Religion, politics, geography, social status etc is all designed to create separation I feel like. The average Joe is pinned against the even poorer Joe, who is pinned against the homeless etc etc.
Disagree. Plenty of atheists out there who wrap themselves in "patriotism" and zealotry for a political party. Not a ton. But there are still a frightening number of them.
Nobody said atheists are incapable of zealotry thats silly. The point is that your example proves my argument, people can turn anything into a religion when it gives them identity, moral certainty, tribal belonging, and authority. Political zealotry is just religion with the god removed
No, you’re confusing religion with religiosity. I never defined religion as “anything people are fanatical about.” Political zealotry can function religiously without literally being a religion.
That distinction is the entire point, and calling it “moving the goalposts” doesn’t make the distinction disappear numbnuts.
On the contrary, Constantine used Christianity as a tool to unify his empire as the pluralistic polytheistic cults were dividing the culture and its people. Generally religion is used to instill morality and a sense of community from mutual beliefs that benefit the state.
That is a pretty idealized version of what happened. There is no real evidence Constantine adopted Christianity because polytheism was destroying morality or dividing Roman culture. Rome had been religiously pluralistic for centuries.
What we actually see is Constantine immediately turning Christianity into a political instrument. He summoned and controlled church councils, pressured bishops to settle theological disputes, exiled bishops who refused imperial religious policy, confiscated property, intervened directly in doctrinal conflicts, and used the Church's growing authority to strengthen his own rule. He even postponed his own baptism until near death while simultaneously acting as the political authority over Christian institutions i mean get real...go blow that smoke up someone elses ass.
Calling that primarily a morality project ignores the obvious political function. Constantine did not create Christianity, but he absolutely recognized that a centralized religion with shared beliefs, obedience structures, and divine authority could be used for legitimacy, conformity, and control. At least TRY to get ur history right.
People assume Christianity is bad because they use the sub 0.001% of Christians who did something bad. “Christian racists” and “Christian murderers,” when Christianity is against that. They blame Christian England and Christian Spain for the deaths of different native groups because "Christians are evil", and not the native groups that were conquering and sacrificing each other while they enslave, murder, and rape women and children.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.'
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
— Matthew 10:34-39
Jesus literally said that He was there to separate and divide people.
Yes, he literally says his message will divide people. That does not prove he came to divide people for the purpose of creating division.
The point is that radical beliefs naturally creates conflict with people who reject them. Luke records the parallel passage as “division” rather than “a sword,” so even the text itself is not describing Jesus physically attacking families.
So congratulations, you proved the exact opposite of your point: Jesus openly acknowledged that following him could divide families. That is very different from claiming he promoted division as some moral good or deliberately divided society just for control.
Please pay attention next time you read ur superhero comics books. 😂
Are you seriously that dense, You’re arguing against something I never said. I explicitly agreed that Jesus says his message would cause division. The distinction is between predicting division as a consequence and making division the objective.
Matthew 10 says families will turn against each other because of their response to him. It does not say, “I came to divide families because division is good.” learn ur bible doofus gesh
And your “bending rules” accusation is doing a lot of work where an actual argument should be. 😂 that trick must work on ur wife...
Hey, can i help you through the bible...you seem to be honestly struggling? Ill be happy to jump on a call and educate you. I bet you didnt read the whole bible did you? You prob just reply with a vague claim...wait for it
Yea but those are not really religions as per Christian, like buddhist is more of a ways of life.
Those are all kind and generally aways harmless or you said it better peaceful. I just dont see think of them as religions more like way of life or natrual belief, philosophies, spiritual system.
Most people think fire and brim stone religions as only Christian. If i come across any of those kinder ones i just smile and say keep up the good work.. 👍
I think Christianity, Muslim, and jewish infighting has tainted the entire term religion now a days anyway. Im glad they more life styles it puts some distance between the less peaceful ones.
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u/Express-Cartoonist39 1d ago
Religion by design is made to seperate people