Don't drink the water


Recently, an Evangelical (one of the few left who I still love and respect) told me that they understand why I don't like what Evangelical Christianity has become - agree with me, even, on most points - but hear the things I say about religion generally and Evangelicalism in particular, and worries that I'm in danger of becoming as hateful towards Evangelicals as Evangelicals have become towards everyone else.


And I recognize the irony of using the "love the sinner, hate the sin" line of reasoning in this context, but: 

I don't hate Evangelicals. 

I care about them enough to want them to stop being Evangelicals.


Christianity was a river of life to me as I grew up. It was a source of inspiration and hope when I couldn't find those things elsewhere. It was where I went for answers to any important question I had. And even though it wasn't very GOOD at answering questions, it at least claimed to have one: Love. It was even a good answer, for most ethical questions - when in doubt, we ought to do the most loving thing possible. I still try to follow that, even though most of the people who taught it to me have shown that they themselves never believed in it.


But the fact is... most of the people who taught it to me have shown  that they themselves never believed in it. They talked about love, but acted (and voted) from hatred - hatred of anyone who wasn't straight, anyone who wasn't Republican, anyone who wasn't Christian, anyone who wasn't the "right" kind of Christian. 

These people would, given the legal power, make it illegal for people I love to be themselves or marry their partners. 

These people would, given the legal power, make this country a dictatorship under the most hateful man to show up in American politics within our lifetimes. 

These people would, given the legal power, make it illegal for a child to abort her rapist's seed and make it mandatory for her to share custody of her rapist's child. AND they would blame the victim for not fighting her rapist forcefully enough. 


And looking at the actual results of Christianity throughout history, it has ALWAYS been this way. It has ALWAYS talked about love and virtue in theory but strengthened hate and evil in practice. It's NEVER been the liberal hippie "Love your neighbor as yourself" people who have controlled Christianity's effects on the world. It's always been the forces of empire and destruction, the forces of ignorance and hate, that got the most benefit from Christianity. Just like every other religion.


Christianity was never a river of life. It was a poisoned well, and the poison is so virulent that it's even killing people who've never partaken of its waters. 

It's not hateful to tell people they should stop drinking the water, and to describe the ways it's killing them and the people around them, and to push back when they try to get me or my family to drink the water. 

It's not hateful to stand by the well shouting that it's poisoned, and telling people to find water elsewhere.

It's the only possible loving action to take.

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