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Thermal Thursday: Progressive Christians and Everyone Else [1]

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Date: 2022-12-15

Today’s Topic: I was furious about the topic of Chris Rodda’s diary yesterday, It's time for this year's National Desecrate a Non-Christian Veteran's Grave Day. What part of “not your religion” do they not understand? Apparently quite a bit. A nonprofit places “Christmas wreaths” on veterans’ graves without asking first whether or not their loved ones want them there. Some might do this in a spirit of “welcome to our world,” but still, non-Christians don’t necessarily want our welcome. For that matter, I wouldn’t want a wreath from a conservative “Christian” group. I wouldn’t want them to include me; they can keep their hateful hands and symbols to themselves. Also, wreaths aren’t really all that Christian, having had much more ancient origins, but that doesn’t matter in this context — they’re still being used as an appropriated Christian symbol to beat people over the head with their Christianity — people who aren’t here to defend themselves.

And then, as with so many things right wing, it turns out it’s all a grift: The “nonprofit” that takes donations to provide wreaths turns around and buys them from the for-profit wreath company owned by the same people in charge of the nonprofit! So the more wreaths they lay on graves, the more money they make. And that, probably more than any religious belief system, is why they lay wreaths on every grave whether you like it or not. If you throw it away later, meh, they (actually we, through tax breaks, in addition to others through donations!) already paid for it.

Furstration

Chris and Mikey Weinstein and MRFF fight this fight every year and get wreaths removed from those who complain, but why this isn’t resulting in everything from prevention to discipline to loss of nonprofit status to criminal prosecution, I don’t know. Except, of course, right-wing “Christians” manage to be a force no one wants to fight, with even judges only going so far to limit their hateful activities.

So you probably won’t see progressive Christians laying wreaths without permissions, and here’s why: We do not believe in the primacy of Christianity above any other religions or non-religions. For example, from Core (non-dogmatic) Values at progressivechristianity.org: We:

… recognize that the Spirit moves in beneficial ways in many faith traditions. …. Seek community that is inclusive of all people, honoring differences in theological perspective…. … believ[e] there is more value in questioning than in absolutes.

Amongst many, many essays on the same blog, writer Walt Shelton in We Need to Listen to Care About Others, quotes Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, who adopts insights from Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. He is quoted as saying:

“When participants are willing to learn from each other, dialogue takes place just by their being together…. For dialogue to be fruitful, we need to live deeply our own tradition and, at the same time, listen deeply to others. Through the practice of deep looking and deep listening, we become free, able to see… values in our own and others’ tradition.” Hanh’s wisdom applies well beyond purely religious contexts.

Indeed, I would say it applies to other religions, those who prefer no religion, and those whose insights are nontraditional as well as traditional. To think that our religion is better than others is egotistical arrogance. To think that religion is better than non-religion, the same. To think that old traditions are better than modern insights just because we prefer tradition, also egotistical arrogance. We need to take off our blinders that how we were raised is the only “proper” way to be raised. We should certainly be able to debate all these things, but need to come at them from a position of humility: No single person has all the answers. And respect: FFS, if someone doesn’t want you jumping on them about or with symbols of your religion, back off and leave them in peace. Better yet, extend an invitation and wait for their response, instead of inserting yourself where you don’t belong in the first place.

Watch out, wingers, or I’ll proselytize you for Ceiling Cat!

Finally as always, let’s elevate our Community Cred and repost The Needs List! From Aashirs nani (with permission) on Helping Humpday:

PLEASE NOTE:

When sending via PayPal, be sure to select “Send to family/friend” to avoid fees on either end. Be aware, both donor and recipient, that GFM not only charges fees, but also money received through that platform is treated as taxable income. If you are requesting help through GFM, also be aware that there can be delays in accessing the money.

COMMUNITY NEEDS LIST AS OF 12/14/22:

Yay, Michele’s goals are met! Great job, fellow Kossack donors. Accept a round of applause!

I’m in for a mickle each week toward a variety of DKos members on the Needs List. I hope you’ll join me. Always glad to see the needed amounts gradually decreasing!

I’ll probably give Falcon Hawke a little boost this week to get things started for them. Falcon, please consider using the shelters. “Frigid and snowy” can turn tragic too easily!

If helping financially isn’t the right choice for you at this time, you can still help. Tip and rec the diary so it stays visible. Share on social media: Twitter, Facebook, whatever platform you use, to bring the attention of others outside our daily readers. And offer words of encouragement to people who are struggling. It can be scary to be struggling, and it can feel lonely. Let them know we understand and are here to help.

If you have time, please visit the diaries above and leave comments for their authors. Those words of encouragement are vital!

If you don’t like fundraisers, please just move along. They are a longstanding tradition at DKos — Until we vote in enough progressives to create a much stronger social safety net! (Maybe in 2 years.)

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/12/15/2142069/-Thermal-Thursday-Progressive-Christians-and-Everyone-Else

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