</span>
<spanclass="n">It</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">It</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">absolutely</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">It</span><spanclass="s1">'s why I try, with all my heart, to be loving, compassionate and understanding to others. Because it is my way of witnessing, to try and make right the harm others have caused with a distorted and mauled form of my faith.</span>
<spanclass="n">one</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">thing</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">bothers</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">argument</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">you</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">can</span><spanclass="s1">'t be a nice person without religion</span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">can</span><spanclass="s1">'t undo the harm and hurt. But I want to at least try to make it right.</span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">will</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">be</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">honest</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">have</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">seen</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">spirit</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">God</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">more</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">who</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">identify</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">as</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">either</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">atheist</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">agnostic</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">or</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">simply</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">just</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">not</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Christian</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">than</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">have</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">lot</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">who</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">go</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">on</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">on</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">about</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">how</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"great of a Christian"</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">they</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">are</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">It</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">drives</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">up</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">wall</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">it</span><spanclass="s1">'s so awful</span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">mean</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">there</span><spanclass="s1">'s several instances in the Hebrew Bible of priests and prophets of God that weren'</span><spanclass="n">t</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Israelites</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Buddha</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">could</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">be</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">explained</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">as</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"Oh, he's a Prophet of God in India"</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">or</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">something</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">know</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">what</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">it</span><spanclass="s1">'s like, to go through something traumatic, and have people dismiss it as nothing. I'</span><spanclass="n">ve</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">seen</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">listened</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">too</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">many</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">far</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">too</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">many</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">accounts</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">trauma</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">abuse</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">have</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">suffered</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">through</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">were</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="s2">"justified"</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">by</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">monstrous</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">distortion</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">my</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">faith</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">All</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">can</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">say</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m sorry. I'</span><spanclass="n">m</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">sorry</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">you</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">were</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">hurt</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">thing</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">love</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">draw</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">strength</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">from</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">was</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">used</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">justify</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">hurting</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">you</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">can</span><spanclass="s1">'t undo it, but I want to at least try and make it right, by giving the unconditional love that I'</span><spanclass="n">ve</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">experienced</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">from</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">my</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">God</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">back</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">you</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Because</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">me</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">is</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">far</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">better</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">way</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">witnessing</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">my</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">faith</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">others</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">than</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">badgering</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">bullying</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">people</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">into</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">it</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">It</span><spanclass="s1">'s really meaningful to me for you to say that rn. I draw love and strength from Christianity and it also has been used to justify hurting and dehumanizing me. It'</span><spanclass="n">s</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">really</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">hard</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">especially</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">June</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">really</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">appreciate</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">these</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">types</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">conversations</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">have</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">space</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">on</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">this</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">discord</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m not queer, and I know queer people have it worse in many ways, but it'</span><spanclass="n">s</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">difficult</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">grow</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">up</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">a</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">religion</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">society</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">where</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">structure</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">hierarchy</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">lots</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Bible</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">two</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">thousand</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">years</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">of</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">writing</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">early</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">church</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">fathers</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">your</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">own</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">family</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">hates</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">you</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">and</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">your</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">female</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">body</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">with</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">such</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">viciousness</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">To</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">the</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">point</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">where</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">she</span><spanclass="s1">'s simultaneously an impossible standard and an experience of womanhood that'</span><spanclass="n">s</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">completely</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">alien</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">actual</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">women</span><spanclass="w"></span>
<spanclass="n">You</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">are</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">absolutely</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">right</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="ow">in</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">saying</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">that</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Same</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">as</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">with</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Mary</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">Magdalene</span><spanclass="p">,</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">it</span><spanclass="s1">'s all done because insecure, egotistical men would rather put women down than use it as a chance to rise up and better themselves</span>
<spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m sorry I don'</span><spanclass="n">t</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">have</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">much</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="k">else</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">to</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">suggest</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">I</span><spanclass="s1">'m starting to fall asleep, and I'</span><spanclass="n">m</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">having</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">trouble</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">typing</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">this</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">on</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">my</span><spanclass="w"></span><spanclass="n">phone</span><spanclass="o">.</span><spanclass="w"></span>
