Christian Nationalists | George Carlin

I've watched the growth of Christian Nationalism for well over a decade. I've had a few things to say about it publicly, with much more to come. But I remembered something George Carlin said in his last stand up special that really stuck with me, so I repurposed it here as some thoughts on Christian Nationalists as I think it really fits.

---- Response (January 2023) to numerous comments disputing "God loves everyone":

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.”John 3:16

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” John 4:10

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” John 4:8

If you’re following the Christian Bible, then yes, there is amble evidence that “God loves everyone.” This was the whole point of sending Jesus in the first place. We don’t have to do anything to receive this gift; Jesus gave his life for it. It's unconditional. Already a done deal. Those who accept Jesus as savior (true Christians) get the extra bonus of eternal life. But those who reject God's love don't lose it. That’s how it works in the Christian faith.

So-called "Christians" who like to argue “no, God doesn’t love everyone equally” usually follow up with some variation of what essentially amounts to “here’s how I’m special and God loves me [and people who agree with me] more than everyone else.”

-----

"There are 200 countries in the world. Do these people honestly think God is sitting around picking out his favorites? Why would he do that? Why would God have a favorite country? And why would it be America out of all the countries? Presumably, they believe in God. And if they, they must have heard, God loved everyone. That's what he said. He loved everyone and he loved them equally. So, why would these people ask God to do something that went against his own teachings? They ought to check with that Jesus fellow they're so crazy about. They're always talking about 'What Would Jesus Do?' They don't want to know so they can do it, they just want to know so they can tell other people to do it. I'll tell you what Jesus would have done. He would have got up on the top of the Empire State Building and said "God bless everyone around the world for ever and ever until the end of time." That's what Jesus would have done, and that's what these people should do." (c) George Carlin, 2008, "It's Bad for Ya"

#christiannationalism #extremism #religion #georgecarlin

[DrBSully]

-- Response (January 2023) to numerous comments disputing "God loves everyone":

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.”John 3:16

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” John 4:10

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” John 4:8

If you’re following the Christian Bible, then yes, there is amble evidence that “God loves everyone.” This was the whole point of sending Jesus in the first place. We don’t have to do anything to receive this gift; Jesus gave his life for it. It's unconditional. Already a done deal. Those who accept Jesus as savior (true Christians) get the extra bonus of eternal life. But those who reject God's love don't lose it. That’s how it works in the Christian faith.

So-called "Christians" who like to argue “no, God doesn’t love everyone equally” usually follow up with some variation of what essentially amounts to “here’s how I’m special and God loves me [and people who agree with me] more than everyone else.”

[someguy]

It is sad that many people around the world use their religion as an excuse to hate rather than love.

[jones]

People who say "if Carlin were alive today he'd be a conservative" have no brain

[buggyroberson]

Imagine what George would have said about Trump as President.

[cowboyspiderspew-pew]

There's one sign outside of this church/graveyard that says "God loves you. No exceptions." I'm not religious but it always makes me smile when I see it

[stwawbewwy]

Part of the problem is some folks like to cherrypick their favorite parts of the Bible, disregard other parts, and purposely misinterpret or twist others to their liking.
People love to quote the bible, but 'Love thy neighbor' doesn't have an 'unless' attached to it. You know what else the bible says?
-Don't make idols of God
-Don't use his name is vain (and people have done this basically forever)
-Keep the sabbath holy
Don't kill people
-Don't cheat on your partner/spouae
Don't steal stuff

[MrFerrell]

If Jesus came back today Americans would call him a communist and refuse him.

[dennysoto]

"What would Jesus do?"

Well. He definitely whipped tf out of people at least once, that option is still on the table

[DrivenBeers]

I go to a pretty laid back Methodist church. Last year there was a huge schism in the church involving the acceptance of LGBTQ people. Our pastor commented on this to the congregation, pointing out that one of the key tenets of the UMC is that they accept ANYONE who wishes to worship. The comment was met with thunderous applause from the congregation! My pastor knows I'm an agnostic but he doesn't care. We're good friends and genuinely happy to see each other at church services and events.

[kyledinsmore]

I thought he was gonna say “and then he would jump of the Empire State Building”

[andrew-paulclements]

"Why do you pride yourselves on your nations, when God has called us to be strangers to this world" - St. John Chrysostom

[mrlimpett]

As a kid going to church. Leaving the parking lot people cutting each other off and cursing other drivers. Hippocracy is what religion promotes.

[carestan]

As a pastor i can approve this sermon 👍

[KingsNerdCave]

This is true, too much judging coming from people who say only God can judge.

[original_demonic]

That’s the thing. Nearly All religions teach acceptance and love for both everyone in their religion, and everyone in general. For some reason people seem to think that just because you were born a certain way or think a certain thing, you’re instantly not in the category that should be treated with love.

I was born out of wedlock and as a result chased out of my church. I was bullied in my school, which was connected to the church, and even the teachers would turn a blind eye because I “was a threat to the good Christian children”. It got to the point where the kids were so hate filled, one of the told me to kill myself in a Christmas card. I don’t blame the kids at all. I blame the parents and teachers that let it happen because in their eyes I wasn’t what they wanted around the other children. But that cycle keeps going, with children like that growing up intolerant. I personally can’t return to Christianity as a result, I just can’t believe in something that would create all these mental scars for someone who was just 5-10 years old. I’m open minded to the idea of a higher power, but I’m not going to let one religion rule my life. As long as I am kind, caring and a good person, it shouldn’t matter, and that’s how I’m going to live my life.

[femmefuntime]

I’m just imagining him saying all this while narrating Thomas the Tank Engine (which he actually did) and that makes it funnier

[geoffreysorkin]

I love the people who think Carlin would be conservative or even liberal (i.e. Right leaning centrist) if he was alive today. Carlin was a socialist who called out TERFs before they were called TERFs.

[timberwolfdtproductions]

“They don’t ask what Jesus would do so they can do it, they ask so they can tell other people to do it”……Nailed it! Thanks, Mr. Carlin.

[Fiawordweaver]

I so miss this genius. Thankfully, we can capture his wisdom on utube. ❤🎉❤

[eb]

I agree, as a Christian and someone who loves the USA, that Christian nationalism is weird. I do thank God I live in a place like America, but all believers round the world are one family in Christ. You can’t put your country at the same level or above God, or it becomes an idol. God bless America