Exactly. A central component of present-day American Christianity is a backlash to the kindness, tolerance, and pluralism taught by Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. Nothing worse than helping a stranger in need or having Black neighbors who you treat as people.
Yup. Republican Christianity didn't just turn its back on Jesus, it crucified him again and spat on the corpse. And piously claims to "love Christ".
I was watching, 18 minutes ago, the tail end of an episode of Mister Rogers, where he repeats his mantra that he likes you just the way you are. Radical kindness, decency, and acceptance.
That’s so sad 😔
The cruelty is the point.
What you're saying is true, but only of the right wing kinds. Other kinds still exist and their numbers are dwindling. But they're still around.
Jesus' first sermon in the Bible he spoke of comforting the poor, freeing prisoners, healing the blind and elevating the oppressed. Exactly the opposite of what's been taught in large swaths of churches and the MAGA movement.
I know Fred would disagree with me on this, but a general rule for me has been: If you’re Anti-Rogers, I’m anti-you.
I'd like to remind ppl that mainline Protestantism and Christianity still exists. The anti-kindness, tolerance and pluralism pack is louder and more politically engaged, but I'm not convinced it's larger than it was at the height of Mr. Rogers' career. They're also theologically illiterate.
It’s also about cutting down God so that he shares your every limitation & prejudice. You don’t have to default to compassion because maybe you don’t know everything or don’t have a complete picture—no, this omnipotent, omniscient creator thinks exactly like you do & knows you’re right!
Catholic here… part is our fault. After our thousands of years of repeatedly showing the world what to do and what not to do, I now realize our biggest mistake… we obviously failed to explicitly say it’s the bad stuff that’s bad & should NOT be repeated. Sorry ‘bout that. Go now in peace and be kind
a backlash but also a continuity with the many many denominations that made their personality all about justifying the power structures of their times
christian churches justified slavery, segregation, misogyny, plutocracy, lynching, etc
and of course a lot of the backlash was against a culture that was starting to abandon oppressions that these churches had made their whole personality
They're still pissed about MisterRogers sharing his swimming pool with Officer Clemmons.
He literally *washed the man's feet*! Every time I am reminded of the life, words and service of Rev. Fred Rogers I'm reminded of the broad and narrow gates and driven to even greater righteous indignation against the fetid soulless ghouls who have colonized and poisoned the Faith.
He's also a highway honored in the profession of Early Childhood Education. i hot to hear him give the keynote once at our annual conference.
Highly honored
Every speech he has ever given has been poetry from a gentler, kinder world, sown with the promise that we can make that world here, that we can do so in our lifetime, and that it will cost us nothing and profit us everything.
Not "American Christianity". This is certainly not the Christianity of MLK & his friends. This is white supremacist Christianity.
I mean Jesus told them to avoid being like that cuck Samaritan.
I'd like a psychoanalyst to breakdown what factors are known to create that reaction.
I go to a UMC church and our pastor literally gave a passionate sermon last Sunday using the Mr. Rogers and Officer Clemmons clip as an example of who we are supposed to be as Christians and as Americans. Mainline American Christians still exist.
where the violence was always directed toward someone weaker, for the glory of their god.
Wow! I just had a personal breakthrough. Raised my oldest children under the heavy influence of Mr. Rogers & Sesame Street. They hate me for making them really nice people, who are always trying to help others. Probably should have taught them to be more ruthless. Sigh. 😔
Empathy is power. Ruthlessness is a refuge for the fragile. It is not that they should excise the good from themselves, it is that they should cultivate boundaries and direct their energies. If your teaching has left them bitter, it is not because they were wrong, but because they were incomplete.
Very good. Thank you for this.