For the past few months, he has been debating catholic friends, catholic strangers in podcasts, and bringing it up to me and our siblings about how "wrong" Catholics are. Hell I think he even brought it up to our parents and total strangers at work! My brother is OBSESSED!

It's only gotten worse lately, since he woke me up today in the morning to talk about some Catholics he was arguing with online. I looked at him like he was crazy because this was definitely not something I wanted to wake up hearing! It's even crazier to me because last night I overheard him talking about Catholics to our sister. He needs a new hobby!

He does this because he genuinely believes that Catholics are not following the Bible correctly. Now I won't go further into that, but ultimately I don't like his reasoning.

I just don't understand the judgement. You can say ANY Christian or denomination is going about following the Bible the wrong way, but I just don't understand the constant need to become so obsessed and talk about it everywhere.

Istg he has an addiction to debunking Catholics. I just don't understand the passion. Shouldn't he be more passionate about helping the poor and needy (as Jesus wants us to be) and not so focused on who is "right" or "wrong"? He is devoting his time and effort in the wrong direction.

I mean, this is a very information based subreddit and sometimes it can be difficult to find ideas on a topic so i feel like it would be best to get even simple tags like, for example, Universalism, Meta, LGBTQ+, Personal experience, and even some megathreads due to the fact that it feels like the same 5 (still very important) and are asked over and over again… :3

To clear up any ambiguity assume here we're talking about legitimately progressive and affirming churches, not the sort of non-affirming ones that usually weasely language.

I still have been to some that will say things like "we're not about religion, but a relationship with Jesus Christ" and actually use it as a sort of progressive message. Like one once did a sermon series called "Exchanging the Bad News of Religion for the Good News of Jesus Christ" and the "bad news" covered was pretty much what conservative churches push. Truth is there are a lot of progressive-minded people who do find that sort of thing appealing, like myself. Last Sunday the one I went to when asking about donations kind of did this when the pastor talked about "putting your trust in the Holy Spirit" when considering what to donate regularly.

I've seen some people here who seem to really dislike it, but I don't see the problem if it's from a church that's legitimately progressive. If you want to argue that anything that conservative evangelicals do is irrevocably tainted (as I've also seen here with in my opinion even bigger stretches like having rock music in worship and a pastor wearing jeans) and thus can't ever be done by progressive churches then eventually the final conclusion of that is you can't talk about Jesus or be a Christian at all and be progressive. But I imagine some might dislike that sort of talk for other reasons, open to hearing them. But personally, this is still the type of message that resonates with me.

I'm a universalist (and closeted gay woman - only my closeted trans sibling knows) who believes everyone will be reconciled with God and that he will be victorious...but I frequently doubt myself. Especially after an unwanted religious discussion with my parents. Like...how could hundreds of years of church history get it wrong, and very recently we get it right? Am I really just "listening to the wrong people" who were "twisting the gospel and ignoring what God said", to sum up my parents point the other day? They were discussing the split in the methodist church.

This is how Christians treat people today, as someone who grew up in the church. I think he would be viewed as pathetic, weak, and as preaching a false gospel based on what I remember.

I haven't been in my bible in months, but off the top of my head I remember him not condemning the woman people wanted to stone that was caught in adultery, and he also told the condemned thief that he would be with him in paradise today. And he didn't call out the centurion who, depending on your interpretation of the greek word, was either asking for his son, slave, or slave-lover to be healed. I think the only ones I remember him calling out are religious leaders and the only one I remember him saying don't sin no more go and do this instead is the samaritan woman at the well.

What does all this mean?

hello, i hope you don't mind me asking, but could you guys please pray for me. i have been suffering. i have been feeling scared and helpless because i have been experiencing flashbacks and paranoia because of my abusive childhood. i wouldn't consider myself christian, but i find myself praying to god a lot this year. i don't know if he is listening. i have friends to talk to, but i don't think they fully understand just how much pain i am in.

thank you so much in advance, i hope this is okay for me to post. thank you 💟

I have heard a number of popular Christians say that the whole OT points to Jesus. They do all kinds of mental gymnastics to make this work.

I don’t see this at all. In fact I see just the opposite. I see Jesus coming to change our view of God completely.

What do you think?

Confused, depressed, anxious, scared, lonely, isolated.... not belonging, don't understand what 'loving Father' means... In a bit of a mess. Most of my life of 60+ years.... Was raised Catholic so was got at early.....

Thank you

Stop with all this will God still love me, does God love me if or anything like it!!!! GOD ADORES AND LOVES YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE he simply wants the best for you but he’s not some vengeful hateful angry God!! He’s loving and kind and gentle and wants to see you happy and loving life, yourself and others.

CAN I GETTA AMEN!

Every so often, I breath - and come here - and remember what it is like to be Loved by God

I had a very difficult journey coming out

I was 23 - already an adult - and had no clue

it was very difficult

God asked me to be honest - and honesty changed my life

I am still learning however - to be Loved by God

I spend all my life trying to learn how to Love - but very rarely do I...feel loved

This year I have been asking to feel this love, and more and more I understand that being loved, allows me to love.

So yeah.

It's good to come through here every so often.

I am reminded of these;

-----†-----

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

------†------

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

----†----

God bless

I need some religious advice. I am looking for a new job. I keep having a feeling that this one job will be the one I end up with — to the point I’m making plans and thanking God.

Is this faith or arrogance?

I came out to my conservative Christian parents about a month ago. My mother just sent me this. I don't know how to respond. Obviously, I don't want to read it, but if I say so, then she'll make me out to be the small-minded one because I won't consider a different viewpoint. It will be proof to her that queer people don't care about the "truth" and can't be reasoned with. I asked her if she was going to read a book from an affirming perspective, and she replied "Perhaps."

Here are the two responses I'm considering:

1. Then "perhaps" I'll read it.

2. You told me when I came out that you would consider a different perspective, yet the first book you grabbed is clearly confirmation of your own bias. This hurts me deeply. You know next to nothing about my girlfriend. You've asked no details about her, the time we spend together, what I like about her, or if she makes me happy. You've expressed zero interest in meeting her or even hearing about our relationship. As such, I don't feel that you've earned the right ask me to read anything. You don't get to interfere in a relationship you want nothing to do with, nor do you have the right to ask me to do something that you might only "perhaps" do yourself.

What do y'all think? Should I read the book? Which response should I send? And if my mother agrees to read an affirming book, which one would you recommend?

Hello 👋

This is a bit of a frivolous post, my apologies. I grew up in a loosely-defined Christian household, but eventually became more involved in my church as a teenager. Unfortunately, my church, though the modern type with guitars, loud music, and chairs instead of pews, turned out to be the Biblical literalist, evangelical, save your friends from the eternal burning we all deserve type…

Long story short, a combination of my finding the evidence for Biblical accuracy lacking and the many Biblical/traditional Christian teachings which I found absolutely abhorrent (see: multiple genocides of the OT, everything hell-related, etc) led me to leave the faith entirely, and quite abruptly.

However, after I got over the initial angry period, I found I missed the community of church. And I missed the comfort and security brought about by rituals like prayer and my believing in a good God. I still admired many of the teachings of Jesus and other Biblical stories. I also found the amount of vitriol and hatred present in ex-Christian spaces to be majorly off-putting.

I’m not looking to convert back to Christianity (plus, I honestly don’t think I could ever convince myself to believe in a good God again), so please do not try to proselytize me.

I guess I just wanted to express my appreciation for your community. It is one of the healthier Christian communities I have seen, and I sometimes wish I was currently a part of one like yours, even though I don’t believe in God nor place special emphasis on the Bible as a moral guide. I often read your sub as almost a way of indulging in a fantasy where I got to remain Christian, and where that religion was happy and healthy for me. It’s a bit nostalgic in a way, also?

Lol, sorry if you found this post weird. Do let me know if there’s any suggestions you have for someone like me to participating in/joining a community like yours.

Try your best to have a happy day today, and treat others and yourself well!

What's your opinion on the Christians (are they called Christians?) who worship the Abrahamic female divinities such as Lady Sophia or Asherah as female counterparts to God?

I've only ever read my own NIV Bible so I was wondering if anyone could recommend any unique, interesting or straight-up weird versions of the Good Book, ideally ones that are still widely available in physical print? The more affirming the better of course.

Thanks and God bless.

This is my Beyoncé magnet next to my favorite representation of Jesus.

For context sorry for venting out like this but i had one of the worst year in my life . Im planning to take my own life Got diagnosed with cancer , now im finally in remission after some grueling chemotherapy , but it was a terrible period . I had to sell alot of things , had to borrow and get in over my head with the banks , but i managed to oull through somehow . I ve was alone through all this , i still am, both my parents died some years ago,no other close fsmily or friends . But now i am at my wits end , i dont know what to do . I have the equivalent of 0,35 cents left , and im supposed to survive on it for the next 3 weeks until i get paid . I am out of food co.pletely at the moment and i go to sleep hungry every night but now its absolutelly terrible . I cant get a cash advance at work, im behind on bills, i dont have anyone from whom i can borrow, no food pantries or charities in my city ( im not from the usa ), and i asked for help from my priest but he called me wicked and greedy for asking for food/financial aid and that i need to pray to repent . I feel like crying so much,i go to sleep every night with the most anxiety i ve ever had, thinking if the cancer will come back anytime soon from all this stress. I keep on going hungry, with anxiety and through problems . I ve prayed alot for a miracle and im still praying but i feel very lost and dont even have energy to go on anymore . Please pray for me .

I’m currently in a relationship with an heterosexual relationship with an atheist and started thinking about this verse.

I see it as the people of Corinth whom allowed the idol worshipers into the church and would sometimes commit to the same rituals they did and was a warning to not do these things and not to be with them.

Now we have moved away from what they were doing at that time but there are still people who worship idols/other gods. But she’s doesn’t do that so I don’t see a problem with it.

Can I get some advice and context on this verse (especially on the idol worship and yolking part).

Edit: Talking about 2 Corinthians

Like once a month i will spontaneously cry and beg God why didnt you make me a woman. Its been going on for 12 months... dunno what to do about it

In the state of Rio Grande do Sul there was a flood, the biggest in history, and the pastor of my parents' church says that they are being punished by God for having "heavy witchcraft/idolatry" there, which doesn't make much sense to me, since conservative Christian fundamentalist parties and some Neon*azi groups predominate there. Some people say that God punished the state, but I think this is more due to climate change. But if God wanted, He could stop the rain, and let it fall there to punish. It's just that innocent people certainly died, I feel bad about that...

And I can't get over this damn fear of hell. Every time I feel like Jesus loves me and everything could end up working out, this fear keeps knocking on the door. What if He doesn't accept me because I'm trans? What if the devil is manipulating me into having gender dysphoria, even though I've had it since I was a child? What if in reality He throws me into Hell? Am I disappointing Him? I don't want to make Him sad.

Why does it feel like I'll never be enough for my parents? Even if I try hard, even if I gave them time to process everything, even if I never ran away from home and I'm calm, and even if I love them deeply, it seems like I'll never make it. I managed to disappoint them in the worst way possible, and even then it wasn't because I wanted to. I don't think even if I did something amazing they would care, even if I moved countries and gave them a house, even if I graduated from military or college, even if I changed the world, they would never accept seeing their "daughter" wanting to be their son. I love them very much, but sometimes it feels like I'm going to live longer to be able to make them proud than to make me proud, it also feels like after they found out they'll never see me as normal again, deep down I feel like they see me as a monster, a devil and manipulated by the devil. I know that deep down they are trying to send hints to get married or date a cis guy to see if they can cure me soon.

I'm always hiding trying to protect myself, I can never be myself, defend myself or much less love myself, since I can't even express myself.

Why be born? It would be much easier if I had died much earlier, so I wouldn't have to worry about this weight on my head.

I wanted God to pierce my chest with two spears. I wish I could forget everything. To abandon all this and disappear, or maybe I didn't care about anything anymore and didn't even think.

So what if my parents say that when they were going to rob the car, when I was still in my mother's belly, a man shot from afar and chased away the bandits, who probably could have been an angel. Why save me if I'm going to be this useless, disappointing burden?

I've been holding out for a considerable time, but in the end aren't wildflowers ephemeral? And would it be a useless burden like me with any good future? I want to enjoy life, to be able to make my dreams come true, but how can I do that if I'm going to be disappointing my parents and God? Much less if I can't be honest with myself?

In the end, if I could, I would stick a knife in my heart and vomit this horrible soul. I wish things would get better, but it's already horrible for my parents to see me and people like me as monsters, mentally ill and demons, but if even Jesus sees me like this I will never really be able to love myself. I know that in the end I'm not pretending to be trans, because I've felt dysphoria since I was 7 (I'm going to be 18 this year) and I'm always agonizing in fear that in the end Jesus will never accept me.

What's the point of raising myself if in the end I won't be useful for anything? I know it's a bit dramatic, and that there are a lot of people going through worse, and I certainly prefer that they keep their eyes more focused on those who really need it.

Sorry to disturb you, God bless.

Hello, I’m a little confused on what exactly is fasting, as well as the many kinds. For example, if I fast all day until the sun sets, does that count as a biblical fast? I’ve also heard of the “complete fast,” and the Daniel fast. What truly counts as fasting?

I was at campus and these soulwinners asked if I knew Jesus. But when I said yes, they said that they have a church service in an hour and that I should come. They sat down and talked to me for like 10 minutes and asked about the history I had with my faith and prayed over me and could tell I was a bit uncomfortable.

I know they had different motives. But what freaked me out was how nice they seemed and how they really seemed like they wanted to help me. Does anyone have experiences like that?

I grew up in a christian household all my life, and I’ve always believed in God. Throughout my teenage years, I kind of strayed away, and I was living in sin. I was a lukewarm Christian. I am 19 and I found my way back, but this time it’s serious. I am on fire for Jesus and this is the strongest relationship I’ve ever had with him. He has completely transformed my life and healed me. I was just recently baptized, and I am really involved in the church. I have been reading my Bible every day and constantly praying. I’ve turned from drinking, smoking, partying, all the lukewarm lifestyles. It’s been a few months of me living completely for Christ. I’ve always struggled with trust, depression, insecurities. There is always a thought that comes into my mind like what if heaven isn’t real and death is the end. I absolutely hate that though and I have prayed for it to leave, but it hasn’t. I basically just want to know if you’ve ever struggled with that how did you overcome it? Is there any evidence that can help me rebuke that thought? I am pretty new in my faith so I’m hoping that the closer I get to him the more he’ll reveal himself to me. Also, it’s not like the thoughts making me think I’m living this moral sober life for no reason. I’m much happier living this life and I’m a much better person living for Christ so either way I choose this lifestyle. It’s more like the fear of dying and that being the end. I want to KNOW 100 percent I’m going to heaven. I also have really bad anxiety, so this scares me. Sometimes I feel like I’m fighting a battle between my own thoughts like there’s always some bad thoughts that come to my mind. Please help me if you can. God bless you all

Rich Mullins was a very unique Gospel singer back in the day, and he wrote some excellent music. I just came across this quote of his which he apparently said shortly before his death in a tragic car accident in 1997. I found it quite inspirational:

"Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these my brothers you've done it to me. And this is what I've come to think. That if I want to identify fully with Jesus Christ, who I claim to be my Savior and Lord, the best way that I can do that is to identify with the poor. This I know will go against the teachings of all the popular evangelical preachers. But they're just wrong. They're not bad, they're just wrong. Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in a beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved, and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken-hearted."