#CW: Christianity

[glimblshanks]

I will say that learning about Christianity has helped contextualize so much about queer and leftist discourse for me like,,,

Why are some people so insistant on gatekeeping queer identity? Well, because they got kicked out of their religious community for being "not really Christian" when they came out as queer. Now, rather than actually deal with that trauma, they've decided to export it by policing queerness in the same way their ex-community policed who was allowed in the faith

Why do some leftists talk about "the revolution" like it's some big inevitable moment that they're waiting for? Because they grew up in Evangelical Christianity believing in the rapture, and when they became an atheist/agnostic/whatever and started reading leftist theory they applied that same mindset of waiting and belief to "the revolution"

Why would so many leftist rather not act at all than act imperfectly? Because they come from Christian backgrounds with an incredibly unnuanced, black and white view of morality where you get horribly eternally punished for doing anything wrong. If you apply that mindset to politics it can feel genuinely paralyzing to try and take political action that might be imperfect, because you don't want to be punished (by who? twitter?) for doing something wrong.

Like obviously these are very broad generalizations, and some of this is also gonna apply to people who weren't raised Christian because, at least in the U.S., we live in a culturally Christian nation where a lot of these beliefs get imparted in "secular" spaces like schools as well. But I swear the more I dig into Christianity the more I go "oh, this is where these very confusing political beliefs come from! That's why I don't get it!"

[stil-lindigo]

seeing clearer

(sequel to another comic of mine, the calamity.)

--

all my other comics

store

[sootchild]

Hey, I’m just reaching out to people on Tumblr, it’s not one of those weird sexual blogs trying to get your attention. I’m just curious, you’ve probably heard of Jesus and God, but have you ever reached out to Jesus for problems in your life? Big or small. If you don’t want to talk, that is completely fine, I truly don’t want to force anything on you because that isn’t very kind and it kinda sucks. I hope you’re having an awesome day!!

Also!!

Your art is amazing!! 💕

If this wasn't an Anonymous, I'd have just politely ignored and deleted the message. I don't like to drag people but because in the book of Matthew (5:15-16, ESV) it states:

"Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

This ask is Anon so free game in my opinion.

This is the second time this type of message has been given to me. Now were I to have shared some sort of trepidation or worry of late, like for example my current contract coming to an end Fed 21 (which true), and you went, "Oh my, you are feeling insecure! Let me share with you something that gives me comfort, maybe you will find comfort in it!" Then fine, I'd thank you for the thought, BUT that isn't what prompted this.

You looked at my body of work and went, "Oh my! This person clearly has no relationship with the Lord! I must tell them there is a better way!" You made an assumption as to what my personal relationship with the divine is and unprompted and anonymously tried to "save" me. Being previously an Evangelical, I get it. I was once young and fervent, wanting to champion for the Lord. I learned that like anything in life, consent is king and leading by example and enriching the lives of others is so much better than proselytizing.

For clarity, I am in fact Christian. I maybe a Polyamourous, pansexual, hedonist, but my relationship with Jesus, pretty tight. Been so my whole 37 years of life. To the point that I tell my retired pastor of a father that I am older in the faith than he is (he hates this, it is hilarious). EDIT: Also it doesn't matter that I am Christian, I clarified to show that assumptions can one look foolish. Even if I were of any other faith or without faith, it is arrogant to assume to know a person's relationship with the divine. There is so many different ways to interact with the universe and as long as we are adding goodness to it, that is the important part.

I get that you meant well but rocking up to my Asks being like, "I think you need Jesus! But let me put a pretty bow on this message by saying you make nice art!" Not as flattering as you think it is.

I wish you the best and sorry if this cuts deep but so everyone knows, I don't appreciate this sort of unprompted messaging.

[peridotglimmer]

I sang solo today, in public, for the first time since leaving my ex. Which may not seem significant, but I haven't been able to do that. There was a mental block on singing; the only place my brain felt comfortable to sing was during church services, when everyone else was also singing.

But today I was offered the space, both physically and mentally, to come into the church out of opening hours and practice my classical singing while the pastor set up the decor for the Christmas play.

And I sang.

And now I'm exhausted, after both singing and then a 2-hour rehearsal for the play, but it was lovely.

I'll definitely do that again.

[betty-bourgeoisie]

Starting a new, bird focused, denomination of nontrinitarian Christianity where we exclusively worship the holy ghost and condemn the father and son as false idols

[noseboopsanddandelionwishes]

I haven't talked with many people in my demographic about USA politics, but for myself, I think I am feeling a big betrayal. I wonder if others are too.

For me, I am living with the knowledge that the same people who told me that "character is all that matters" are Trump supporters. While the adults in my life espoused that they would put aside everything, even success, to do the right thing, they are so upset with not getting what they want that they are now happy to follow a bulldozer. And when confronted with any wrongdoing - it doesn't matter.

These are the same adults who were careful that any content we watched or read had redeemable plots, and impeccable morals, and encouraging endings. The same people who drilled into me that even if nobody sees it I should do the right thing. And yet they are jumping on the platform of a politician who bankrupted businesses, brags about immoral things, and speaks with vile words.

When I was told to look out for anyone who worshipped stuff of this world and it was important to follow the laws of the nation we are in, the ego of the party to put their slogans on flags and fly then with the American flag, to say Jesus is my Savior and Trump is my President, to always refer to the former President as "President _ " not former, to start campaigning for him before he was even a candidate.

Maybe it's just me - but I feel we were brought up to have character and search for it and to not blindly follow and then seeing that generation blindly follow, disregarding character, and do all of that, saying they are doing the right thing and they are just supporting him so they can get the benefits of his policy and protect our future, and I think I feel extremely betrayed. Betrayed that while I have been trying to live by these very careful concepts and ideals that aren't easy, the generation who instituted it in me is turning their backs on it, and not even recognizing it.

They raised us up right, but they abandoned it themselves.

Raise a child up in the way they should go, and when they are older, depart from it - and they will feel stranded and hurt.

[starkskypines]

thinking bout how dean’s everything is tied to cas. cas saved him over and over again. dean’s sense of faith is tied up in cas. they’re so interdependent it’s sickening. cas only believes in humans, in saving people because of dean. cas cares about a whole world because of dean. like?????? perhaps the most moving lines in all of spn are “He saved me.” And “I cared about the whole world because of you.” because dean doesn’t believe there’s anything in him worth saving and cas doesn’t believe the world has much to offer an angel. the other turned their worldviews upside down. they changed each other right down to their bones. there’s something so biblical about it all. their love seems like more than just what is defined in love. it’s something cosmic, something god-like. something like god giving up his son for all of humanity except you’re giving up all of what you’ve defined as yourself for one human. something like being a devout worshiper of someone with flaws that loves you back unconditionally. there’s some sort of salvation myth in destiel waiting to be told. and there’s every left turn where they should turn so toxic, so unstable, but they don’t. yeah it ends in heartbreak but what salvation myth doesn’t ultimately lead to despair.

[monstrouscrew]

a subjectively perfect aro experience is meeting your friends, a couple stable as our Sun among them, telling the cheapest dirty jokes, walking through the biblical Apocalypse themed exhibition, letting them both help you to untie the temporary cord you wear your extra soul on, bathing in soft hellfire and finding a HAND in the flames, then being carried by their car to the subway station with a WTNV episode instead of music. and knowing they're alright with your attitude and don't misread it.

no love required, sympathy and aesthetic attraction explained, and that's enough. (not) loving anyone in any way possible doesn't make anyone (less) human. this is how we are, too.

⚫🩶🤍🟢

[oxygenbefore1775]

now the only thing that i can think of today is viking Reiner, freshly christened and confused about the ways of Francian life that Jean tells (more so pantomimes/signs cuz of the language barrier) him

~like~ what do you mean slavery is a bad thing and I can't have thralls and I'll have to work my own fields myself from now on? what do you mean I have to go to church every Sunday and pay tithes to clergy I used to raid all the time? what do you mean no more human sacrifices? what do you mean I'll have to marry someone if i want to have sex with them and from point do it only with them? what do you mean no concubines? what do you mean laying with men is sinful and I can't do it anymore?

[theemmtropy]

Thinking about how Maul's forehead/nose markings resemble rosary beads, leaning into the fact that Maul dedicated his life to his indoctrination, only for it to fail him.

[in-her-aspect]

My top 10 Silly Songs with Larry from my childhood:

10. I Love My Lips: classic. Shaped how I see therapy. I know all the words, we sang it at summer camp.

9. Dance of the Cucumber: sexy, also a classic. If you could sing the Spanish part you were in hot demand for duets. My sister and I would sing gibberish, but it still counted.

8. The Pirates who Don't Do Anything: This one still makes me laugh. I can't believe this one only made #8, but here we are.

7. Song of the Cebu: This one kept me sane and also gave me a twisted sense of humor.

6. Larry's High Silk Hat: sophisticated, refined, references chocolate, novel--the only downside is that I never got all the lyrics down.

5. School House Polka: Gave me more useful information about English grammar than 10 years of homeschooling.

4. Endangered Love: If you don't love your SO the way Larry loved his secret TV obsession, you should reevaluate your relationship. Also, foreshadowed my own discovery of fanfic.

3. Monkey Silly Song: Learn this song. Sing it at random. Enjoy the utter confusion it causes in your friends and loved ones. Thank me later (You're welcome in advance).

2. Gated Community: is it the janky background sets? The lessons of kindness and sharing? The catchiness of the beat? I have no idea, but 11 year old me ranked this up there with The Phantom of the Opera.

1. Pizza Angel: this song has it all. Heartbreak? Yup. Romance? Kind of. Soaring vocals? Heck yeah. Concise storytelling? Of course. Floating pea cherub background singers? Clearly. Cannot recommend this song enough. Best part is that it doesn't matter what faith background or lack thereof you're from, this song is just about the simple love of a cucumber for his pizza angel.

Honorable mention-The Water Buffalo Song: I hate this song because it gets stuck in my head, but it's insane so I love it. Warning: the animation will give you nightmares.

(note: this is an abbreviated list, taken only from the Veggietales that came out in my early childhood that I was able to watch over the years, only from the "Silly Songs with Larry" bit. Out of the 30 or so that I've seen, these are my personal favorites.

[andthemouseroared]

🎤

False prophets and religious cults all have one thing in common:

They all preach salvation, but in reality they're selling lies and broken promises in exchange for obedience and submission.

[daggersandarrows]

rare personal religious post for me to make but like. being whatever it is that i am (and i don't really feel comfortable calling myself anything but a polytheist and a devotee of artemis) has made me realize that christianity simply does not value consent in any capacity. like the thing is is that you get told that you need to "choose" to follow god but the other option is eternal torment. that's not a choice. that is literally fucking coercion. you get told that god loves you unconditionally and wants you no matter what but the question nobody let me pause to ask is what if i don't want that? what if I don't want the love and longing of a being with supreme power over me who keeps telling me that without him i will be forever lost, that i will never find love like his, that my life will have no meaning? like do you see how i am not actually being offered a choice here??? you know what that fucking sounds like? that sounds like my abusive ex boyfriend. and my dad but let's not get into that

the thing about me worshipping and choosing to ally myself with a god(dess) who does NOT, in fact, love me unconditionally, who I'm actually not totally sure loves me at all (idk I've never asked), who actually just came to me with an offer of protection and power in exchange for service, is like...I GOT TO DECIDE? like a real fucking human being with agency? she didn't threaten me, she didn't promise my life would be worse without her, she warned me how hard it might be before she offered and not after. for the first time in my life i stepped into the arms of a deity who gave a shit about my informed consent. and I'm never going back to hollow, terrified, forced devotion again.

[peridotglimmer]

does your church accept you being queer??

I don't have a better picture, but see that blue and purple thing on the right?

That's a rainbow flag draped over the pulpit of the church I attend. The pastor put it there.

They know my ex is a woman, and they're fine with that. I'm their social media manager, even. 😅 They also fly a rainbow flag out front.

When she placed the flag there, she said: "It's a symbol of hope." And then added: "What kind of hope... that's up to personal interpretation." We've never had a single negative response to it being there.

You can see part of the flag here as well.

[mystalwartheart]

What's Jill spinning tonight?

[betty-bourgeoisie]

Alfred *standing in the middle of a hippie commune*: It's never easy trying to fight the power, Matt. We've been getting naked and telling parables for months, but for some reason, nothing has changed.

Matthew: Well there are probably more effective ways to protest.

Alfred: Sounds like someone needs a lesson about the power of parables.

Matthew: I assure you I do not.