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The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,661 posts)
28. "Evangelicals" are not a single, monolithic denomination;
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 01:51 PM
Dec 2017

but many people who belong to so-called evangelical denominations have placed political goals ahead of their religious principles. The evangelical denominations, generally speaking, are those that believe these three basic things: that the Bible is inerrant; that you have to be "born again," meaning accepting Jesus as your personal savior; and that you are obligated to spread the Christian message by proselytizing to the un-saved. The major evangelical denominations are the Baptist and Pentacostal churches but there are elements of evangelism in other denominations that aren't usually included in that category (Wisconsin Synod Lutherans, for example).

About 30 years ago many evangelical Protestants joined the Catholics on the anti-abortion bandwagon, which gave them political clout. The ultimate result has been a focus on political goals that often seem completely contrary to the basic altruism of Christianity; the power went to their heads. They became so invested in that power that they were willing to support the candidacy of Trump, a crude, dishonest, adulterous man who never sets foot in church if he can avoid it; and Roy Moore, a credibly-accused child molester, but one who defies "the establishment" that wouldn't let him put his Ten Commandments plaques in his courthouse.

Some religious leaders in the evangelical movement have started to figure out that their politics and their religion are incompatible and are backing away from Trumpism, but an awful lot of other people still are able to reconcile the viciousness and un-Christian-ness of the GOP and Trump in particular, with their "inerrant" Bible, which tells them to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger and comfort the afflicted.

I agree. I think that I can accept this statement. MikeydaDog Dec 2017 #1
Yep MustLoveBeagles Dec 2017 #2
those are not mutually exclusive properties. Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #3
Sure... but its their primary category... Baconator Dec 2017 #11
no it isn't. Evangelicals are massively religious first. Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #17
If that were true they would choose religion and morals over political necessity... Baconator Dec 2017 #19
They do, just not maybe _your_ religious morals OriginalGeek Dec 2017 #21
They are making exactly that choice: religion and morals over political necessity. Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #24
They can be both... TDale313 Dec 2017 #4
It's a hate cult hiding behind Greybnk48 Dec 2017 #5
There's just as much bullshit justification for their bigoted worldview... Baconator Dec 2017 #13
I may be missing your point, but Greybnk48 Dec 2017 #22
The bible and racism. Voltaire2 Dec 2017 #25
Since they're both liberal and conservative, what political group are they? Igel Dec 2017 #6
They have been exposed for the frauds they have always been. pwb Dec 2017 #7
They're a hate group, and that is what we should call them, Initech Dec 2017 #8
The term has been hi-jacked! Don't fall for this! LAS14 Dec 2017 #9
Rev. Dr. Barber would agree with you as he ties it to White Nationalism. rogue emissary Dec 2017 #10
Are you OK with liberal Christians that are politically active? Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2017 #12
Ah...so you actually believe in teachings of Jesus. roamer65 Dec 2017 #14
I'm an atheist Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2017 #15
By definition, Evangelicals must attempt to influence others. haele Dec 2017 #16
Because of them crazycatlady Dec 2017 #18
Thats the same thing they say on the right about Islam... Lee-Lee Dec 2017 #20
They are a Bible-thumping hate group. dalton99a Dec 2017 #23
I think its more Clarity2 Dec 2017 #26
They are a political cult cpamomfromtexas Dec 2017 #27
"Evangelicals" are not a single, monolithic denomination; The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2017 #28
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