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Trumpism’s most revealing and defining moments – not its most important, nor cruelest, nor most dangerous, nor stupidest, but perhaps its most illuminating – came earlier this autumn. In the course of a few weeks, the US president started showing everyone his plans for a gilded ballroom twice the size of the White House and then began unilaterally ripping down the East Wing to build it. Then, after nationwide protests against his rule, he posted on social media an AI video of himself wearing a crown and piloting a fighter jet labeled “King Trump”, which proceeded to bomb American cities and Americans with a graphically vivid load of human poop.

As disorienting as it is to watch the president try to upend the old idea of democracy and replace it with its polar opposite, there is one large group of Americans who should not find it completely novel. That is those of us – in older age cohorts a near majority – who were raised as mainline Protestant Christians.

We have watched over the years as rightwing evangelical churches turned the Jesus we grew up with into exactly the opposite of who we understood him to be. At its most basic, they turned a figure of love into a figure of hate who blesses precisely the cruelties that he condemned in the Gospel; we went from “the meek shall inherit the Earth” to “the meek shall die of cholera.” This has happened more slowly, over decades instead of months, but it is nonetheless unsettling in the same ways, a disorienting gut punch for many of us.

What particularly hurts is the fact that at no point did we manage to fight back, not effectively anyway. Without intending to, we surrendered control of the idea of Jesus. It is a story that may provide some insights into how to fight the attack on democracy.

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[-] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

That's Matthew 10:34-36

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

The "sword" is a metaphor for the sharp, divisive nature of Jesus's message. It separates those who accept his teachings from those who reject them. Family division: The quote directly follows with examples of this division, such as a son against his father and a daughter against her mother. This is because a person's commitment to Jesus could conflict with family loyalty and traditional beliefs. Spiritual conflict: The quote highlights that the true spiritual battle is not a physical one. It represents the internal and external conflict that arises when people make a profound choice to follow a new faith that may be at odds with their former way of life and family traditions.

Essentially it means that the message of Jesus is going to be a hard pill to swallow for many people, and it definitely is.

The book of Matthew also contains what Jesus himself indicates is the most important message in the Bible. If you take away nothing else from the old or new testaments, remember Matthew 22:36-40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The second is like unto it: You can't complete the first commandment without following the other.

If you truly love your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, you recognize him as the creator of all things. That means he created you and he created everyone and everything else on earth. To show your love and respect for his creation you must love yourself with everything that you are because you recognize you are one of his creations, and you must do the same for your neighbor and recognize that they are also his creation.

For some reason, placing those two laws above all others, seems to be one of the most divisive parts of Christianity for many Christians.

[-] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I remember (about 20 yrs ago) struggling with my faith in the church, ie: why there were so many rules to follow. I figured that if Jesus had simplified most rules -- to make believing easier -- why was the church complicating things?

That's when I stumbled upon Matthew 22: 36-40 ... and suddenly it all made sense.

Not long after I left the church because I couldn't stand the hypocrisy.

[-] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I know what you mean. *Eventually I came to dread church and just stopped going altogether when my parents finally got sick of the hypocrisy too and stopped making me go.

Speaking of hypocrisy and the church though, you might like Matthew 23. I actually just came across it tonight. Its kinda funny that anger at the weaponization of Christianity on a national scale is what actually got me reading the bible again for the first time in decades, and wondering how much the pieces of my faith I didn't even realize I had held onto this whole time might have ended up shaping me into who I am.

Matthew 23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

[-] HostilePasta@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

Most of Matthew is full of pearls. Like 23:23

A Warning Against Hypocrisy 23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Fuck yeah, Jesus! Call out those oligarch POSs

5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

[-] prole 1 points 1 day ago

Your religion and Messiah condone slavery. Defend that one.

[-] Fedizen@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Not a christian, but this is Galatians 3:28 where the bible says everyone is equal under the eyes of god. Its an admission that all these things are essentially social constructs

Nationality, gender, social classes, these things are all useless to god and it doesn't abide by them. I'd argue the correct pronouns for a christian are "it" not "he" or "she".

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus

[-] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Why would I defend that? Is there somewhere in the Bible Jesus says slavery is good?

I'm no biblical expert, but the only thing I can find on Jesus actually directly "stating" anything regarding slavery is from the book of Luke, and unlike Matthew, Luke wasn't even one of his apostles.

The Bible says a lot of shit that contradicts itself and a lot of things that were definitely meant to be taken as a metaphor. It was also rewritten and edited by men who (very similar to the oligarchs of 2025) hoped to use religion and the Bible to control the masses. Whether they realize it or not, they actually get called out a lot via warnings Jesus gives throughout the Bible.

So to answer your question/accusation(?) I won't defend slavery because why the fuck would I? I'm also unaware of anything attributed to Jesus actually condoning slavery, but the idea that he did seems to be from a quote attributed to him in the book of Luke, who did not actually know Jesus and did not become a follower of Christianity until after his death.

[-] prole 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

If you're supposed to be the savior of mankind, you live among slaves, and you don't even mention it (he does, by the way, and never even suggests it's a bad thing), then you can go fuck yourself and your belief system is trash.

The Old Testament is explicitly pro slavery, and as he said himself, Jesus didn't come to abolish the old law, but to fulfill it. To say that, and then never suggest slavery is bad, then you are condoning it. It really shouldn't be too much to ask for him to be like, "yeah how about you don't treat humans as property".

Yahweh is an evil, genocidal maniac and his followers are in an abusive relationship with him. "I love you, but if you don't literally worship me, you will burn for eternity".

Yeah, no thanks.

[-] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Well again, the Bible says a lot of shit about having tattoos and eating pork/shellfish that plenty of people who claim the identity of Christian Nationalist are cool ignoring, while also insisting that society must strictly abide by very random parts of the old testament.

Obviously, there is no mention of Christ in the old testament, so it seems kind of odd that anyone would call themselves a.Christian while picking and choosing which random parts of the old testament you think people should obey, while also ignoring the parts of the New Testament that Christ says are most important.

Not sure what you're saying no thanks to because I'm not offering you anything? If you can let me know what you're referring to regarding Jesus talking about slavery, maybe I can actually address that?

Because again, as far as I know the only quote is this from the book of Luke (who never knew Jesus), and it sounds like an oligarch jumping on the bandwagon and trying to use religion to manipulate and control the followers of that religion.

Luke 17: Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. 7 ‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? 8 Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’

If this is what you're referring to, I would consider the context that this was not written by somebody who actually heard Jesus speak/teach. If Peter Thiel wrote a book attributing quotes to Jesus, it would probably be full of shit just like this.

Basically "don't worry about uprising against all evil shit I'm doing. Jesus says you have to forgive me no matter how many times I do it. Just look at Luke 17."

It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Specifically, Jesus seems to warn almost word for word about this exact bullshit in Matthew 23:

2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

The oligarchs use religion as a tool to gain their seat of power and control. You may be stuck living in a society controlled by their unjust laws, but don't be like them. Never forget the claims of their own holiness are merely an illusion and part of the tool they use to keep the "little ones" oppressed under the weight of their man made laws.

[-] prole 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Did you even read my comment? I don't know if I could have been any more clear, yet it seems you didn't read anything I wrote.

You don't get to just ignore parts of the old testament that you do not like. That's your holy book, and if you're going to live your life by it (and in many cases, push it on everyone else), then you're going to have to stand behind everything in it. That includes the parts about how bad you can beat your gentile slaves.

I'm saying no thanks to Christianity. Seemed pretty clear to me in context.

[-] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

You don’t get to just ignore parts of the old testament that you do not like.

Ooohhhh but my sweet baby boy. That's exactly what Christianity gets to do LMAO, don't be basic. Although, I have to admit this is perhaps the funniest attempt to mansplain reality (a stranger who allegedly finds my religion abhorrent, incorrectly breaking down my own religion for me) that I've ever had the privilege of experiencing.

That includes the parts about how bad you can beat your gentile slaves.

I'm not sure what part of the book you're referring to, but as an aside I also really need to hear who you believe the gentiles are in the book you're referring to.

That’s your holy book.

I think you're confusing your Abrahamic religions. Telling a Christian the old testament is their "holy book" makes about as much sense as telling a Muslim the old testament is their "holy book."

The Torah contains the first 5 books of the old testament. I don't know very much about Judaism other than the Torah is their holy book, and some sects are more or less strict with how closely they follow it.

The Bible contains the same first 5 books as the Torah in the old testament, but Christians are followers of Christ and abide by the new testament. That doesn't mean they don't see value in the history of their religion, but that whole divide between old and new testament is kind of a big deal.

Matthew 5:17: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

I don't know much about Islam either except that Muslims are followers of the prophet Mohammed and abide by the Quran.

I do know that all 3 religions share the same origin, and I do know that these similarities and especially the differences that you seem to be ignoring or unaware of, are at the heart of what has led to more than a few hairy misunderstandings historically, and continues to drive conflicts and wars to this day.

You have ultra conservative fundamentalist Jews who often hate anyone who isn't like them, (including other Jews, Muslims and to perhaps to a lesser extent in modern times depending on the circumstances/if it will benefit them, Christians), then you have ultra conservative fundamentalist "Christians" who hate everyone who isn't like them (including other Christians, Muslims, and Jews. You sometimes have Christians who hold antisemitic views while simultaneously worshiping a resurrected Jewish carpenter, and in modern times will side with Israel when it benefits them). Then you have ultra conservative fundamentalist Muslims who hate anyone who isn't like them (including other Muslims, Christians and Jews).

All three share Abrahamic ideology, and similar geographic origins. All three are really supposed to be religions that provide guidance to bring people together in unity for a greater good, but thanks to fundamentalist conservative assholes, all 3 are often used to justify acts of evil. Shits fucking weird.

I wonder what possible connection between all 3 might possibly explain all the chaotic conflict and violence? It definitely couldn't be the self serving conservative fundamentalist assholes in each religion who take it upon themselves to play God, manipulate followers of the religion for their own benefit, and convince nations to go to war in the name of a shared God.

So, I guess if it's not assholes that are the problem, the only other possible explanation is that religion in general is the problem. Makes sense.

Lucky for the rest of the secular world, controlling and power hungry assholes don't exist outside of religion. /s

[-] prole 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

I didn't even read your comment after starting out so condescending and patronizing. So you wasted your time there.

The Old Testament is 100% part of your holy book as a Christian. The fact that you think you can just ignore it is heretical.

Have fun tripping over yourself to defend literal slavery.

this post was submitted on 23 Nov 2025
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