There is no such thing as a good cult member. Just cult members.

The whole concept is believe or be damned. It’s the biggest flaw I have with the translation, and it’s probably just a mistake. Oh, and Mary’s pregnancy story a bit suspect too! Three other guys bring gifts! Paternity test anyone

Well, hell could freeze over.

Quakers.

OR molests children

Hi Indy, I know of one. I can provide information if you’re interested.

Please don’t say Episcopalian bc that’s been proven false.

That’s not who I have in mind.

Thanks, but I’m not interested in seeking them out. I’m waiting for them to reveal themselves.

As a whole denomination. That’s never going to happen. Not even a Girl Scout troop exists without at least one asshole in it. And at the same time you think the good, non-bigoted Christians should remain silent about it without so much as mentioning that they pray in their private lives.

Are you waiting for us to grab your collar at work? 'Cause that ain't likely to happen.

Wouldn’t be advised. But let’s talk about the majority narrative within religion, not the few who have been covered by the darkness and can’t be heard.

"religion" is a pretty broad term. The "majority narrative" - if you mean christo-fascism, has been infiltrating & poisoning congregations as well as politics, at least since the 70s.

I’d say even earlier. Look at the parade pictures with KKK carrying “America first” banners alongside crosses and “Jesus saves” banners. Bad people have used religion to justify their bigotry since 1619.

Agreed. I mentioned the 70s because that's when the movement insinuated itself in my church's congregation, & observed how the changes affected my family, & my friends' families.

Ugh. Sorry to hear that. There are a lot of self-serving false gospels like “prosperity”. There’s a good book called “The False White Gospel” about Christian nationalism.

What do you mean? I'm not Episcopalian, but I have loved ones who are. Thanks

Since yesterday I have been attacked by Episcopalian bigots calling me a white supremacist for discussing my religious trauma. They’re still just people and some harbor hate in their hearts. My point is, no entire sect can be labeled the “good one”.

Bigots are bigots, and they can be part of any religion (or none). Without falling into the “not all xxx….” trap, the religion doesn’t define the person, right?

That’s my point. Just because someone belongs to a religion, even if their faith is seen by them as one of the better, more accepting faiths, does not mean they’re a better, more accepting person. So why do we need to announce our religious affiliation to run for office?

Good question. I don’t have a good answer, but I’m guessing that they are trying to appeal to those people for whom religion helps define who they are and judge others by their affiliation. It’s not great, and people should evaluate others on their position vs their faith.

I tried my best to follow yesterday's comment thread from your page. I hear your anger. Are you willing to discuss details of your religious trauma with a total stranger? I'm listening. No promises to make everything better, but I'm in a 12-step group, & 1 of the sayings is, "share it or wear it."

I had sought help understanding it and had my religious trauma under control until the last few years when people in what I believed was a safe, secular party began openly sliding their own faiths into politics.

I'm glad you found help, but deeply sorry you've been traumatized by people who should have protected you. I'm trying to understand "openly sliding their own faiths into politics." It seems to have made you feel unsafe, or at least uncomfortable. Were you being forced to agree with their opinions?

After the IRS announced that they won't tax political churches, every single Christian church who is not denouncing the Republican party over the pulpit is conplicit

Don't hold your breath. I don't think any of them follow the "love your neighbor" requirement any more.

Same. There's a couple but the VAST majority are piles of shit. Thinking of doing some house cleaning soon...

Please Son, get your house in order.

Oh holy one, why you letting all this shit go down? Mad at us?

Not mad...jist disappointed

So am I

For me, I gave up

Good luck with that in trumps america.

It doesn’t exist. the Bible and all religions based on the Bible, have one thing in common, kill everybody that’s not like me.

You are waiting for a group of people who have a deeply personal understanding of God. Those people don't usually form groups.

Christians inherently see themselves as better than everyone else, from atheists to other religions to other denominations. Then there are the Christians who go by "Jesus Followers" because they're better Christians than those "Christians."

They found me while I was walking the US-MEXICO border. They were Episcopalalian, the only local church supporting the LBGTQ Community, refugees, and other oppressed minorities.

The ones who truly follow the teachings of Christ generally don’t form sects or go around boasting about it. Many don’t even call themselves “Christian”, some are even atheists or agnostics. You won’t find them preaching on street corners. They do good quietly as he told us to.

Word of advice: don't hold your breath.

Nowhere to be found these days, I'm afraid.

YEP.........

I look forward to the day when people no longer use religion as an excuse to treat fellow humans as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth.

They are out there. They just aren’t lunatics who scream nonsense out loud.

This is an indictment against the main stream churches who are remaining silent. Their silence is complicent and a clear sin of omission. Sick.

Meet @jamestalarico.bsky.social

Well if you're waiting for a Sect you'll be waiting because it's not Collective anymore when Christ came now it's Individual relationship with the Lord God Not a Building Not people "The Word"

Yup, which is a HUGE problem right now since every "Christian" can just decide what that means and act any way they want. The Word has lost all meaning.

Its going to appear about the same time as trumps Healthcare plan and the epstine files

The whole religion is based on being biased against anyone not Christian, so you’ll be waiting forever, I’m afraid. Many of them literally believe if we’re not Christian like them we will burn in eternal hellfire. That exclusionary bias then extends itself to other groups they don’t identify with.

They are the ones who don't advertise they are Christian! You know them by their works!!

I know two people. That's it.

little sisters of the poor. nuns who work with the elderly in nursing homes and hospice, in many poor, urban areas.

Gee. Good luck with that. I sure as hell haven't found any. That sect of Christianity is also a cult.

Don't stand on your eyebrow... Now that I look at that...what the hell does that mean? My parents used to say it instead of don't hold your breath...but...has anyone else ever heard or said it?

Good luck.

there are many church organizations that actually do help with communities and do not poison minds. the problem is there are more grifters churches than good one. it is incumbent on the decent churches to speak out or they risk getting lumped in with the wierdos.

The drifter churches tend to be much louder and always ask for money.

They’re in aisle seven of Mythic Mart, next to the unicorn horns and rocking horse shit.

Fun fact, that doesn’t exist. Maybe a few individuals, but there is no group that’s actually good.

Don’t hold your breath!

They are being slaughtered in Syria, Ukraine, Congo, Nigeria. Those are some places.

Real followers of Christ do not hurt or ostracize other people. Unfortunately they are hard to find but they do exist.

I found them! Journey with me to the Isle of Make-Believe

The Salvation Army. The ONLY church I can think of that spends ALL of its money on helping the poorest in society.

Or supports Pedophiles

Quakers

Agreed, that's why Quakers were persecuted so much, spiritual equality - even for women - disgusted and terrified most other Christian sects. But nothing is straightforward, Richard Nixon was a Quaker.

About them being persecuted by other sects, well, think about it, what's more Christian than that, really

Exactly, as a percentage of population, the European wars of religion killed more people than most other conflicts.

I meant more like being persecutes by states and the world's principalities for daring to stand with the meek thing

Yeah, that's true - but there's no group that is 100% pure, and i dont think its because they're all corrupt, I think it's just due to the law of large numbers. Generally, the Quakers as a group have been much more good than not, more than you can say about a lot of secular groups

I'm having trouble reading the tone here so I'm just going to answer straightforwardly. I'm a member of the United Church of Christ. I feel we're a pretty awesome denomination supporting LGBT+ rights, Freedom for Palestine, and other progressive ideals.

Oh. That doesn't exist.....

ME TOO!!!!!

Hello! Here I am! A multi spiritual, Christian who respects and loves all as they are. I’ve spent 40 years serving humanity without bias..

It doesn't exist

Here I am! I reference the so-called "good Samaritin" story-where Jesus tells us just WHO our 'neighbor' really is. As in....."love thy neighbor."

That's just "Christianity". Something maga-gots don't understand.

You’ll be waiting a long time.

50 years and counting…

I mean the Quakers are pretty cool in that respect. I don't really believe their stuff either but they've always been pretty progressive.

We've been waiting for over 2k years. They don't exist.

No it doesn’t lmbo

Or openly and adamantly protect pedos and pedo enablers.

Nope. Give it up. It’s in their wee book and tiny minds.

Only ‘sect’ would be Pastafarian. Universal friendship and good sense.

I was raised Episcopal in the old service. It was quiet, internal, and meaningful rather than arm waving pass the peace crap. I liked it until I went church camp where the dogma was preached. “Non Christians will go to hell if they’re not baptized into the faith”

religion is cruelty

We are here, including volunteers who protest, organize, phone & text bank, canvass in person, register voters, visit the forgotten, volunteer to improve the lives of people who are unhoused, pray (yes, PRAY) even for enemies (because it's what Jesus said, not bc I enjoy it),...

... learn how systemic racism affected & harmed our faith, our denominations, & work to change those structures to be inclusive and loving,... We don't knock on your door asking if you're saved, but we are among those who knock on your door asking you to vote for candidates w/democratic values.

Which entire sect is this? Or do you mean this is your personal version of the faith?

I cannot speak for every member of my denomination any more than I can speak for everyone in my political party. What I can tell you is that we understand and follow the call to love God, love our neighbor by showing mercy, & everyone is our neighbor (Good Samaritan).

That’s my point. I appreciate the few people I know personally who identify as Christian and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to a T. I wish they could be heard and I wish they could be seen and I wish they could lead others on that same path. But it’s just not the norm.

I think when people lead by positive example (e.g., love your neighbor), it's not as obvious - because we're not proselytizing or fear-mongering. And there IS trauma in faith communities, which can be unwittingly caused by well-meaning people, not only by intentional abusers.

There are people who enter Democratic politics that are influenced by their faith communities. I'm in a couple of progressive orgs, & many of the older activists are Jewish & had family members who lived- & died - during the Holocaust in WW2.

Also, Sen. Raphael Warnock is a Baptist minister who leads the church once led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I do hope that you are able to find & make spaces where you can feel challenged *because* you feel safe & accepted.

thank you Joyce! You speak for many of us out here ❤️

I meant to add, I can't speak for anyone else, including loved ones.

We also have loved ones who we are STILL trying to help understand that the "evangelical" version of Christianity in which many of us were raised is neither "good news" nor Christ-like. We set boundaries with family & childhood friends from church who are deaf & blind from the brainwashed lies.

If religion works for you, grand. Religion isn't needed to know the difference between right and wrong and that it's a good thing to help your neighbor.

All organized religions are based on disputes with civil society. No disputes, no religion.

The good sect is gone. Here now is the sect that just want to make money and more money and do not even follow what they preach. Popular today is the sect that believes if you attend their church you will become wealthy. That is their God. Worldwide the richest are the preachers, own houses and jets

Twelve-tribes

Or Starve people in Gaza!

They are up in Washington state chilling with the Artesians and drinking Oly's.

They're in hiding.

You’re not gonna see it, because what they are pushing is fake Christian. Fake Christian, full of hate and prejudice.

Don’t hold your breath.

You might want to get comfortable

And the one that doesn't protect pedophiles