You are right. To say Christianity as a whole isn’t broken and putting its worst foot forward in many many cases would be ignoring the problem. And you are right, charlatans and even grifters shouldn’t be allowed to fleece their flocks.
And we’re not quiet. The problem is we are in the face of the most charismatic of cons that people actually believe.
I am sorry these people exist. I’ve seen what they do. That they truly hurt people financially, spiritually and even physically. That a religion founded on values of loving and supporting your neighbors, no matter who they are, could spawn and foster such terrible people. That it could organize them into concentrated groups of greed or in many cases hate. As a Christian seeing this it is endlessly infuriating and I try to do my best to be a better example of my faith.
Many times we speak inwardly about these problems. I’ve attended sermons on the dangers of this and how as stewards of our religion we need to try and push what Christianity should be to the world. And you’re right again: the stand against the shit committed in the name of Christ should be stronger and more visible.
I know it’s not much, my personal apology in the sea of assholery, but know I mean it.
