Resistance1000
17921
639
14
Sep 18, 2026 3:52 PM
Resistance1000
17921
639
14
KamonDS
BlackHoleSon01
You can't be both a republican and a Christian. They are incompatable, since being a republican involves embracing selfishness, greed and inhumanity.
Korrd
It'd be interesting if, anytime someone proclaims their Christianity or touts their Christian values in a speech or debate or even casual conversation, we started asking them to declare which specific tenets they adhere to. I wonder what they'd come up with.
Same goes for when they claim to promote American values, since they're usually such horrible people that I can't imagine what values we have in common.
TyphoonMuscles
Well, they have one thing in common now...
THESHADOWOFJECT
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1bTdhZjBrM2RvM2l3dGNsanE3aTV2cmtoN21xcXNxdTU3NWRwanJkNCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/5sYy9kAy22avTAe2DJ/200w.webp
tinyfootprints
I'm normally pretty wary of anyone who talks about their Christian faith, but I notice that James Talarico does speak of his faith but also appears to be living according to the teachings of Jesus, being kind, thoughtful and doing his best to help other people live good lives. It's a rare combination.
Korrd
They all pick and choose which parts they want to follow. Talarico seems to have picked the good parts, maybe because it's in his nature to be a good person and those parts spoke to him. Whatever the reason, he appears to genuinely want to do the right thing and help people who need it.
It's sad that it seems so rare nowadays, but at least he's meeting with success. I hope he goes far.
DinkyDoinky
The righteously excecuted one was no christian
NM156
Yet dumb assholes will call him a martyr.
esparadrapo
I'm sorry but if anyone's bring up their religion in a conversation I automatically assume they are scum. Over here everyone knows that talking about it is bad manners and just carry on with their lives. You can legit spend your whole life not knowing the faith of any person around you unless you assume it because they like to put on a costume on the Holy Week.
BARP
Being a Christian does not make you nice. Dolly wasn't a good Christian, she was a good person. I'd take a good person over ANY Christian, ANY day.
ahorseelbowdeepinme
Well, she certainly thought she was a good Christian.
Camelspotting
I work in a machine shop where we get a lot of excons and people with poor education and mental skills, so naturally we get a lot of born again Christians. They're definitely a bit weird but if it keeps them out of prison and from shooting up in front of their kids then I'm not going to complain too much. Some people need the structure.
alsweigart
Are you a bald eagle patriot or a Statue of Liberty patriot?
Hurtmeplenty69
I love it when a news story or anything really starts out "ohh they are Christian people"or "he /she was active in there church " That means sweet fuck all.
Wolfshead009
The BTK killer was active in his church. Going to church no more makes someone a Christian than standing in my garage makes me a car.
PixelSprite64
FCKYHWH
Charlie Kirk Christianity exists because of Dolly Parton Christianity. When the overcoat is a shroud of lies, of course psychopaths are gonna hop on the coattails.
forgotiwasfine
Where is that post about the Jesus fandom vs. Canon Jesus?
mithiwithi
#2 Although your point is correct, I don't think Dolly Parton would've approved of that meme.
Resistance1000
Probably why she didn't post it. I chose to and did.
ahorseelbowdeepinme
It's always made me scratch my head how some folks can look at people like Charlie Kirk and say "Christianity bad" but then hold people like Dolly, Mr Rogers, Tom Hanks, Weird Al, Betty White, (pretty much the majority of imgur's pantheon of heroes) in such high regard. I think a lot of people who say they have a problem with christians really just have a problem with fascists and bigots.
jayman0123
"I think a lot of people who say they have a problem with christians really just have a problem with fascists and bigots." is so telling. 😂
ahorseelbowdeepinme
That was exactly the point. I truly believe that some people, if given a magic genie, would wish away all the religious folks in an attempt to protect the lgbt+ community and then be absolutely shocked when half the community disappeared and a sizeable number of bigots remained.
Korrd
You're confused why the imgur community would judge harshly bad people and the religion they constantly tout, but esteem those who do good all their lives without constantly crediting religion?
It doesn't really seem all that odd to me.
ahorseelbowdeepinme
Dolly frequently accredited her religion to her gopd deeds. I dont have to wonder why the community would judge harshly bad people and esteem good, but i do have to wonder when they find out that the bad person belonged to a certain demographic and their reaction falls along the lines of "see how bad THEY are" but theyre silent or dismissive about the good because that kinda thinking is never good
Korrd
I followed most of that but then you lost me. I understand up to 'pointing out that bad people are bad', but then... I don't know what the rest means.
ahorseelbowdeepinme
Saying "bad people are bad" or "good people are good" is fine. Seeing a christian do bad and then saying something like "this is typical for christians" isnt good. Saying "this is typical for christians" about a bad person doing bad but saying nothing when a good christian does something good (or worse, try to explain how they did good in spite of being christian) is even worse. I can think of no other reason to do that other than to justify a bias.
Korrd
I think I understand what you're saying—that it's unfair to call it typical of Christians to be bad, but not say the same when they're good?—but... that's kinda how it works: they're opposites and can't both be typical.
I'd argue that what's considered typical is what's SEEN most often—NOT necessarily which behavior describes most Christians—and what we most often see are the ones that make headlines. Sadly, I think that's mostly the bad ones.
They're vocal, they're theatrical, and they >>
natebitatibetan
If I were a Christian, I'd be the Jesus kind where the moment I start helping people regardless of who they are the entrenched powers crucify me for helping people with their money.
JayEnfield
Ultimately, Jesus still sucks because the core message he brought was "Do as I say or I'll hurt you."
heathenhumanist
I thought that was more God than Jesus. But still, you're not wholly wrong
wags18613000
Jesus promised "Devine retribution and and eternal punishment" for those who didn't follow his teachings. Its the cornerstone of any good religion /s
JayEnfield
Which depends on whether or not one thinks they're the same character. But Jesus is the one who makes the claim that believing/accepting/loving/obeying him specifically is the only way to escape eternal torment (that either he or his father set up in the first place). Ergo: "Do as I say or I'll hurt you."
TheLastBootyBender
Beat those money hungry people!
IAmTheToastyOhs
and flip their tables!
Dalael
If I were a Christian, I'd be the Jesus kind where I'd spend time and effort to fashion a whip so I can whip rich people in church until they leave.
CookieRunner20XD6
They crucified Him more because He was a challenge to their power. They didn't kill Him for helping, they sought His death because He was challenging what the pharisees were teaching Israel. The leaders were like whitewashed tombs, clean on the outside but inside full of dead mans bones.
We could use a little more of that indeed. However I have heard Charlie Kirk accurately present the gospel while Parton presented more of a universalistic approach.
mehismyname
Charlie Kirk may have been able to parrot the Bible or theology. Dolly actually lived a life that reflected what Jesus said was most important. Personally I could give a flying fuck what someone can recite if their main impact is to harm others and garner hate
gaggedandgooped
andaraven
If Charlie had it right, then your gospel is horror.
CookieRunner20XD6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozuiKn1RByg
wags18613000
Proof that the gospel is horror. There is nothing to absolve causing harm to others. No get out of jail free cards. And I am certain Kirk caused more harm than good.
wags18613000
Charlie Kirk "accurately present...gospel"??? *doubt*
CookieRunner20XD6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozuiKn1RByg
jayman0123
"even the devil can quote scripture"
wags18613000
Memorizing and regurgitateing doctrine is far from true presentation. You can recite gospel till blue in the face but at the end of the day it is about the life you led. Actions speak louder than words.
tidepool
This. Gospel was one man’s interpretation of the example that was being set. Living the example to the best of your abilities, and improving upon them, is the true way.
KuldFyt
Dolly Parton wasn't 'the good kind' of Christian. She was a good woman who did a lot of good things and happened to be Christian and used that as a framework for how she saw the world. But if you took that away, she would still have her desire to help others in difficulty, nurture the next generation, and exist peaceably with diverse other people. If you're not good without god, no god can make you so. If you are, no god can make you not.
Theshnazzyone
Difference, Dolly was raised in poverty by christians who read the book. Charlie was groomed by Dennis Prager and was told he was christian without reading a single word of the bible.
sarukane
Yep. As an atheist I'd rather 100 Dolly Christians in power compared to 1 Charlie/Donald Christians.
Margrave9000
Hear, hear.
Religion is fundamentally incapable of good. It must be abolished.
Korrd
It's... not. As evidenced by people like Dolly and Mister Rogers, it all depends on what part of any given religion a person decides to follow. They all pick and choose. Some go with the good bits, others settle on the nasty bits. It's a reflection of the person.
They're capable of good. It's just an unfortunate reality that they're also capable of enormous evil.
Margrave9000
They were good humans not because of religion but regardless of it.
BeaverOnFire
She was shameful in Republican Jesus's eyes!
comeonjointhejoyride
You are like that anal kid in class who just has to be right even when he is not.
Korrd
"If you are [good], no god can make you [bad]."
I'm gonna have to disagree with you there, professor. I don't believe a god causes it, but religion can make and indeed certainly has made those who would otherwise be good people do frightfully bad things. Belief in such dogma has led to the death of millions, perhaps tens of millions, throughout history.
God wills it, after all.
ahorseelbowdeepinme
She felt her faith demanded her good works and often attributed her christian upbringing for her charitable work. If you want to make a nature vs nurture argument be my guest but dont rewrite her story to fit your point.
Wolfshead009
She was more like Mr. Rogers. Christian, but not the ones that bring it up and try to "convert" others. Rather the ones that live their lives as good examples of what one can be.
Gruesslibaer
"If you're not good without god, no god can make you so. If you are, no god can make you not."
Congratulations, you just paraphrased Jesus' whole deal.
KuldFyt
" ... I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..." -John 14:6.
Now, don't get me wrong here, I agree with Jesus on a lot of issues. But I think he's pretty unambiguously not with me on this one. Unless you think he's about to throw hands to keep Thomas away from the Father, but I think that would be a departure from the traditional interpretation here.
Gruesslibaer
Yes, but John 14:6 taken in context means that all good things someone does, whether they label themselves 'Christian' or not, are still done in service to Jesus. Matthew 7:21-23 talks about the intention behind acts being the most important thing, and Jesus says that he does not accept people who do evil while claiming to act in his name.
Gruesslibaer
If anyone here has read the Narnia books, Aslan (Jesus) says the same thing at the end of the Last Battle, talking to a Calormene who had followed the evil god Tash his whole life, but lived righteously.
Gruesslibaer
“I take to me the services which thou hast done to him, for I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name of Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted.”
psugab
But she was deeply Christian as well, and you can't separate that. I'm very much against religion but I'm also for people having the choice as long as they don't harm others and use the choice as an excuse.
HowIWasteMyTime
Very much so this. I am Christian but I have a hard time with the whole preaching and converting others part. If you want to join cool. But if you believe in something else that’s also cool. Just try to be kind and not a dick head. Help your friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. So if that makes me a bad Christian then so be it. Sometimes I just need something to lean on a bit and regardless I still try to be a positive more than a negative each day.
secretdpp
Well the converting thing isn't to get converts. Its for them to encounter hostility to it and got back to the fold disconcerted by the "cruel" non believers and latch on harder
ahorseelbowdeepinme
No. That may work out that way in some circumstances but thats not the point of proselytizing. Some folks think their way is the way to salvation and want that for others, some folks dont treat them with hostility
tidepool
Conversion happens by example. If you lead a good life, others will naturally want to follow. You can’t force it, only live the best life to the best of your abilities.
wags18613000
Preaching and converting is part of the brainwashing. They expect you to fail more often than not (count on it even) so that you are turned back to the "safety" of fellow believers. This in turn solidifies the group.