I’m not a christian, but let’s take a look at some aspects of what you’re doing by posting this.

• Manufacturing a test of purity for a conviction you don’t identify with
• Telling people they fail this test if they don’t meet some criteria
• Gate keeping some people out of their belief system
• Causing distress on those who identify with these beliefs
• Making some people feel unwelcome
• Adding to the current trend of ideological polarization
• Hitting an easy target
• Beating a dead horse
• Conjuring approval by attacking a generally unpopular group within this context.

I say this because I’ve done it, and a lot more aggressively than you just did. Used to do it all the time, actually. Still do it once in a while, when frustrated. It amused me. Made me feel like I was fighting a good fight against the people and ideas that weren’t helping, but the truth is, at least in my case, I was just being mean and petty to feel control over my frustrating life.

With time and after seeing the consequences of polarization within my own and several other countries, I came to believe that this kind of tribalistic aggression ends in a worse society and world for everyone.

I say let’s try to make the lemmyverse fediverse a nicer place that what corporate social media has turned the rest of the internet into. This isn’t 4chan, facebook or reddit. We can be humans here.

Even if only to stick it to Christians or whoever you dislike, there is nothing better for yourself, your community and the world than to lead by example. You know. Doing what you want to see in others. I’d really like to see more compassion. I’d like to see more respect and kindness. I don’t always accomplish it, but I try to do these things myself… and you know what? After making the effort, it feels good. It actually feels good.

However you feel about my excessively moralizing rant that got out of hand, and believe it or not, I feel for you, man. I know what it’s like to feel like there are people who are convinced that bad things are good and feel powerless against them. Feels pretty shitty.

Really genuinely wish you the best, hope people don’t get too worked up about this post or my comment and more than anything else, I look forward to trying to make this wonderful community better every day with your help and that of every other kind and well meaning person here.

Thanks for reading and don’t let your frustration get the best of you. You’re too good for this stuff. <3