Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Can someone explain how Evangelicals/Christians feel persecuted or attacked [View all]NanaCat
(1,433 posts)20. Not just the evangelicals
Long before anything resembling an evangelical existed, Christians were constantly whinging about persecution. It's literally as old as the religion itself. Their hairy deity baked ye olde persecution complex right into the foundation of the religion. You do remember your Beatitudes, right?
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
--Matthew 5:10-12
And the cogent response to it at the old Iron Chariots:
These verses establish the second theme of the sermon: persecution and martyrdom are to be expected. Indeed, the verses tell believers to rejoice in persecution and it is no small wonder that Christians often consider any opposition to their beliefs persecution. These verses not only serve as justification for martyrdom but establish an implied protective barrier around Christian beliefs which helps believers compartmentalize them, keeping them safe from criticism.
This isn't "good advice" or "wise counsel" - it's bad advice. It encourages divisiveness by discouraging cooperation. There's no incentive for Christians to seek out cooperative societal relationships with non-believers...they're expecting to be ostracized and persecuted - and any perceived persecution only serves to reinforce their beliefs.
This isn't "good advice" or "wise counsel" - it's bad advice. It encourages divisiveness by discouraging cooperation. There's no incentive for Christians to seek out cooperative societal relationships with non-believers...they're expecting to be ostracized and persecuted - and any perceived persecution only serves to reinforce their beliefs.
That was too kind of an assessment. Christians have spent millennia crying persecution while using it as a passive-aggressive means of preying on sympathy to get their way with everything. They'll even cry persecution whenever people resist having that religion shoved down their throats.
The evangelicals are merely the latest to use their persecution complex as a hammer, but they've never had sole possession of that particular weapon.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
38 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Can someone explain how Evangelicals/Christians feel persecuted or attacked [View all]
tulipsandroses
Mar 27
OP
The Bible tells them they are persecuted, over and over. They believe the bible is the literal Word of God.
maxsolomon
Mar 27
#5
Because they get publicly ridiculed for their hypocrisy and stupidity by those with opposing views
Freethinker65
Mar 27
#11
Mainly because they've been telling themselves that for at least 60 years (likely more)
JHB
Mar 27
#31