Thread by @M_knight_Shaman

Thread: My nephew sent me a link to an article about Evangelical terrorism in Brazil. I haven't really paid attention to Brazil, other than knowing it was right wing clusterf*ck led by a Trumplike maniac named Bolsonaro. But damn, this article is crazy 1/

washingtonpost.com/world/the_amer…

If you think Evangelicalism in America isn't scary enough by itself, look at Brazil where it's become a powerhouse in just a few years. Keep your clutching pearls close by, though, because the U.S. is on the same path. 2/

Highlights in the story focus mostly on the "Soldiers of Jesus" an Evangelical gang which terrorizes religious minorities and forces them to shut down places of worship while wielding guns. Brazil has already seen children stoned by zealots. 3/

g1.globo.com/rio-de-janeiro…

Religious intolerance is a huge problem in Brazil, with priests from religious minorities being killed and marginalized people being attacked in huge numbers. Sao Paulo, Brazil has seen an average of 16 hate crimes per day. #Evangelicalismkills 4/

washingtonpost.com/world/the_amer…

What's at the center of it all? The religious right and the Evangelical Church. There are two major Evangelical movements in Brazil. One is the Assemblies of God (Assembleias de Deus). Founded by Swedish missionaries who were inspired by the Protestant movement in the U.S 5/

The second movement is the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) under the leadership of Edir Macedo. I find Macedo to be pretty scary. He's a billionaire. He controls the second largest TV station in Brazil. He's a powerful Evangelical radicalizing the Brazilians. 6/

The UCKG is headquartered in a replica of the Temple of Solomon, which had materials shipped in from Israel when it was built. They spared no expense and even created a replica of the Ark of the Covenant based on specifications from the Book of Exodus. 7/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of…

Just like in the U.S., Brazil believes in Armageddon and supports many of the same end times middle east politics favored by the American right wing. Just like American Evangelicals, Brazil's believers see themselves as the real "chosen people" and rush for the Apocalypse. 8/

In 2010, 22.2% of Brazil was Protestant. That was nine years ago, and before the current regime took power. I can only assume that number has grown, since thirty years prior, that number was only 6.6% /9

theatlantic.com/international/…

Much like the U.S., Brazil's massive televangelism machine reaches into the poorer parts of Brazil. The U.S. idea of the "Prosperity Gospel" is a big deal in Brazil and gives hope to the poor while simultaneously stealing their money through tithing /10

cbc.ca/news/world/bra…

Brazil is Evangelical Utopia. Billy and Franklin Graham held rallies there. The ACLJ pushes anti-gay policy in Brazil. American right-wing influence has fueled Brazil since Operation Condor was done to quell the left. Christians lit the right wing path.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation…

With the rise of the Right, comes the rise of the Evangelicals, and now Brazil is a powerhouse. Evangelicals there know that voting has power so they put people like Jair Bolsonaro in power to further their goals. The Grahams realized that in the U.S. /12

cstroop.com/2018/05/30/aut…

LGBT rights are being stripped away (as well as outright killing members of the community), Indigenous cultures are being driven out, and they are letting their world burn under right wing control. And it's all for Jesus. /13

washingtonpost.com/world/the_amer…

It parallels what is happening here in the U.S. Brazil has gangs like "Soldiers of Jesus" and we have gangs like "Patriot Prayer," a fringe group that fights anti-fascists along side Neo-nazis and Proud Boys. /14

I've looked into Patriot Prayer, and it's as Evangelical as you could imagine, with lots of actual prayer, and an image of a lion wearing a crown of thorns. This is Evangelical gang warfare right here in the U.S. /15

thehumanist.com/magazine/janua…

We have citizen militias patrolling the border, a world burning president of our own, and the U.S. is committing atrocities of our own in the name of Jesus. This is Authoritarian Christianity. /16

We need to fight back. Voices like @C_Stroop have been sounding the alarm for years. Before we get as bad as Brazil (if it's not already too late), the #Exvangelical community needs to have our voices heard by outlets like @CNN @MSNBC @CBS. /17

cstroop.com/2017/11/17/jou…

People need to get involved at ALL levels. Fight right wing Evangelicals at city council meetings, school boards, and even the PTA. Vote! Run for office, write your representatives. Support the ACLU. Protect minorities. Amplify progressive voices. Demand to be heard. /18

Evangelicals love to freak out about "Creeping Sharia" but "Creeping Evangelicalism" has been poisoning the U.S. for years. Pay attention, lest we become the next Brazil. The number of Evangelicals in the U.S. may be dropping, but we can't be numb to their influence /19

Speak up and help shine a light on the threat, before the "Soldiers of Jesus" and the Evangelicals come looking for you, just like they came looking for Brazil. #EmptyThePews /20

P.S. - Keep a close eye on @nickmartin who is launching a publication about hate and extremism in the U.S. I'm both excited and terrified to start reading it after learning about Brazil. I hope he points out Christo-fascist roots of homegrown terrorism.

https://twitter.com/nickmartin/status/1202246293147414528