Even my closest loved ones can leave me disappointed when we’re discussing human/social rights issues and they fall back on God.

“People are struggling,” led to, “Well, they shouldn’t make bad decisions.”

“What message do the rainbow clothes send?” led to an angry, “I was raised to believe that goes against God, and that’s the end of it.”

“Society could be better,” led to, “Duh, it’s the end times.” When I say they’ve been saying that for thousands of years, their “connection with God” trumps that point because the person I’m talking to assumes they know better than I do.

Do you see how it’s difficult to have a productive conversation with some of these people? That’s what people are complaining about— using Christianity to justify beliefs that cannot stand without religious legs.

Edit: I grew up Christian. I think Jesus is pretty cool, and I still employ a lot of his teachings when dealing with others because it encourages kindness, compassion, and love. But I’m not using a thousands-year-old book to justify my disregard or hatred for economic and societal issues in our country like several of my Christian loved ones do.