Hearing so many of my friends in Texas suffering from the floods (several who had to evacuate, one who is having to try to save their house DIY without flood insurance) has been hard.

It's hard because of the human tragedy. Ordinary people losing so much, being even more vulnerable in a very time in history.

But it's doubly hard because the tragedy is leading people to embrace terrible, toxic forms of theology (i.e. the Texas governor actually claiming that the flood waters receeded because of prayer --- so I guess God doesn't care enough about the 90+ people who have died so far to intercede sooner). And of course we can count on these same politicians (who gutted FEMA and the Weather service) to now preach at us some more, pushing people to "have faith" and "pray harder."

Sorry, but that is not how the world works. God isn't going to save the people of Texas (and other places) from flood waters. And God isn't going to help those who have lost loved ones and homes.

Who can help? . . . PEOPLE, actual human beings can help.

Certainly, religion can be a motivator for doing good and for meeting human needs, but we need to be clear that it is toxic when it becomes a justification for governments and other human institutions and individuals to not take the action that needs to take place.

#Texas #TexasFloods #BadTheology #TheologyMatters #Humanism

This is a point of contention with some of my hyper-charismatic extended family…

It’s a melding of shitty values, horrible politics and bad theology — all wrapped up in a pretty Jesus bow.

And forcing that onto the world is seen as “prophesy”🤮

🔗Link: https://bsky.app/profile/brcremer.bsky.social/post/3lqs4ihleuk2h

#Faith #DailyLiturgy #BadTheology

You know it’s bad out there when even the Almighty is in need of work:

#economy #jobsearch #GriftersGonnaGrift #BadTheology

Beilby Porteus, Anglican bishop, writes on the Sabbath. He reminds that this also applies to animals. They are abused. A righteous person will be merciful to beasts.

How can you be benevolent to the brute creation?

#christian #climateactivism #compassionfirst #ritual #badtheology

No, preacher, 1 John 4:16 does not read "God is love, but you are separated from him by your sin [so say the sinners prayer or you're going to hell]."

God is love
and those who live in love
live in God
and God lives in them.

#Bible #exvangical #badtheology #love #atonement

Fuck this. Fuck anybody who uses the trauma of clergy to shame people who need a break from the church, or to escape it altogether. Fuck a religious culture that sees "overcoming" as refusing to deal with real problems in the very roots of our ecclesiology.

I was a pastor and I may be one again. I love Jesus. But holy heck I wouldn't wish the experiences I've had or heard about on my worst enemy. This is vile.
#badtheology #theology #faith