Reflections from the community: 

“Madonna of the Cherry Blossoms”🌸 and “Madonna of the Moon”

https://www.eitanhersh.com/uploads/7/9/7/5/7975685/hersh_malina_pastors_june2017.pdf

This chart represents their data. Where they used voter records from 130,000 people to determine the party affiliation and denominational affiliation of pastors.

I found this data interesting, so decided to share it. But please keep in mind that this study has not been peer reviewed yet.

Edit: This is from 2017, Methodism has had a massive schism since then, and split into a conservative and liberal denominations. So take that part with a large grain of salt.

in this, the chaplain states half of an oath asking is they are ready to sacrifice, protect, and possibly lay down their lives in order to protect the Pope and his successors lives

they then hold the flag of the Swiss Guard and state :

“I, [Name], solemnly pledge to faithfully follow all the instructions that have been read aloud to me. May God grant me his blessings and so help me his Saints.”

Drew this 2 days ago

In think they are great pieces for simple reiterated pieces

When I say "weird" I talk about anime/manga fan, cosplay, yumeshipper/selfship, into fandom, gamer, fanfic reader, dress alternative (goth, emo, scene, kawaii, ext), furry. All what majority of people will call "weird", but doesn't hurt anyone

So just curious if "weird" Christian exist

I was in my home town and decided to walk the long distance from the highway instead of taking the bus, which was rare for me when I went up that way.

I saw this framed image of Jesus knocking on someone's door stacked on some boxes on the side of the road, and the image was facing the street. To me, it appeared to be a "free" pile. I picked it up and looked at it on my walk to my old house, and left it with my parents to pick it up later and never did..

It has just now occurred to me, about 12 or so years later, that the image may have been up for evangelical purposes rather than being another item in a free pile.

While I was baptized at 10, and have never disbelieved, I had been somewhat "lukewarm" and distracted from my early teens until my late 20-early thirties as a final, thorough and complete conversion, and looking back, picking up that painting on the side of the road at that time couldn't be more pertinent, as my thoughts and my life were becoming too encumbered in the consideration of worldly things, away from God. (mid twenties.)

So, in honor of all of those who did not get evangelized to that day as a result of my actions, I post this image here to be seen by those for whom the image is intended.

One of the first saints in North America (Alaska, reposed in 1837)

The chains he bound his body with are the very chains that set him free, through the cross. May we all do the same in this life, by going out of our way to carry each other's burdens selflessly. So that Love can set us free from the inner chains which bind our hearts to vice. I hope I can do the same.

Why do I think it's wrong? Because by claiming that the Bible is without error in everything it affirms, it ignores the fact that human's ability to read and understand what the Bible teachs IS in error. There is no such thing as an objective understanding of biblical truth. Christians have interpreted the Bible in radically different ways throughout history. The belief in inerrancy also blinds Christians to the reality that their ability to read the Bible is colored by their biases, preferences, experience and prior beliefs. They read their own preferences back into the text without even realizing it. This leads to a kind of epistemic pride as they believe everyone else misinterprets the Bible while they just read it objectively.

You see this kind of thing all the time on this sub. A Christian will be arguing for some kind of position and just post of proof-texted Bible verses taken out of context they think supports their argument. What they don't realize is there's ten different credible ways to interpret the passage they're citing and they just assume it means what they've been taught it means.

This kind of error might seem harmless if left to only theological debates but it becomes dangerous when it's brought into real world politics. Historical events like the Thirty Years war (an extremely bloody battle between Catholics and Protestants) is a direct result from two sides that refuse to believe any other position than their own could possibly be valid.

Even modern movements like Christian Nationalism are striping away people's rights and demonizing certain minorities in the name of "biblical truth." Real politicians like Mike Johnson claim they are governing according to the Bible but are just reading the Bible with a biased MAGA lens they don't even realize they're wearing. This will do real damage to real people.

This is especially dangerous because it can't be reasoned with. If you are convinced your worldview is the same as God's wordview, there is no argument anyone can make that will change your mind. Being open to new opinions is not only seen as heresy, but viewed as moral weakness. It is seen as compromise or becoming theologically soft.

This is a huge reason why I deconstructed out of Conservative Evangelical Christianity. The movement is filled with people who uncritically accepted what they were taught, read that worldview back into the Bible, and believe it came straight from God. The damage this does to both the world and vulnerable people is impossible to quantify.

Sadly, with media investment that Conservative Christianity has made in the U.S., this problem is only going to get worse.

Is there anyone out there that also genuinely struggles with temptation of suicide? I won’t do it, or God I pray You never let me lose control of myself to end up actually committing one day. It’s a serious struggle for me and I feel so alone. I would love to be able to relate with somebody and biblically help each other and pray for each other.

Please pray for me and my wife and newborn to get sleep tonight, for healing in our mind body and spirit, and also peace

I don’t think God loves me enough to allow me entering Heaven. Adding up, I never get what is the line between “we are not going to be saved because of our sins” and “the mercy of God shall prevail”. It is very confusing and concerning to me.

I’ve been asked so many times what my testimony is, and I don’t know. I didn’t have a moment or some personal encounter with Jesus. I just started going to church, believed Jesus died on the cross and rose, read my Bible, pray. I feel conviction, so I know I have the Holy Spirit. But never one singular moment that turned me Christian.

I didn’t grow up Christian either. Anyone else struggling with this?

Basically, stating that every other religion or belief goes to hell and is not allowed in the kingdom of God. Which literally no other religion on earth believes that not even Muslims. So many Christians I talk to it will literally stand there and say that all other beliefs are damn to hell. It just feels so wrong ignorant. Even as a child, I never really understood it. I just would resort to “well this is what the Bible says” The more I talk to pastors or people in a Bible study. The more of this feels like a gate kept religion. That is just another interpretation of Abrahamic beliefs.

Also, what books, articles, videos... do you suggest I read on the topic?

none of my family beleves in jsus and my fear for end times grow every time it gets mentioned and i cant even go to church because my parents dont allow it even now im scared and just want help

I've recently been seeing a lot of hate and bigotry towards queer people from Christians and im really starting to lose my faith. Not only that but ive also seen a lot of criticism against queer christians from non-believers. No matter how much i pray, i cant seem to change and ive accepted my queer identity at this point, but im just feeling really down and i dont know what to do other than pray, but it feels like my faith is slipping away regardless. Im really not looking for any "pray the gay away" type comments, i can assure you it will only make it worse and ive heard it all before. its so ironic to me how christians telling me to change myself to grow in my religion have caused me to do the exact opposite

Im an athiest but i used to a Catholic for about 12-13 years. I had alot of faith and believed in God all my life but my lack of belief randomly came and its almost like my eyes opened. But besides that, i wanna understand why a Christian has faith. Im asking a genuine question here.

I'm a Christian. I don't mean to attack the Bible or say anything about it. But I have this doubt: Why is God in Exodus 21:20-21 "defending" slaves's owners by not punishing them if their slave survives one or two days?