Christian Nationalists: Where Everything Is Christian Persecution
How to deal with near-constant cries of "anti-Christian bias," "anti-Christian bigotry," and "Christian persecution"
Imagine you met me in real life.
Very early in this interaction, I start talking about a book project I’m working on. “It relates to this work,” I tell you. “I’m so passionate about it.”
And I proceed to have a one-sided conversation about myself for thirty minutes.
I ignore your glazed-over stare. Your furtive searches for someone - anyone - to rescue you. I talk over you when you try to interject and become offended when you feign interest with basic questions like, “Who’s the target market for this book?” and “Why do you think that approach will work?”
Finally, you say, “I really don’t know much about publishing, and I’d like to talk about something else,” and I speed-bump right over that and shriek, “But I’m just getting to the best part!” and keep word-vomiting.
You stand up and say, “Wow, I’m sorry. I need to go to the bathroom.”
And you sprint out the front door of the place, determined to never see, read, or think about me again.
I’m sorry to say this scenario isn’t fiction. I’ve repeated it throughout my life.
One of Christian Nationalism’s biggest curses is training its adherents to laser-focus on making every interaction “White Christian Nationalist Christ-like.” Many WCNs lack basic interpersonal skills. Listening and taking an interest in the other person’s life when one is brainwashed to avoid “all worldly temptations” and “focus on the state of the other person’s soul” are anathema to how WCNs are trained to interact with others.
This behavioral indoctrination (or as
would say - this lack of wholeness) also causes WCNs to interpret disinterest as “anti-Christian bigotry” and thought-provoking pushback as “Christian persecution.”Where have we heard this recently? Oh right. We’re back to the VP “I’m unequally yoked in my marriage” saga.
In the wake of public outcry over his “I wish my Hindu wife would be a Christian” comments, he doubled down on X (formerly Twitter.)
Vance argued the post was “anti-Christian bigotry.”
“Yes, Christians have beliefs. And yes, those beliefs have many consequences, one of which is that we want to share them with other people. That is a completely normal thing, and anyone who’s telling you otherwise has an agenda.” (SOURCE: ABC News)
What he should have said is, “We want to share our Christian Nationalist beliefs with other people, and we don’t care how those people feel about them. They don’t want to hear they’re going to hell? SO WHAT. It’s THE TRUTH, whether they want to hear it or not. The Bible says so. And if we offend a few of them into heaven, even better.”
They have been indoctrinated to believe it is socially acceptable to assume that everyone they meet is going to hell; they have been schooled to bring up their religion early in every conversation; and they have been brainwashed to take any response other than “How do I sign up?” as CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION.
Anyone who says, “Wow, that’s rude” or “Aren’t you being harsh?” or “I don’t see it that way” or “I don’t agree with you” or “I’m Hindu and I’d love to tell you why it speaks to me” IS PERSECUTING the well-meaning Christian Nationalist.
Like all abusers, they bludgeon people over the head with their offensive sanctimony and accuse their victims of Christian persecution and anti-Christian bias/bigotry when the victims say, “You’re hitting me over the head, and it hurts, and would you please stop.”
Every time you see anyone in this regime parrot the terms “Christian persecution,” “anti-Christian bias,” or “anti-Christian bigotry,” please recognize what they are: Abuse tactics to bully their target into submission.
Here’s the only response I’ve found to disarm them:
You’re really passionate about your faith, and you have every right to be. Believe whatever you want. We don’t need to go over what we believe, because I respect your right to believe whatever you want. I may not always agree with what you believe, but I will never attack your right to believe it.
They can’t accuse me of persecuting them, because I clearly state that I am not attacking them. While they are off-balance, I can sometimes pivot in another direction or end the interaction without too much awkwardness.
Remember: Abusers attack because THEY are weak.
Every time someone throws around a term like “anti-Christian bigotry,” they’re telling you THEIR FAITH IS WEAK-TO-NON-EXISTENT. CERTAINTY is the only way they can believe.
While it may give us a rush to twist the knife in their wound, it’s usually better to tell them you aren’t going to engage. Then let your actions mirror that statement.
Now I’m going to sit with some of my brokenness and do my daily “people skills development” work. :) Find some joy and hope this weekend, everyone.
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Such a nice concise summary! Thank you! It’s not just Christians who do this. It’s common among people of many strongly held beliefs not supported by facts, but your approach works with them all. I often resort to “please don’t bait me” or “I’m not taking your bait” and changing the subject to something pleasant we can both enjoy!
As a lapsed Southron Baptist, you hit the nail on the head regarding the mindset.