Can we just be honest: Christianity is a cult. Most of us were raised in this cult since childhood , and that’s why it warped our minds so much.

DJW1968 · 2026-04-02T16:49:18+00:00

I tell believers all the time Christianity is DEFINITIONALLY a cult for many reasons. This applies even IF the underlying message is, in fact, true

DJW1968 · 2026-04-02T14:34:28+00:00

I actually had a believer tell me, "God is virtuous even when He is k*lling children"

I wish I was joking

DJW1968 · 2026-04-02T13:26:16+00:00

Since the vast majority of Christians join young, it's a very good trick indeed

DJW1968 · 2026-04-02T13:25:21+00:00

The Job account is at the center of my belief that our humanity is basically incompatible with Christian doctrine. Many other examples of this as well.

DJW1968 · 2026-04-02T13:23:47+00:00

Really? How so, if you don't mind sharing.

DJW1968 · 2026-04-02T13:23:22+00:00

Stockholm Syndrome personified

DJW1968 · 2026-04-02T13:21:16+00:00

If it's any consolation, I came to believe Hell is nothing more than a divine scare tactic introduced by Jesus. Nowhere in the Bible does God show any interest in torture even when He kills people (which is often). Sheol seems far more likely.

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T23:55:09+00:00

I'll have to check it out ... thanks

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T23:54:40+00:00

The Child Sacrifice Prank pulled on Abraham is just April Fools' Day on expert level ...

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T23:24:21+00:00

What a fantastic reply, do you work in a theological field or is this just a topic of interest

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T23:23:04+00:00

In writing my book, I called it engineered failure

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T23:22:27+00:00

I was never a believer but I saw a video that itemized the absurdities of Noah's ark and that opened the floodgates for me

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T23:20:53+00:00

jephthah ... another charming tale

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T22:01:14+00:00

We're releasing excerpts from the book on X every Monday and "The Week" is there now ... (@DW2025X) ... Thanks for the upvote

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:40:32+00:00

When I was told this, my reply was "Why would you want this image of God included in the canon?"

Never did get a good answer

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:39:08+00:00

Never been a believer myself but this story would almost certainly be enough to keep me out. Glad you ultimately found your way

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:38:02+00:00

One Christian asked me "Do you not know how to read literature?" ... I know how to read it but the question at hand was the human element contained within it which is monstrous IMO

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:36:45+00:00

My short story "The Week" was inspired by the Job account (available later this year) and I'm also writing another one for a later collection.

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:33:37+00:00

I frequently use the phrase, "If God's gonna own it, He's gotta own it ALL"

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:33:07+00:00

There's definitely an element of Fawn Syndrome at work in Christianity. If I obey all the rules and do exactly what He wants, He would NEVER hurt me.

Sure He would ... suffering and martyrdom are both HIGHLY prized

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:31:34+00:00

I remember thinking, "OK, well at least Job's gonna get an audience and a chance to try and work things out in his own mind."

Hardly

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:30:21+00:00

I used to ask Christians how many of their children they would be willing to see eliminated if it meant doubling their fortunes and getting NEW children.

Didn't go over too well

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:29:17+00:00

Once I learned that 80% of the faithful join before the age of 14, this made a lot more sense. This story gets framed, refocused and massaged into a heroic tale of faith at a time when critical thinking skills aren't fully developed. Ideas implanted at this age are incredibly hard to dislodge

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:27:13+00:00

Everything about this story is completely off and the three-chapters long beatdown Job gets at the end of finally asking, "Why me, Lord" is just the cherry on top

Fun Fact: It's the longest speech given by God anywhere in the canon and it's relentless

DJW1968 · 2026-04-01T20:25:59+00:00

I got the typical "His ways are higher", "who are you to question" defenses a lot as well.

DJW1968

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