Kirk Cameron questioned eternal hell and was instantly labeled “unsafe.” Virgin Monk Boy riffs on Joe Boyd’s piece to expose the purity spiral, fear-based theology, and why fundamentalism always eats its own.
Joe's article was great. Both of you are right that in a cult or controlled fundamentalist religion, you are never safe as they eat their own. This is very similar to political regimes.
I love your reference to them be afraid that God will be upset if you think for yourself. Always thought that they should take that issue up with God as a brain is standard equipment installed by God.
My novel, Caught Up (available to read here on Substack for free) was referred to as “Modern Christian literature as it should be." Unfortunately, Christians under the influence of fundamental dogma, won’t make it through the first chapter. I spent my 30s on staff at a right wing evangelical Church as a 9 through 12 English teacher. If stake burning was still a thing I’d be a burnt up marshmallow by now.
“Respect, and enjoy the peace.“ That was the clip my mind retrieved reading both of these essays, even though Asimov was using political oppression rather than (overtly) religious as his canvas. The system is the same, even if the mechanism is slightly different.
We left because we’d rather be shunned than be dishonest about what we really believed. And we were shunned. But we survived and thrived. If the God who claims to be Love is so insecure and self-centered that he/she must be appeased or else you’ll burn forever then we’re actually talking about a severe narcissistic deity which, in my opinion, is who and what is “not safe” and is not worthy to be worshiped. That is not the Spiritual Being I love, trust and adore.
My husband has told me that even as a child he realized that if God required “obedience” or else you’d be eternally punished, then that meant that good earthly fathers were more loving, kind and trustworthy then the “heavenly father”. That can’t be right. Or else something is really messed up in the Universe.
Joe's article was great. Both of you are right that in a cult or controlled fundamentalist religion, you are never safe as they eat their own. This is very similar to political regimes.
I love your reference to them be afraid that God will be upset if you think for yourself. Always thought that they should take that issue up with God as a brain is standard equipment installed by God.
I’m with you sister. And I’d be burning right beside you. ♥️
My novel, Caught Up (available to read here on Substack for free) was referred to as “Modern Christian literature as it should be." Unfortunately, Christians under the influence of fundamental dogma, won’t make it through the first chapter. I spent my 30s on staff at a right wing evangelical Church as a 9 through 12 English teacher. If stake burning was still a thing I’d be a burnt up marshmallow by now.
“Respect, and enjoy the peace.“ That was the clip my mind retrieved reading both of these essays, even though Asimov was using political oppression rather than (overtly) religious as his canvas. The system is the same, even if the mechanism is slightly different.
Thanks, Brother V, your knowledge of Christianese is truly impressive!🦉
I agree with everything you’ve said here.
We left because we’d rather be shunned than be dishonest about what we really believed. And we were shunned. But we survived and thrived. If the God who claims to be Love is so insecure and self-centered that he/she must be appeased or else you’ll burn forever then we’re actually talking about a severe narcissistic deity which, in my opinion, is who and what is “not safe” and is not worthy to be worshiped. That is not the Spiritual Being I love, trust and adore.
My husband has told me that even as a child he realized that if God required “obedience” or else you’d be eternally punished, then that meant that good earthly fathers were more loving, kind and trustworthy then the “heavenly father”. That can’t be right. Or else something is really messed up in the Universe.
Call us rebellious but we’re not buying it. 😌