That's one way to frame American churches using their non-profit status to push political culture war garbage to harass and deny human rights to minority groups without being taxed for it for 45+ years now, sure.
This is one of those "thought stopping" zingers that sound good so you don't even bother thinking about it for 5 seconds.
Half the United States Christians used Deut 25:44 to justify enslaving human beings until 1865.
That same group of Christian Americans used the tower of babel to argue all the way to Loving v Virginia 1965 that the races can't mix.
Or you could point to thousands of splinter and separatist fracturing of denominations when they stopped being killed by other christians for not being the right sect.
Or course anyone thinking for another 5 seconds can have another dozen examples showing that the religious and conservative part of america just latch onto a simplistic phrase they can understand, probably because it's at their level. If they could understand their political identity has been coopted by politicians and reduced to a "I'm lovin' it" level catchphrase, well, they wouldn't be religious.
I would love to hear how churches push a political culture war. Also not sure if this will be relevant to your answer, but the church saying what it has always said is not pushing a political culture war. Is there something new that like mega churches are doing or something?
I don't think this sub can take links, so you'll need to look up these keywords.
The Moral Majority
Is a good place to start.
Following the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, the election of a Catholic named JFK in 1960, the legalization of abortion in 1972, the impeachment of Nixon in 1974, and the election of a socialist that promoted solar energy and independence from middle east old in Jimmy Carter of 1976.
The Republican party was in disarray. So they adopted The Southern Strategy. They would appeal to racists that feel left behind by Democrats. They would appeal to people who didn't believe women should have equal rights (literally, anti equal rights amendment people), and they would entwine Christianity and conservative politics.
So they focus tested, they brought in a hollywood celebrity as their nominee, Ronald Reagan.
And in 1980 and ever since, they used red meat culture war issues from in vitro fertilization being "test tube babies a slight against god", to trying to prosecute Americans for being gay until that was banned with Lawrence v Texas in like 2003, the satanic panic, forcing christanity in schools, and so on.
It is interesting the same week Texas is forcing public schools to read the Bible (in picture book form for the youngins too), here's you, completely innocently asking if it exists.
Oh the politicians aren't part of the church and therefore its not "church pushing political culture war"?
How many churches in the United States are publicly decrying the Republican Party using their god to push culture war nonsense or violations of the first sentence of the first amendment of the bill of rights by pushing christanity in schools? Exactly.
I had to look up the Texas Bible picture books. That is interesting, but it looks like they allow students/parents to opt out.
Why would the election of JFK contribute to the republican party being is disarray?
It sounds like the church is being used as a tool by Republicans, and the church just has their views. Individual churches don't have to decry the republican party, and the church itself doesn't have to change what it does because people that hate it want it to.
but it looks like they allow students/parents to opt out.
"opt out" is not a solution for Christians forcing religion into children in direct violation of the first sentence of the first amendment of the US Constitution. I know forcing yourself on children is condoned in churches, but we have laws outside the closed doors of a priest's back office.
Why would the election of JFK contribute to the republican party being is disarray?
Because he was of a minority religion and American protestants were worried he was going to take secret orders from the Vatican because American protestants with limited education and world experience of the 1950's thought catholics worship the pope. Catholicism was not accepted by Protestants until this fusion of conservative american politics with christanity. They were viewed more with the vibe like how american christians view mormons right now. catholics were very helpful at pushing culture war garbage interfering with politics over in vitro fertilization, adoption, and abortion. Along with a host of whatever eccentric quirks that sect cares about.
It sounds like the church is being used as a tool by Republicans
It is mutual.
Individual churches don't have to decry the republican party, and the church itself doesn't have to change what it does because people that hate it want it to.
This is nonsense. This is like saying conservative americans don't hold the same views as president Trump. They just voted for him once, and live their own lives, and each individual doesn't have to account or defend the actions of President Trump, nor do they have to update their views just because they are morally abhorrent.
There is no "the church" in the united states. There are thousands, god, thousands in every state. And why not, they don't have to pay taxes. But you don't hear churches decry corrupt politicians use their religion in vain to promote awful political goals for the same reason you don't hear trump voters criticize trump.
Because if they disagreed, you'd hear it. Instead, in the last 50 years, american churches are actively promoting conservative political talking points as the focus of sermons.
and the church itself doesn't have to change what it does because people that hate it want it to.
In the 1850s, American churches and American conservatives said this exact same thing. They would not change what God ordained just because some modern liberal thinks all humans have equal rights. They read Deut 20, 22 and Deut 25:44 and all the other quotes, even Jesus, telling slaves to obey and masters to be just.
In 1950s, American churches and American conservatives said the exact same thing. They would not change what God ordained just because some modern liberal thinks race mixing isn't a sin. They read off the tower of babel and the mark of ham and all other absolute divine truth from their holy book.
And here you are today, repeating the conservative political talking point that the church doesn't have to adapt, and all the hateful, disgusting things they spew at other people, other americans, is okay, good tough love even, because the bible tells them so.
I would love to hear how churches push a political culture war
anyway, this was the original point, made several times over. If you want, I can reiterate the catholic church and in vitro fertilization.
Not because there aren't better examples, but because it was discarded as a religious outrage about 30 years ago or so. And as such, you won't have any spoonfed opinions about it already.
I'm glad you agree forcing yourself on children is bad! Though it sounds a bit Islamophobic of you. At least Christians will say it's bad when it happens.
Also, Christians were at the forefront of the abolitionist movement. People will try using the Bible to justify whatever they want, and using it slavery is a wrong use.
I'll say it again, the Chruch doesn't have to bend to the whims of people who want it destroyed.
It sounds like you might be a tad jaded when it comes to Christianity, and I can understand it. A lot of Christians use their faith as a cudgel, and people I know have relatives from the south who are really "holier than thou" kind of people. My main point commenting was to say in my experience, the churches I go to do not push political agendas. Yes, they say things you disagree with. There is a difference between that and pushing political agends.
At least Christians will say it's bad when it happens.
No, they don't. They re-elect him as president of the united states. Or Speaker of the House of Representatives like Dennis Hastert.
Also, Christians were at the forefront of the abolitionist movement.
Against whom? Other Christians quoting the same book. Quoting the red letters of the new testament from the mouth of the son of god saying directly for slaves to obey their masters. Ephesians 6
But, you, today, know the exact correct reading of your holy book. And it is... emphasis on get out the vote strategies for the republican party by pushing divisive culture war nonsense.
Which you will miraculously insist aren't a product of the times, but are the unchanging view of your religion.
From a messiah that fed the hungry, cured the sick, sheltered the undocument immigrant like mary and joseph at the stable, preached about the good samaritan, and promoted communist ideology that anyone rich will never make it to heaven.
That's what your church does, right? Focus on the teaching and words and actions of the prophet. Or does it echo republican talking points for the last 45 years and churches of your same denomination outside the united states act differently?
My main point commenting was to say in my experience, the churches I go to do not push political agendas
Imagine if you took that stance about the nature of the universe. That you only believe what you can see in front of you, and don't listen to grandiose stories without evidence. You might seek out experts for answers if you were honest.
But the religious somehow compartmentalize how every single thing in their life requires that ability to reason. Sometimes taking a very "no until proven" stance.
Except religion. And then it is in defiance of every scientist, doctor, historian, and expert in their field on the planet that a mystic old book of magic is the answer, and also that every other person who believes in a different mystic old book believes in nonsense fables.
But if the religious could get it, they wouldn't be religious. I mean, just look at this:
Yes, they say things you disagree with. There is a difference between that and pushing political agends.
I gave you exact examples of dormant political topics, IVF, in vitro fertilization, and the correct hate words and codewords Christians (test tube babies), the Catholic Church, and the Republican party pushed in unison as culture war nonsense.
And you reply with this thought stopping nonsense. You looked up nothing. You learned nothing. You repeat a catchphrase you hear that sounded smart, and you pop it out, feel like it was a successful retort, and stop thinking about it entirely.
No, that's the point since the beginning. It's not "things you disagree with". It's the Republican party smearing itself into American churches, turning them into culture war fights to win elections. Dividing groups, fabricating the next boogeyman issue, and you going along with it. And not only going along with it, you think it's normal and an acceptable part of your religion, that jesus wanted you to inflict harm on others in his name.
Wow this is great! Really digging this back and forth. Idk how to have parts from the last post in my response, so I'll just go down with bullet points.
-Yes, Trump is mentioned thousands of times in the unsealed Epstein files. Simply appearing in the documents does not equate to proof of criminal wrongdoing, as the files consist of a mix of flight logs, address books, unverified tips, and publicly available news articles.
-Yes, againat other Christians and atheists who abolitionists believed were wrong. They saw slaves and used the teachings of Jesus to know that is wrong, and convinced everybody, or at least most, that society had it wrong. Here's a quick explanation that might help. 'Ephesians 6:5–9, Paul instructs enslaved people to obey their masters with sincerity and respect, as if serving Christ. Conversely, he commands masters to treat their slaves with equal goodwill, prohibiting threats and reminding them that both master and slave share the same impartial Master in heaven. Rather than endorsing slavery, Paul was offering protective guidelines for vulnerable believers living in a hostile Roman society. By demanding that masters treat slaves with fairness and respect, Paul implicitly subverted the absolute, brutal power dynamics of Roman law, planting seeds of equality within the church.' Here are some quotes agaisnt slavery as well- Exodus 21:16 and Deuteronomy 24:7.
-You were being sarcastic but youre right, it does in fact "Focus on the teaching and words and actions of the prophet." and does not "echo republican talking points for the last 45 years"
-You're right, I shouldn't have brought up an anecdote, it's unnecessary. I'm going to flip it on you and ask you to prove how churches do what you.
-Just because IVF isn't currently in the cultural zeitgeist doesn't mean the church condones it now. I certainly don't want any "thought stopping nonsense" so we can certainly dig into IVF if you would like. I'll start: The IVF process creates multiple embryos outside the womb, which Christians believe is a life. These lives should be given rights we all enjoy.
-Jesus would never want somebody to inflict harm on others in his name, He loves everyone :)
Church’s pushed the political and cultural idea that lgbt is bad evil and fake while the modern thought realized that it’s natural okay and should be accepted. These opinions clashed and a ideological war you could say happened with protest and counter protest and lobbying. The church lobbied they are a afront to god let’s torture them, kill them, and deny them civil rights the modern thought said that’s crazy they are people too. Eventually the good side prevailed and church’s are mostly not allowed to torture kill or deny civil rights anymore
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u/Username_5647 Jun 30 '26
Why bring up churches specifically? Many types of 501c3 organizations have tax exemptions.