Such great insights above... All of which reinforce my own experiences and the belief that our Nation was founded on the one true doctrine of separation of Church and State. Without that, are we really “free?”
I was well on my way to atheism when my Papaw died. He was Baptist preacher, and he walked the walk, he was a paragon of a Good Baptist. As he was dying, he was so ANGRY, so AFRAID. And I was all "If this man who has said his entire life that he would go to everlasting love and glory in the Kingdom of Heaven is THAT fucking scared of death...even he doesn't believe it." That wrapped up the last vestiges of my faith.
I don't know why Southern Baptists even exist any more. They arose JUST to justify plantation slavery as a Christian institution. That was their entire raison d'etre. They split with the regular baptists when the regular ones realized slavery was awful, and some preachers in the slave states concocted some sort of "Sure this whole 'owning and treating humans like factory farm animals 'stuff LOOKS evil, but it's actually what God Almighty Himself wants, and so that makes it good and righteous" BS version of Christian theology.
Now they say they're sorry for all that, but why even exist as a denomination any more if you're really sorry? Like, if there'd been a Nazi Baptist denomination in Germany in the 1930's and 40's, after the holocaust, they wouldn't still exist all like "Sorry for the gas chambers and everything. But we're still Nazi-Baptists even tho we've repented of all the bad stuff. It's just our heritage now and we're not joining one of those non-Nazi. liberal churches, but still, super sorry about genocide. We got a little carried away with it all for a second."
I don't understand why the rest of Christendom sees them as legitimate, either. Misrepresenting Jesus as the main advocate of plantation slavery is one hell of a heresy.
The only good thing I got out of going to church as a child was learning how to sing in 3-part harmony with my mom and siblings, and without being explicitly taught, how to find a harmony line in most any melody. Oh, and how to choose the best candy to buy with the coins I was supposed to put in the collection basket (because my widowed Mom mostly dropped us off so she could go have a bit of time to herself, sans brats). Life skills!
born in MA, lived in CT first 30 years.. now in NC.. was not raised in church. technically Lutheran.. tried going to church with a friend.. they were not too pleased we got the kids singing 100 of bottles of beer on the wall. :D
I believe in a higher being not church.. but who's to say which "book" is right? Tried finding a church in NC and though we'd found one but when I asked if gay people were allowed to join I was told no. they can tithe but cannot be full members.. all right then! see ya!
My mom's a hard-core southern Baptist. My dad is an agnostic atheist. She had custody cuz he's a hippie hillbilly construction worker who drinks too much. Soo...yeah. church.
And for the record....the same church as JESSE HELMS.
Also for the record. My dad just existing as a counterpoint probably saved my life. That alone made him my favorite parent. He's the blue collarest blue collared gandalf hat wearing, rickety rusty truck driving bluegrass hippie dude ever. He used to take me to go see Doc Watson play on Sundays he had me and my sisters. Anyways. Interesting post. Worthy of some thought.
Such great insights above... All of which reinforce my own experiences and the belief that our Nation was founded on the one true doctrine of separation of Church and State. Without that, are we really “free?”
I was well on my way to atheism when my Papaw died. He was Baptist preacher, and he walked the walk, he was a paragon of a Good Baptist. As he was dying, he was so ANGRY, so AFRAID. And I was all "If this man who has said his entire life that he would go to everlasting love and glory in the Kingdom of Heaven is THAT fucking scared of death...even he doesn't believe it." That wrapped up the last vestiges of my faith.
Raised Catholic changed my opinion of God. Not happening for this gal! Additionally I believe religion is evil.
As a Jewish Substacker, I love learning about "Christianity" from you, Corey!
I don't know why Southern Baptists even exist any more. They arose JUST to justify plantation slavery as a Christian institution. That was their entire raison d'etre. They split with the regular baptists when the regular ones realized slavery was awful, and some preachers in the slave states concocted some sort of "Sure this whole 'owning and treating humans like factory farm animals 'stuff LOOKS evil, but it's actually what God Almighty Himself wants, and so that makes it good and righteous" BS version of Christian theology.
Now they say they're sorry for all that, but why even exist as a denomination any more if you're really sorry? Like, if there'd been a Nazi Baptist denomination in Germany in the 1930's and 40's, after the holocaust, they wouldn't still exist all like "Sorry for the gas chambers and everything. But we're still Nazi-Baptists even tho we've repented of all the bad stuff. It's just our heritage now and we're not joining one of those non-Nazi. liberal churches, but still, super sorry about genocide. We got a little carried away with it all for a second."
I don't understand why the rest of Christendom sees them as legitimate, either. Misrepresenting Jesus as the main advocate of plantation slavery is one hell of a heresy.
The only good thing I got out of going to church as a child was learning how to sing in 3-part harmony with my mom and siblings, and without being explicitly taught, how to find a harmony line in most any melody. Oh, and how to choose the best candy to buy with the coins I was supposed to put in the collection basket (because my widowed Mom mostly dropped us off so she could go have a bit of time to herself, sans brats). Life skills!
born in MA, lived in CT first 30 years.. now in NC.. was not raised in church. technically Lutheran.. tried going to church with a friend.. they were not too pleased we got the kids singing 100 of bottles of beer on the wall. :D
I believe in a higher being not church.. but who's to say which "book" is right? Tried finding a church in NC and though we'd found one but when I asked if gay people were allowed to join I was told no. they can tithe but cannot be full members.. all right then! see ya!
Since our new telescope was launched we can see to the edge of the universe. Makes me wonder where this god person is hanging out.
Ah, church trauma.
Google "hadephobia" and "zeusophobia".
My mom's a hard-core southern Baptist. My dad is an agnostic atheist. She had custody cuz he's a hippie hillbilly construction worker who drinks too much. Soo...yeah. church.
And for the record....the same church as JESSE HELMS.
Also for the record. My dad just existing as a counterpoint probably saved my life. That alone made him my favorite parent. He's the blue collarest blue collared gandalf hat wearing, rickety rusty truck driving bluegrass hippie dude ever. He used to take me to go see Doc Watson play on Sundays he had me and my sisters. Anyways. Interesting post. Worthy of some thought.
I learned something today related to going to church with Senator Helms I didn't know that I'm kinda proud of now. And decided to add as afterthought.
Apparently, from what I am told, 4 year old me told Mr Helms he looked like a walrus who needed a dentist.
According to my dad, who remembers my mom spanking me about it after church. In retrospect...WORTH IT