Thread by @sunnshiiny

The current problem in modern politics:

People can’t believe that some evangelical Christians believe bastardized versions of Christian dogma that permit them to venerate Putin & condemn Biden.

Yet many believe Islam is an inherently violent faith.

Hmm… why is that?

https://twitter.com/Popehat/status/1497001885600944135

Before anyone shouts racism and Islamiphobia, let’s examine this situation.

The vast majority of adults over 40 are familiar with Christian beliefs. We’ve all come across grannies knitting mittens for starving children in Africa. Choirs singing Kumbaya in church.

Sweater wearing men who exude peace and tranquility and pray for all souls.

But those are stereotypes. And while they are based on real examples, they do NOT represent all Christians. I have a few harmless Christian/Catholic family members of my own.

So our expectations are that Christians are loving, caring, compassionate individuals who find meaning in their faith in a higher power that influences humanity. We perceive that belief system is benevolent and reflects positive social values.

But that’s incorrect.

Jim Jones was Christian. Timothy McVeigh was too. David Koresh was. Ted Cruz proclaims to be. GWB was a well known evangelical Christian. Even Trump has been identified as chosen by god.

You’re using a well established frame to overlook evil in plain sight.

George Lakoff explains framing in this interview.

He articulates how our frames shape our perception. And it all starts with the frame established in your brain that determines your perception.

Optical illusions are similar.

The attached images demonstrate how we see what we want to see. We can easily overlook the second image. And corrupt bastardized Christian beliefs and values can be hidden behind popular stereotypes.

Do you see a tree and birds? Or a woman’s face?

Do you see an old woman or a young and beautiful woman turned away?

A rabbit or a duck?

A First Nation man or an Inuit man looking out into the dark?

A man playing the sax or a beautiful woman.

Would you have noticed each image has two perspectives if I didn’t tell you?

That’s perception and framing.

You hear Christian and your established frame expects knitting, praying and compassion. It doesn’t expect mendacity, rigidity and authoritarianism.

But it should.

Both stereotypes or perspectives are true. Some Christians are peaceful loving people. Some are judgemental, self righteous and deceptive.

The prosperity gospel, strict father patriarchal hierarchy, belief in the superiority of Christian faith.

Those beliefs and characteristics are all promoted by Christian faith.

Radicalization permits devout evangelical Christians to be turned into wealthy Christian pastors. Is extreme wealth while ignoring the needs of the poor a Christian belief? Yes, many believe it is.

Just because your frame of reference for Christianity doesn’t include charlatanism and corrupt beliefs doesn’t mean those very unpopular and repugnant beliefs don’t exist. They do. As evidenced by the bottled blonde GOP republican Christian candidate aligning herself with Putin.

Frames are helpful. They save us time researching every thing we perceive, every time we perceive it.

But they also make us lazy. Had I never pointed out the optical illusions, you could have gone your whole life believing they were portraying one image.

So when people make observations about corrupt charlatans masquerading as Christians, maybe you’ll actually check the evidence before writing it off as a conspiracy theory.

Maybe if you had, we wouldn’t be in this nasty mess.

Maybe that’s why so many fear and distrust Muslims. Not because they are inherently racist, but because the frame MSM and many conservative politicians established since 9/11 were always in reference to foreign and domestic terrorism.

So many like to believe they are astute skeptical citizens with a complete grasp of reality.

But if we all were grounded in reality, we wouldn’t have so many issues with political polarization or varying forms of alternate realities.

If you live in a world where Christian = good or consequently Christian = evil, you need to do some work on realistic perception.

There are plenty of good people who happen to be Christian.

And there are plenty of corrupt authoritarian kleptocrats who happen to be Christian.

It’s up to you to learn the difference & be able to distinguish the two.

Because not knowing the difference, feeling smug how you’ve avoided all the conspiracy theories, is a delusion you believed when radicalized extremist Christians coopted conservative political parties.

Time to actually deal with reality. Some Christians are bad people. Some bad people call themselves Christians.

You aren’t avoiding conspiracy theories, you’re enabling the monsters to grift you and the rest of the nation by giving a pass to people who admire Putin, a madman.

Reality sucks. But it’s where you find truth.

Not in some ‘fear of losing social status’ belief that you won’t fall for conspiracy theories if you just refrain from examining anything that doesn’t fit your established frames of reference.

Ignoring truth isn’t smart.

But it sure is popular.

Which is why co-opting formerly some what benign faith institutions is the perfect cover for people who want to destroy democracy and eliminate any competition for power and control.

No one wants to believe granny is a radicalized extremist.

Until she occupies downtown Ottawa for 3 weeks with the intent of overthrowing the elected government or die trying.

In case you missed it, the occupation and blockades were largely populated with radicalized extremist Dominionist Christians. People who believe in conspiracies.

If you missed it, that’s because you’re firmly invested in preserving your frame that limits your perception to seeing what you want and what you expect to see.

You want to win the war for democracy. You must shift that paradigm first.

Look for what’s real. Not what you expect to be there.

Check the evidence. Take the time to remove your delusions of how the world should work, and recognize geopolitics is really fucked up right now, so you need to put extra effort into determining what’s real and what’s BS.

Your ability to live in a social democracy and preserve your human rights and freedoms are dependent on your willingness to see the ugly truth.

You are required to participate to determine if it’s a mirage or an oasis.

Quit drinking sand and telling yourself it’s water.

@threadreaderapp please compile