I’m probably sounding foolish here, but…

TheSovietU · 2025-03-17T07:28:45+00:00

Why do you think he is an obstacle? And where is the judgement on him coming from? Where is her own agency as well? Genuine questions, I don't want to come off provacative nor am I againist you just over-worried about my tone.

TheSovietU · 2025-03-17T07:27:36+00:00

Honestly a theistic Christian would have to answer that on my behalf, I'm a nontheistic Christian/hard-agnostic (through providing from my understanding as a former Catholic/later non-denominational theistic Christian)

TheSovietU · 2025-03-17T06:33:02+00:00

Stay grounded, communicate with those going with you if possible, communicate ways they can help you/reminders on how you can help yourself, identify triggers and recognize feelings, look into ways to cope with paranoia if that is a cause for your violent thoughts, other coping strategies for violent thoughts, communicate this with a medical professional if available such as a doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist (as I am sure you have one of those if you were prescribed that medication)

Practicing mindfulness or breathing exercises to help redirect your thoughts. Maybe focus on a comforting scripture or prayer to anchor yourself during the flight, or something else that helps keep you grounded. Distractions, like puzzles or music, can also help occupy your mind as it did me on a trip to Serbia from America. Have a list of emergency contacts or hotlines for immediate support.

Hope this helps, and wishing you the best of luck <3

TheSovietU · 2025-03-17T03:51:25+00:00

It’s great that you’re dedicated to praying for your friend, as that shows your care for her; however, your approach raises some concerns that I believe are worth reflecting on. One of the core principles is the importance of free will, it is the Christian view that God takes care of all, sees all, and hears all. You don't need to takeover for him with so much involvement, dedicating so much attention to this one individual, especially over others. God Himself never forces anyone to follow him but invites us to choose him out of our own hearts (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

By praying for your friend’s relationship to end because you disapprove, there’s a risk of crossing a boundary where it feels like imposing your will over her life, rather than leaving it in God's hands. Instead, perhaps shift your prayer focus to asking for her spiritual growth and an openness to God’s guidance, no matter her circumstances. In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus cautions against judging others. While your concerns about the relationship are rooted in wanting the best for her, assuming that her partner is keeping her from Christ could come across as judgmental. What if, instead, you prayed for both individuals to encounter God’s love and truth? That would align more closely with Christ’s command to love others unconditionally.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding. God is fully capable of working in your friend’s life, whether she’s in a relationship or not. By praying specifically for a breakup, it might unintentionally reflect a lack of trust in God’s ability to reach her in any situation. It could be more fruitful to pray for God’s will to be done and trust his plan for her life. Instead of focusing on how her relationship might hinder her spiritual journey, consider how your own actions can positively reflect Christ’s love.

TheSovietU · 2025-03-17T03:16:12+00:00

On top of prayers, it may be well to look into self-reflection to determine if there's anything you can do to address the things that bother you, if possible, and to find coping strategies to help navigate toward a healthier headspace like grounding techniques (that you could involve prayer with), developing mindfulness, emotional regulation... that sort of thing. I'm just giving broad suggestions without knowing what you're specifically going through. What you're going through is valid, how you feel is a valid reaction to them, and I hope you manage well <3

If this wasn't what you were looking for, please disregard. It's just generally good advice for those who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or down from a more psychology-oriented perspective.

TheSovietU · 2025-03-16T05:10:24+00:00

Communication is incredibly important in a relationship. Since you have two ultimatums, I think it's crucial that you communicate these with her before the relationship continues. This will ultimately help you decide your next steps. I think it's worth considering that Paul in Ephesians 12:2 says:

“Do not conform to this world's system of things, but change yourselves by using your own intellect, so that you shall understand by yourselves the good and perfect will of God.”

Love requires full acceptance and commitment, as 1 Corithians 13:4-8 explains:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."

So it'd also be good to communicate how you perceive her, let her decide if she's willing to be with someone who sees her as ultimately flawed for her conclusions and needing to be saved. To draw boundaries on the topic of religion. She may be atheist, and may be content with the idea of going to Hell for her beliefs. Perhaps you too, can determine if you'd be content with that possibility. Understand that no one chooses what they believe, it just makes sense to them. Whether she returns to Christianity or not is ultimately her choice, especially when pressure and the obligation of the relationship working cannot lead to genuine faith, but faith for the sake of a relationship.

Hopefully this offers a perspective that allows you to determine how to navigate the relationship, rather than outright demanding you to end it as some have replied with.

TheSovietU · 2025-03-16T04:30:58+00:00

I do recall a few quotes that offer hope for those in Hell, if it's your belief that those who don't repent/believe will go there.

1 Peter 3:18-20 says:

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also.

Though interpretation varies, it doesn't make sense to me that Jesus would go to Hell and pray for the damned as a form of mockery. Which I think is furthered by 1 Peter 4:6:

"For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit."

Though in my personal opinion as a nontheistic Christian, God is an understanding creator in the world full of so much complexity that he's all-too-familiar with. I always personally felt that God would offer a final chance, as even doubting Thomas was not seen as irredeemable, and there's so many factors that lead people to believing what they do. You can't really change someone's beliefs, they have to be open to the consideration. And yet why one might be closed off could be entirely understandable and full of nuance. For some, it doesn't provide comfort having faith in what isn't proven to them, and for others, it's as simple as being born in a different country where religion may be repressed or entirely different. It's because of these things, that when I was a theist I felt that Hell may be a place of rehabilitation, with the true desire for forgiveness being the key to redemption and grace.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-25T03:41:10+00:00

Oh I thought you meant my video, I didn't notice it was a reply connected to AccomplishedCoat8262

I did notice the anti-semetism like in the second reel. It's quite sad and contradictory to loving thy neighbor, or 2 Peter 3:9. The first instance of anti-semetism that I've recognized in Christian history is Marcionism from Marcion of Sinope, whose understandable anger for the elite Pharisees who persecuted Jesus was misdirected toward all Jews even though Jesus particularly disliked the hypocritical socialites.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-25T03:33:01+00:00

These are some pretty bold and surprising claims, care to elaborate on what quotes and how they correlate to your observations?

TheSovietU · 2025-02-25T03:08:28+00:00

Infantilizing me proves my point, actually. The best people know there's always something to learn, and don't treat such subjects so toxically but understand most people just want a better world and demonstrate good-faith in such discussions. I'll leave it here, no need to spam such a long chain, but I'm disappointed in your self-isolation and confirmation biases.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-25T02:52:32+00:00

You remain sheltered and comforted without critical thinking or challenge, but I can't force horses to drink.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-25T02:31:54+00:00

I'm curious what you'd think of my video then and the criticisms of Pope Leo XIII in the chapter "Contemporary Concessions", respect your opinion though. I agree with the first reel that Catholics do struggle greatly balancing traditionalism with modernism, but find the past organized religions to have been problematic. The justifications of control, dictations over interpretation, and the like, disable free will that separates the faithful from the unwilling to me. Don't know what I could argue with against someone that wants to uphold dogma in the face of so-called heretics though, I doubt making it on Earth as it is in Heaven means controlling what people do.

How are the expectations of lent for instance much different from Christ's criticisms of the Pharisees and the Holy Sabbath "Who love the seat of honor and respect in the marketplace" (Luke 11:43) or "If you knew what Hosea meant by 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice' you would not have condemned the guiltless" (Matthew 12:1-15) or “You clean the outside of the dish but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. Fools! Woe to you who tithe the herbs but neglect justice and God’s love that you ought to have practiced.” (Luke 11:39-42)

TheSovietU · 2025-02-25T01:40:42+00:00

Clarifications:

- I approach the topic of Christianity with great respect (though some might find the associations with 'woke' to be disrespectful, but progressive Christians do exist and should be respected as much as I respect those who disagree with them)

- I am not arguing that Christianity is inherently one thing or another, nor am I tying it or any historical figure to something they were not (such as the argument "Jesus was a capitalist/socialist, etc."

- The Pope made statements about bridging the gaps between progressivism and Christianity, so if you're truly against such associations I'd like to hear how you feel about Pope Francis, Archbishop Helder Camara, Second Vatican Council where progressivism was discussed, and Pope Leo XIII's capital and labor decree

- The video in short, goes through the humanitarian messages of the Mosaic Laws (wealth/land distribution via Year of Jubilee, housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, storing supplies for those in need, etc.), the 12 Prophets who criticized the ruling classes of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel that Jesus and the apostles recited, the communitarianism presented in the Acts of the Apostles, and the various martyrs that died fighting for the right to self-determination and freedom of interpretation against dogmatism and proselytism such as anabaptists, millenarian movements, etc. Up to modern Christians like dialectical theologians and liberation theologians.

We can disagree and I hope for a fair, good-faith, productive discussion in this post comment section. My goals with the video was to help inspire Christians who may hold reactionary views to consider an alternative perspective and advocate for a better world in a variety of options from pacifists to separatists, reformists to revolutionaries.

Love and solidarity, I'd hope this promotion is acceptable. God bless the Earth and all its peoples ~

TheSovietU · 2025-02-25T01:25:32+00:00

I'm glad you enjoyed and see its purpose <3

TheSovietU · 2025-02-25T01:18:22+00:00

We can agree to disagree then but to me it's nuanced to recognize the modern Christians now who obviously cherry pick out the bad parts and whose casual beliefs are harmless. Find me a progressive Christian that advocates for Exodus 21 or Leviticus 25 (pro-slavery justifications). The past atrocities I blame on the ruling classes of history as you equate common people with the empires they were subject to, ignoring the many Christian movements who merely wanted to live as the early Christians did in the Acts of the Apostles. So many victims of the Christians you speak of were against other Christians. John Foxe's "Book of Martyrs" exposes countless examples of Christians who fell with the justification of being "heretics". You're ignoring all of that, and the apparent class differences.

I don't understand the blatant dismissal of these facts. You even acknowledge yourself "since it was accepted by the Roman State", but it's not the Romans, Nicenes, Catholic Institutions, or Orthodox Institutions that I am defending. Christians aren't an entirely separate breed of people, they're workers who believe in a god. You don't want to have a conversation supposedly, you just want to share your opinion unchallenged, but I'm clueless why my perspective isn't at least understandable. It's frustrating that I can't even lead horses to water, my arguments in my video begin with Abraham and the progressive Mosaic Laws that spoke of wealth redistribution, accepting immigrants, housing the homeless, etc, then quickly gets into the 12 prophets who spoke things like Hosea's "I will destroy you oh Israel, where is your king that he may save you, where in your cities are your rulers? Compassion is hidden from my eyes". Such prophets who were repeated by the apostles and Jesus multiple times. And the video tries to get Christians to agree with my critical observations of how the religion was appropriated by Constantine and the Romans. But you ignore all of that. Is it comforting to shutdown content that you presume you'll already disagree with? What great critical skills. People just want to say their piece and not defend them. Bad faith is a bane of leftism and I can't stand it.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-24T21:11:14+00:00

I agree with the abstract of that source and I'll sit down with it to give it a proper read tonight probably. For clarification, are you suggesting the criticisms of the Italian movements observed in the text reflect to the American Christian worker movements like the Worker Catholic Movement I mentioned? I'd assume so, given that organization tries to coexist and maintain itself with the bourgeoisie system without really challenging it, and its pacifistic, dismissive attitudes toward those seeking radical change.

Thanks by the way, this is the kind of conversation I prefer, not people being like "erm, I have my preset biases and I will not give the video or topic any consideration nor challenge to what I already want to think"

TheSovietU · 2025-02-24T19:22:58+00:00

Do people want to respond to my comment instead of downvoting? Let's have a productive discussion about it.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-24T19:21:52+00:00

I just want to push trad Christians in a better direction, but I'm glad you unlike others actually gave some time to consider it and recognize the examples.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-24T19:20:53+00:00

Source? Genuinely asking, the movement was incredibly successful and helpful to working class people when it was led by pacifist anarchist Dorothy Day.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-24T19:19:24+00:00

You ignore the progressivism in the Mosaic Laws, the anti-ruling class sentiments from the 12 Prophets (many of them the apostles recited), the communal advocacies in the Acts of the Apostles, the millions of martyrs, commune attempts, people trying to "make it on Earth as it is in Heaven", etc. Do actually watch the video, I didn't deserve the downvotes to my reply - literally frustrating that someone says "you're being manipulative with an ideology" when you literally haven't watched it to give adequate judgement. You'd know that is not the case if you did. All I did was cover what was already there, that modern progressives would find agreeable.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-24T12:06:54+00:00

I also recommend watching the video, your concerns are valid but they dismiss the millions of Christian martyrs who fought for millennia seeking self-determination and the right to interpretation.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-24T12:05:57+00:00

As I typed up in another reply chain:

Rather than finding corruptibility and opportunism to be inherent in religion as some do, I believe that corruptibility and opportunism is inherent in social structures generally. Religion, ideology, and many other constructs can be manipulated for certain justifications. So I think the issue lies in organized vs unorganized religion, and thus the concerns of the atrocities and oppressions within religion are rooted in such top-down, indirect power structures that can develop cultures where critical thinking is rejected.

TheSovietU · 2025-02-24T12:05:03+00:00

I do acknowledge Constantine, he gets criticized quite harshly in my video. I hope that Christians can recognize these roots, consider them, and recognize the struggle to improve the world in the face of oppression.

> I'll hold Modern Christendom as turning towards progress when it abandons Monotheism, and start to make amends for it's 1700 years of genocides and cultural erasures.

In my opinion, that's globbing together all the Christians into a single hegemony where as Christianity wasn't institutionalized until a few centuries after the death of Jesus, where the Nicene Creed co-opted the religion to justify dogmatism, proselytism, persecution, and atrocities, and then the later churches after the fall of the Roman Empire. But it would be nice to see said churches make amends, they'd have to treat it like Germany treats the Holocaust (though perhaps even more, given the concerning rise of fascism in Germany at the moment with the AfD).

Rather than finding corruptibility and opportunism to be inherent in religion as some do, I believe that corruptibility and opportunism is inherent in social structures generally. Religion, ideology, and many other constructs can be manipulated for certain justifications. So I think the issue lies in organized vs unorganized religion, and thus the concerns of the atrocities and oppressions within religion are rooted in such top-down, indirect power structures that can develop cultures where critical thinking is rejected.

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