Phat writes:
So I suppose we can all agree that there is persecution of and discrimination against many minority ethnic and religious and secular groups in this country and that Christianity---being a majority group--is largely exempt from persecution in the United States.
I don't think we even need to take it that far. As most objective and fair minded people see it, there is no persecution of Christians in the US.
Which, again, takes me back to my "far right of center" religious family. Sometimes I will overhear my mom, dad, or grandma make a reference to some story about how a poor Christian was persecuted here in the States. 99% of the time it is a completely false conspiracy theory started by right wing groups. 99% of the time I just choke back the instinct to let my family have it for believing these stories and just nod, waiting for it to be over. My mother has grown quite fond of saying how religious expression isn't politically correct any more, as if it is some burden that can't be born by Christians any longer.
My favorite moment of the last two months was during a car ride with mom, pop, and grandma. In the back seat was a plastic toy soldier. I asked my mom where it came from, since there aren't any little kids in the immediate family anymore. She said it was from church. The pastor passed out little toy soldiers so that people could pray for our troops. I didn't think anything of it. Sounded fine to me. My mother then said how some people thought that they shouldn't be doing that, leaving the "that" as a vague reference. The first thought through my mind is that some people might balk at the idea of praying to a little figurine of a solider, that it could be taken for some kind of idol worship. I was just about to say that when my mom interrupted me and kind of spat out, "People don't think praying for our troops is politically correct". The first three words through my head were "What the Fuck!". Glad I didn't say those words out loud either.
There are some groups of people who have created a whole fantasy land where they are the victims of vicious, pervasive, and government sanctioned persecution. Some of my family happens to be part of that group. Love 'em to death, but they do make me frustrated at times.
I also see this same group following a particular presidential candidate this year, but that is probably best handled in the other thread. However, that is their dog whistle. Whenever you hear a politician saying something like Christianity not being politically correct, you 100% know who they are going after. They are going after the vote of the fantasy land Christians who think they are being persecuted.