This is absolutely powerful. I had never considered how hypocrisy misses the mark. I'm honored to have inspired this writing, but this stands on its own as a key piece of deconstructing wisdom.
Good article, thanks! Fortunately, there are progressive churches that encourage folks to think for themselves and live in the 21st century. Unfortunately, their work is frequently obscured by the attention and debate related to the more conservative churches. What you article describes, though, is also troubling in a different way. What does it say about today's need (even craving) to belong, when we so willingly give up our agency to obtain it?
I think it goes beyond today’s need. Belonging seems to be instinctual… look at the way other animals create community. It’s baked into our desire for survival. Unfortunately, some of us exploit that need to leverage control and maintain power.
What a powerful article! I loved reading your perspective! I agree with you. I grew up in Christian Fundamentalism, and I can tell you that all Christians are psychologically conditioned to follow a religion about Jesus, not a religion of Jesus. So they are misguided, which is why so many of us deconstruct. I write about the how and why on my Substack, if you're interested. I absolutely love talking about the different belief systems between Jesus and Paul, and how doctrine evolved.
This is absolutely powerful. I had never considered how hypocrisy misses the mark. I'm honored to have inspired this writing, but this stands on its own as a key piece of deconstructing wisdom.
Good article, thanks! Fortunately, there are progressive churches that encourage folks to think for themselves and live in the 21st century. Unfortunately, their work is frequently obscured by the attention and debate related to the more conservative churches. What you article describes, though, is also troubling in a different way. What does it say about today's need (even craving) to belong, when we so willingly give up our agency to obtain it?
I think it goes beyond today’s need. Belonging seems to be instinctual… look at the way other animals create community. It’s baked into our desire for survival. Unfortunately, some of us exploit that need to leverage control and maintain power.
This is so incredibly important!
Thank you!!!!
What a powerful article! I loved reading your perspective! I agree with you. I grew up in Christian Fundamentalism, and I can tell you that all Christians are psychologically conditioned to follow a religion about Jesus, not a religion of Jesus. So they are misguided, which is why so many of us deconstruct. I write about the how and why on my Substack, if you're interested. I absolutely love talking about the different belief systems between Jesus and Paul, and how doctrine evolved.