Own That Shit

 

[Prologue: I know. I said no more posts about Christianity. Sue me. This is important.] I see posts all over the left-leaning intertubes about "Fake Christians."  They have been helpfully categorized in the graphic above by Chrissy Stroop, Author and Ex-Evangelical.  According to Stroop, the types of Fake Christians are: Right-Wing Christians Christian Nationalists Radical Christians Authoritarian Christians Trumpist Christians Theocrats Conservative Christians Dominionists Fascist Christianity (ChristoFascists) Toxic Christians While I agree with the categories, I think that slapping the "Fake Christian" brand on them is disingenuous and not just a little forgetful of history... The categories are examples of Christianity as received by the dominant culture. They are not Fake in any sense of the word. Nor are they new. These categories, in one form or other have been with Christianity since it was instituted. I mean, come on people. Pick up a book and read it once in a while. All that naming something / someone "Fake" does is create distance between those you dislike and your own little brand of the Jesus club. It is very Pharisee and Publican, if you ask me. If Christianity has any desire to clean up its act, these "less attractive" manifestations of the tradition will need to be owned up to in a frank manner. Christians must be able to say "They" are "Us", warts and all. Nothing will change until that happens.  In light of the fact that for the past two millennia, no such ownership has occurred, it is unlikely in the extreme that it ever will... but - at least let's not kid ourselves about who is "Fake" and who is "Real."  You're all Real, kiddos.

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