#religious morality

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

"If you want me to believe that teaching about God in schools would improve morality, you'll first need to explain why it doesn't seem to work in church."

🤔

[markwilliams54]

Evangelicalism’s Dangerous Pursuit of Power

The evangelical movement in America has become inextricably linked with political activism, but at what cost? In DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism, Dr. Mark Williams explores how this shift from spiritual focus to political power has eroded the moral foundation of the Church.

Dr. William’s book paints a stark picture of how many evangelicals, driven by the desire to advance causes like pro-life advocacy and religious freedom, have abandoned the core teachings of Jesus. These causes, while seemingly noble, have been co-opted by political agendas that prioritize legislative victories over the genuine spiritual welfare of individuals. This manipulation of faith for political gain is at the heart of DECEIVED!

The author demonstrates how evangelical leaders have become deeply entrenched in the political sphere, often supporting candidates whose personal lives and policies contradict Christian values. Dr. Williams asks a critical question: how can believers, in good conscience, align themselves with politicians whose behavior is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus? Is the promise of political power worth sacrificing our spiritual integrity?

DECEIVED! exposes the reality that many well-meaning Christians have been misled into believing that their political activism is a form of service to God. However, Dr. Williams explains that these actions often lead us further from the message of Christ. Instead of focusing on compassion, forgiveness, and love—the very heart of the Gospel—Christians are distracted by the pursuit of power.

The book is not just an indictment of modern evangelicalism but also a call to return to the essence of Christian faith. Dr. Williams encourages readers to reassess their priorities and reflect on whether their political engagement is truly reflective of Jesus’ teachings. Is it possible to fight for moral causes without compromising one’s faith?

In answering these questions, Dr. Williams provides a compelling argument for a return to spiritual integrity. DECEIVED! encourages Christians to resist the temptation of power and refocus on what really matters: following Jesus’ example of love, service, and humility. This book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the direction of evangelicalism and its impact on both faith and politics.

DECEIVED! is now available for purchase on Amazon and at https://deceived.drmarkwill.com. To preview chapters from this transformative book and enjoy Dr. Mark Williams' inspiring music, download his app using the QR code below. Buy the book through the app to get a $5 discount on the retail price of DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism. https://stagingclientswebsites.com/wp3/

[vegetabletaxi]

this is just a bunch of text and barely a comic sorry, but i really wanted to talk about this stuff even if i don't have the energy to properly draw

[wendel-luxes-worldly-wondering]

Welcome to Wendel Lux's Worldly Wondering, a place where we'll explore the intersection of philosophy, spirituality, and the human experience. In this inaugural post, we'll be delving into the pitfalls of a leaning on a religious morality mentality. Is it possible that the very structures meant to guide us can actually hinder our growth and understanding of the world around us? Please, take a moment and ponder, as we unpack this complex topic and challenge ourselves to think beyond the confines of traditional beliefs.

A religious morality mentality can be comforting, providing a clear-cut set of guidelines for how to live one's life. However, it can also lead to a narrow and unnuanced worldview, where anything that doesn't conform to one's beliefs is seen as 'other' or even 'wrong.' This can create divisions, foster intolerance, and limit personal growth. Blindly adhering to a set of rules without questioning them can hinder one's ability to empathize with others and develop the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate our complex, ever-changing world. It's essential to find a balance between holding onto one's beliefs and being open to learning from diverse perspectives and experiences.

In a world that's constantly evolving, it's crucial to question our beliefs, empathize with those who are different, and strive for personal growth. This doesn't mean abandoning one's faith or values, but rather, being open to learning from diverse perspectives and experiences. As the poet Rumi said, 'Somewhere beyond right and wrong, there is a garden. I will meet you there.' Let's start a dialogue in the comments below, and let's wonder together.

[thewitchfarhan]

Religious Absolutism vs Religious Pluralism

I have a new benchmark by which I judge Religious and Spiritual Traditions.

If a religion, religious tradition, or spiritual tradition teaches/preaches Religious Absolutism* - then congratulations! This tradition is an organization that seeks to control and dominate humanity, and in my eyes these organizations are to be avoided at all costs.

*Religious Absolitism is the belief that all of humanity should follow only one religion. It is the idea that only one particular religion is considered true or valid, and asserts that all people should adhere to that specific faith.

For those who may have this objection; it doesn’t matter if you personally believe in Religious Absolutism. If you align with a religion that does, then you are supporting its beliefs and are just as guilty as the religious authorities you may or may not agree with.

As an example: The Catholic Church teaches that everyone on Earth should convert and become Catholic - and that this Religious Absolutism is the only way to achieve peace on Earth.

If you call yourself a Catholic, then you are vocalizing your alignment and support of the Catholic Church and its doctrine.

Don’t agree with Religious Absolutism? Don’t agree with what the Catholic Church teaches? Then don’t call yourself a Catholic!

Religions should exist as a choice - as one of many valuable ways to connect with the world, the cosmos, and divinity. I am a firm believer in Religious Pluralism* not only spiritually but morally and ethically.

*Religious Pluralism acknowledges the validity of multiple religious paths and promotes coexistence and mutual respect among different faith traditions.

Saying or believing that everyone should choose or be forced to “choose” the same religious or spiritual path is disgusting, controlling, and all around evil.

[spyroz]

if anyone needs help identifying things that can become moral scrupulosity OCD obsessions/compulsions, heres a list of some i've experienced:

rereading your posts/texts over and over

checking your notes and/or followers list frequently to "make sure" bad actors aren't interacting with you

checking OP's blog before interacting with posts

compulsively opening a social media tab to look at your notifs and then closing it, over and over

fearing ways that things you say/do (or don't do) could be taken in bad faith. being anxious that your words/actions will be misconstrued as morally wrong, bigoted, rude, or aggressive

feeling guilty or obsessing over whether you should or shouldn't have reblogged a post

feeling like you aren't "allowed" to disengage from online discourse or unfollow people who post it

fearing you're being stalked, talked about, or called out behind your back. fearing you'll never be forgiven and that people might even celebrate your disappearance or death, even though you havent done anything wrong

searching your own name/username to see if anyone is actually talking about you

imagining defenses you would make against nonexistent heinous accusations or arguments against you, to prove that you didnt do it

feeling like you have to roll over and become a doormat when others are cruel to you, because it could cause strife if you do anything other than grovel or apologize

having trouble enforcing your own boundaries out of fear that they are somehow "wrong" or unethical

ending up surrounded by people who have all the "right opinions" but are super mean and unpleasant, and make you feel like you have to walk on eggshells

fearing that just HAVING moral ocd makes you a bad person somehow (for example, i often fear that having moral ocd is somehow pushing a 'stranger danger' or misanthropist agenda, even though i actually have a lot of faith in my fellow humans)

some of these bullet points are not inherently bad on their own, but if you find yourself having this kind of anxiety very often, that's not normal, and it's time to get offline or even seek professional help if it's impacting your life

this list is catered to how online culture influences moral scrupulosity, it is not indicative of how everybody's moral scrupulosity functions, and it is not exhaustive

[autisticrosewilson]

You're all fucking wrong about Catholic Jason he wouldn't feel guilt about Jack shit, ESPECIALLY not killing. He would get the All-Blades and be convinced that this is God's go ahead and divine confirmation that he's right about everything and all of his opinions are valid and everyone who opposes his worldview is a moron blinded by idealism and naivete.

[jellyfishhhhhhhhhhh]

nobody:

me: *likes a post*

my ocd: was that post you liked actually good? what if that person is secretly bad and people find out and then you're a bad person by association because you liked their post? what if this post has secret dogwhistles that you don't know about? and by liking it that means you agree with it! reread it 30 times until all the words don't even seem like words anymore and the meaning is mush! what? you can't tell if it is a bad™ post? see, you actually are a bad person because a good person would be able to tell. you are going to hell now! you need to think at least 5 'good' things so you can counteract your eternal damnation!!! now now now now NOW NOW NOW!!!!

[bunnieswithknives]

hey in ur peri animatic: (https://youtu.be/OCqlRuDaXYU?si=K52WDu_vw9rg7chz) that I have been permanently obsessed over since today and have watched about 20 times by now so much that I have drawn & posted stuff based on it what was that partial bug form peri had?

I haven’t watched either of the show btw so if it’s explained in the show please tell me plsssss

OK, SO the bug thing is not technically canon to the series. It's based on my own headcanons for fairy biology, but i do have justifications for it!! Fairies have very strong shape-shifting abilities, so it would make sense that the form they show to humans isn't necessarily their true form(not to mention extreme that mimicry is very common in insects). And you want to know the visible traits almost every fairy has in common? Being very small with Insect-like wings.

The fact that their humanoid form isn't their true form in actually confirmed in the show! Cosmo and Wanda are revealed to look like biblically accurate pseudo-angels in the museum episode. (I say pseudo angels because the Flaming Sword of Eden is only debatably sentient and I don't think is considered an angel. Ophanim are also debatably not angels because they don't have wings (sorry for the angel tangent I like angels))

So wouldn't their true forms be angelic then? Well, yes. But I like bugs so. Also I have more headcanons to justify myself. I like to think that they have both a true-true form (incomprehensible to the human brain, probably exists mostly in a dimension invisible to us, that looks how we imagine biblically accurate angels), and a fairy form (which is visible to humans but is naturally very insect like and tends to scare people). So, in order to interact with humans, they have to learn to shapeshift into a humanoid form but will occasionally slip if they get too relaxed/aren't careful, hence the mandibles coming out when he yawns!

The reason they struggle so much more with human forms than the animals or objects they typically turn into is that, well, they aren't trying to convince those animals or objects. The more human they try to look, the harder it is to keep up convincingly. If you turn into a really uncanny squirrel, only other squirrels will notice. If you turn into a really uncanny human, they form a lynch mob and burn you at the stake.

[scrupulosity-comics]

jock lifestyle: 1

the inner self-loathing masochistic monk that lives in my brain and tells me what to do: …also 1?

[certifiedstrawberryblonde]

Guess who is obsessed with moral orel that’s right it’s literally me. Who else’s would it be ho.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

"If the only thing keeping you from being a horrible person is your religion, you are already a horrible person."

You're not "good," you're just obedient.

How is it that you have never figured out the best way not to be hurt by others is to not hurt others yourself? Even chimps figured that out.

[markwilliams54]

Evangelicalism’s Political Trap The Loss of Spiritual Integrity

In recent decades, evangelicalism has become almost synonymous with political activism in the United States. From vocal opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights to the staunch defense of religious freedoms, evangelicals have emerged as a major political force. However, Dr. Mark William's provocative and incisive book DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism raises a critical question: has the evangelical movement’s entanglement with political power compromised its spiritual integrity?

Dr. Williams opens his book with a bold claim—that the modern evangelical movement, once driven by a sincere desire to live according to Christ's teachings, has been hijacked by political ambition. In his view, evangelicalism has shifted from being a faith-driven movement concerned with sharing the love of Christ to a politically motivated machine, obsessed with legislative victories and cultural dominance. This dangerous shift, according to DECEIVED! has not only eroded the credibility of the Church but has also distanced it from its core spiritual mission.

One of the most compelling arguments in Dr. William's book is his examination of how evangelical leaders have allowed themselves to become pawns in the political arena. Historically, the evangelical movement was built on the foundation of spreading the Gospel and living a life that embodied Christ's values—love, compassion, humility, and service. But over time, evangelical leaders have aligned themselves with political figures and movements that promise power and influence, even if those leaders or policies contradict the very teachings of Jesus.

Dr. Williams points to issues like abortion, religious liberty, and LGBTQ+ rights, which have become rallying cries for evangelical political activism. While these issues are undeniably significant and worthy of thoughtful discourse, DECEIVED! argues that they have been exploited by politicians who use them to manipulate and galvanize the evangelical base. By focusing so heavily on these hot-button issues, evangelical leaders distract their followers from deeper questions of faith, spiritual growth, and the true mission of the Church.

According to Dr. Williams, this intense focus on political victories has led to a dangerous compromise. Many evangelical Christians now find themselves supporting political candidates who, far from embodying Christian virtues, are morally bankrupt or whose policies may cause harm to the very people Jesus calls his followers to serve—the marginalized, the poor, and the oppressed. The result is a Church that has forsaken its moral compass in favor of political power, leading to a crisis of credibility and spiritual decay.

The book points to the increasing trend of evangelical leaders endorsing political candidates who promise to protect these values, even when these candidates’ personal lives and policies are in direct opposition to the teachings of Christ. Dr. Williams provides several examples of how evangelical leaders have overlooked glaring moral failings, scandals, and unethical behavior in politicians because they prioritize political victories over spiritual principles. By doing so, he argues, these leaders have effectively sold out the values they claim to defend in exchange for power.

Perhaps most disturbingly, Dr. Williams argues that this manipulation has led many evangelical Christians to believe that political activism is a form of spiritual service. The evangelical movement has increasingly equated legislative victories with the advancement of God's kingdom on earth, blurring the line between faith and politics. This conflation, according to DECEIVED! is dangerous because it shifts the focus from spreading the Gospel to winning political battles, creating a culture of fear, anger, and division rather than one of love, compassion, and grace.

Dr. Williams doesn't stop at critiquing the current state of evangelicalism; he also offers a path forward. He calls on Christians to return to the core teachings of Jesus and to reject the political strategies that have led them astray. He urges readers to re-evaluate their priorities, to focus less on political victories and more on living out their faith in a way that reflects the love, humility, and grace of Christ.

DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism is a wake-up call for Christians who have become disillusioned with the political direction of the evangelical movement. It is a powerful reminder that the Church’s mission is spiritual, not political, and that Christians must remain vigilant against the ways in which their faith can be co-opted for political gain. By returning to the teachings of Jesus and prioritizing love, compassion, and humility over political power, evangelical Christians can reclaim their faith and restore the Church's credibility in a world that desperately needs its message.

DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism. is now available on Amazon and at https://deceived.drmarkwill.com. Use the QR code below to download the Dr. Mark Williams app and preview chapters from this book, plus enjoy his inspiring music recordings. When you buy the book through the app, you'll get a $5 discount on DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism. https://stagingclientswebsites.com/wp3/

[smhalltheurlsaretaken]

y'all need to get a grip. you blab all day about how much you hate bigots and hateful people and how evil it is to dehumanize anyone and then you turn around and say "kys" and "i think [x] should all just kill themselves" and other disgusting, violent and childish trash

so many people on here are just full of hatred and vitriol and turn into frenzied sharks anytime the target 'deserves it' and they think they can get away with it and not be called bad people. then they whine about how sad it is that we can't all just get along and if only all the evil people in the world would stop doing evil things wouldn't that be nicer

you're just as vicious, hypocritical and fanatically puritanical as the caricature you have made in your minds of the people you think you have nothing in common with. if you've ever told someone, ANYONE to kill themselves you're not advocates of justice, you're not artisans of peace, and you certainly don't have any moral high ground that would allow you to pass judgment on others

[beebfreeb]

In one of my older Judgement Boy posts someone left the tag "Oh this guy has DID for sure" and at the time it was not intentional but *grits teeth really hard* now it is. Don't worry about it.

[localratwithcowboyhat]

💥I’m a church‼️

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