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Ol Janx Spirit

(902 posts)
13. Have they studied what Christians have done in the real world throughout history?
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:15 AM
Yesterday

Despite the teachings of Jesus, it isn't pretty.

At its core, Christianity has been just another political movement wrapping itself in the text of a peaceful prophet.

And that political movement has been cruel more often than not in its quest to maintain power.

The evidence for this is voluminous, but the death of William Tyndale is a great way to highlight it:

William Tyndale was strangled and burned at the stake near Brussels on October 6, 1536, for heresy after translating the Bible into English. As a key Reformation figure, he defied authorities by producing the first English vernacular Bible directly from Greek and Hebrew. His last words were "Lord, open the King of England's eyes".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tyndale

Many American churches use the translation of Tyndale in their services.

And there were dozens of wars of religion in Europe between roughly 1524 and 1648.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_wars_of_religion

These were a large influence on the creation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution enshrining religious liberty in an effort to curb its influence in politics.

But historically, "a cruel and oppressive government" has often been the result of Christianity, not the thing it seeks to resist.

"I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition!" -- Monty Python "Spanish Inquisition" sketch.

Recommendations

4 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

What has Trump given up for Lent? bucolic_frolic Yesterday #1
Kinda late............... Lovie777 Yesterday #2
These are the Social Justice Xtians. maxsolomon Yesterday #29
Come on, my denomination and leadership have been on the front lines of this obamanut2012 Yesterday #30
Oh for goodness sakes! In NYC there's... electric_blue68 Yesterday #34
Finally...these people begin to wake up. travelingthrulife Yesterday #3
I doubt that these are MAGA pseudo-Christians William Seger Yesterday #4
I grew up Catholic, in and out for many years. hoosierspud Yesterday #8
I know there are scads of "good christians" slightlv Yesterday #35
If you voted for Trump at any time Miguelito Loveless Yesterday #5
Cannot access the letter AverageOldGuy Yesterday #6
That was the link provided in the USA Today Article BumRushDaShow Yesterday #12
I'm posting the web archive version. Hope it's the letter you're referring to. ancianita Yesterday #17
Any single Trump vote is a crisis of morality... EarthFirst Yesterday #7
Where were these so called Christian leaders Old Crank Yesterday #9
Well, that's a pretzel twist of logic Farmer-Rick Yesterday #10
Not if you actually read the letter. It says just the opposite of your own "logic." ancianita Yesterday #18
Yeah, they write that Farmer-Rick Yesterday #19
So what. You didn't even believe what they put in writing; so how can I believe that "the Southern Baptists I know" ancianita Yesterday #22
You got that right, Farmer-Rick. A LOT of churches recoil at anything pushed by social justice Christians. SunSeeker Yesterday #24
The letter you cite states it is to "advance God's reign." SunSeeker Yesterday #23
God, if you believe He exists, created all things visible and invisible. Thus the sciences, of human ancianita Yesterday #27
Sojourners was founded by Rev. Jim Wallis The Blue Flower Yesterday #11
Have they studied what Christians have done in the real world throughout history? Ol Janx Spirit Yesterday #13
Nothing about what you see is pretty because you want to condemn how Christianity is by its worst instead of ancianita Yesterday #21
Organized ****** created this monster by turning their backs or condoning him. usonian Yesterday #14
These are progressive churches OnionPatch Yesterday #15
Exactly. Sojourners, is a Christian social justice organization. They do not represent most US Christians. SunSeeker Yesterday #25
Since they mentioned Lent, methinks the signers are more Wednesdays Yesterday #16
Awh, they WOKE up... a little late and a dollar short... Justice matters. Yesterday #20
Sojourners, who put out this letter, were already "woke." SunSeeker Yesterday #26
Do they believe in the "King David" fairy tale? n/t Justice matters. Yesterday #28
Dunno. Ask them. nt SunSeeker Yesterday #33
Obviously not right-wing Christians Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Yesterday #31
I'm guessing these aren't the Evangelical-Pentacostal-Charismatic-Spirit-filled, Bible-believing, etc, etc, etc, type of Aristus Yesterday #32
Oh my! Delmette2.0 Yesterday #36
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