Christian Reconstructionism to the Satanic Panic (Christian Nationalism Part 3)

[@tdsollog]

I was a teen in the 80s. My stepmother told me I was going to hell because of the music I liked and the movies I watched. She ended up having an affair with a married born again Christian pastor and had his baby. My dad divorced her. I’m totally fine now.

[@jezebelvibes]

This seems pretty on brand, unfortunately. The ones in my family that told me I would be corrupted by the world were the same ones getting remarried for the 3rd and 4th time after having their own extramarital affairs. They never seem to want to examine the planks in their own eyes.

[@tdsollog]

@ I’m sorry that you went through this too. It does seem to be a common thing for the “brand”…. Perhaps a future video topic?

[@qjtvaddict]

Your dad had morality

[@tdsollog]

@@qjtvaddict He wasn’t perfect. He was 21 and my mother, who was his first wife, was 18 when I was born. They married in Nov 1970, and I was born May 71, and mom graduated from high school in June 71. It is what it is.

[@shelliecarlson7015]

That dam 80's Ozzy telling you to not off yourself and stay away from "Bone Movies!"

[@macman1138]

There were several times in my life that people had went out of their way to praise me because I was kind, hardworking, thoughtful, forgiving and so on, saying that I was a very good Christian man and I followed Christ’s example. However, I would politely tell them that I am a lifelong Atheist. Most people were shocked, saying that they would pray for me. Some people thought I was joking and chose to believe their religious indoctrination. I was born and raised in the South, not far from Kristi grew up. I kept what I knew to be good values of family, education, kindness, hard work and such, scraping the religious Christian beliefs. This is, for me anyway, to be what has been labeled a “Cultural Christian.” I’m hiding in plain sight. Love your videos, Kristi.

[@Mcfreddo]

When we were in the time of Neanderthals, we were kind to our children. No religious apes there. Religion is an imposter. Christopher Hitchens said: "Religion is poison" Couldn't be truer.

[@loisprew8820]

I remember all of this from the 70’s and 80’s like it was yesterday, Kristi. You’re spot on. I feel like I’m re-living the bad parts of my childhood. I grew up Catholic, but we were exposed to many of these same conservative ideas, and the more sane of us rejected this craziness. Unfortunately, these ideas are no longer fringe.

[@lenaolayos2822]

Some of them are dangerous people.

[@thomasridley8675]

What they seem to be doing is attempting to kill empathy for anyone outside of their control.

[@thomasridley8675]

@Resist_Big_Brother Unfortunately, we have seen this too many times.

[@paulgerkin2851]

Good video Kristi ! I met Frank Schaeffer years ago and he described Calvinism as "insanity" & regretted being part of the religious right with his father in the 70's & 80's . And thank you for pointing out that the puppeteers in power want the people to remain divided .

[@jezebelvibes]

He seems to have gone his own way! I saw he describes himself as a christian atheist which I'd love to pick his brain about 😄

[@paulgerkin2851]

@@jezebelvibes He's on you tube & Facebook . He says in one of his books he''d rather share a life raft with an atheist than a fundamentalist . At least the atheist wouldn't try to sink the raft to get Jesus to come back quicker ! 😄

[@dawnalawrence6584]

@@jezebelvibes I THINK he converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity several years ago?

[@Queenread82]

@@dawnalawrence6584Yes, he came to our EOC when his book with his son came out. His family is still attending and he goes (last I heard) but doesn’t believe. He goes for the community.

[@tam6912]

Frank Schaefer VLOGS can be found on YT. He talks about his history with the Republican party, religious views etc.

[@irinaatanasova2335]

"Oh nooo I can't imagine NOT being able to degrade and harass and discriminate other peopleeee. That's so scaryyy 😢😢😢" This is how I see their "concerns" 😉. Btw you are amazing, I am glad you show up again. Happy New Year, babe! 😘❤️

[@lenaolayos2822]

It's terrifying ! And they say to walk in love!

[@slipperybillmantishandsgay3890]

My friends, I have recently developed an antiRacism vaccine.by the 3rd shot, Everyone will be Pink, Hairless and 5ft 2

[@thomasridley8675]

💯👍

[@dermotmcquaid3692]

The FUNNIEST Thing is that Many of these Fundies Consider Themselves to be Libertarians...Which Just means They're Nazi Isolationists Who want the Poor To Die

[@sandracampbell9822]

I am more concerned about Christian nationalism than communism!

[@jezebelvibes]

Uh oh, we've got a red here! 🥴😄 In all seriousness, big same!

[@TheologyForThought]

America is mystery Babylon. God hates America

[@BeccaYoley]

💯

[@randallpickering9944]

99% of magas couldn't define communism, woke, or socialism, but they know it's a "bad" word.

[@Masterpirate1]

@@jezebelvibes Behold! His name is . . . . . *Matthew 19:23-24* "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is *rich* to _enter_ the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is *rich* to _enter_ the kingdom of God.” *Acts 2:44-45* “All the Believers were *together* and had everything *IN COMMON.* They sold property and possessions to *GIVE* to anyone who had _need.”_ *Acts 4:32-35* “All the believers were *ONE* in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they *SHARED* everything they had. ... There were NO _needy_ persons among them.” *Matthew 19:21* “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and *GIVE* to the _poor,_ and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” *James 5:1-6* “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ... You have *HOARDED* _wealth_ in the last days.” *Luke 3:11* “Anyone who has two shirts should *SHARE* with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” *2 Corinthians 8:13-14* “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be *EQUALITY.* At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The _GOAL_ is *EQUALITY.”*

[@andriebester]

The threat of communism was alo used in apartheid South Africa as a mechanism to perpetuate racial discrimination. Interesting that Christians would have such a big issue with communism. If the biblical account is to be accepted as historically accurate (momentarily, just for purposes of making the point), the first Christian churches pretty much functioned as little communist cells.

[@annas.5894]

Exactly.

[@benvandermerwe4934]

⚡🥃🇿🇦

[@marcusappelberg369]

I am aChristian and a Socialist, and feel that several parts of the Bible are more Socialist than me.

[@theargonianmercenary184]

It will never not be funny that republicans accused Obama of everything that Jesus actually was lmao

[@MonsterKidCory]

Yeah, and they didn't work... The real takeaway lesson is not that Christianity fits tidily into some secular political, ideological, or economic framework. Rather, that it DOESN'T. Christianity is notoriously difficult to translate into a secular political/ideological/economic framework because it was never meant to be one. Christians are meant to be from all walks of life, all ethnicities, all classes, and ostensibly all viewpoints that are themselves consistent with Christianity... Which, granted, doesn't leave a whole lot of them. But if you're wondering why Christians should be so anti-Communism, it's PROBABLY because Communism is explicitly anti-Christian. "Opiate of the people" and all that nonsense.

[@etebol]

“All cruelty springs from weakness” Seneca.

[@sitirokimbo]

Yep. Believing in 1 billion genders is weak just lime abrahamic religion

[@slipperybillmantishandsgay3890]

I'm a PILL 💊ANTHROPU$$ here to help

[@Masterpirate1]

That sounds like a characterization of the Meccan Moon God, His Caveman Pedo-Prophet, the Vatican, Trinitarians, Brahma-Vishu-Shiva-Kali-Durga-Indra-Rahu-Ketu.

[@Sean-oy8xm]

Kristi! Keep em coming! I was a young Christian in the early 1980’s and lived the Satanic Panic…I was FULLY on the Evangelical Fundamentalist side. I bought all of it. BTW, it is the Religious Reich.

[@timnewman1172]

I was on the Black Sabbath/Ozzy side... LOL!!!

[@cherryjuice9946]

I remember after Roe V. Wade, the main stream Christians didn't see it as an issue. I think it crept into their community for one big reason. That was, the Catholics were using it effectively. The Catholics used it as a rallying call, and this brought in the $$$. The evangelicals wanted a piece of the pie. It was a perfect issue to use. People are instinctively tribal. There's always an us-against-them emotion in their hearts, and religion is a big divider with clear demarcation lines. Add an issue, make it a wedge, cast your group as the good-guys, and the other group as the bad guys, and folks will be happy to smite your enemy, or at least hand you a lot of money if you promise to smite them.

[@jezebelvibes]

Yes! Paul Weyrich was Catholic and he knew very well how to manufacture moral outrage!

[@ballsymcfee9882]

Also, I feel like the marketing involved played a significant part too. The juxtaposition of huge signs with bloody baby doll parts, creating this visceral, morbid image, alongside others boasting signs pleading to "save the babies" and "abortion = murder" and "belief in Christ means belief in life" is a powerful experience. My parents jumped on that train in the late 80's throughout the 90's, and drug little me to my first pro-life rally in '89 I believe. It was a powerful experience being amongst the throngs of people marching on the state capital and rallying on the steps for most of the day. Plus, I had a front row seat to the clashes from counter protesters. It was about as "us vs them" as you could possibly get. Even pacifist type people were wanting to start swinging from how wound up the leaders got the crowd. It was eerie, looking back on it now.

[@areuaware6842]

Roe v Wade decision was the same year the US government ended the military draft. Coincidence ? I think not. The US government will have blood one way or another.

[@MonsterKidCory]

Oh, don't worry. Religion has long since been replaced as the primary driver of Us vs. Them political emotionalism 😆

[@josephcooter5763]

I can remember how much they complained about Rock Music being satanic. All that did was make me want to listen to it. If it hadn't been for that I don't think I would have listened to the Rolling Stones or the Beatles. I would have been stuck listening to whatever was on Hee Haw.

[@jezebelvibes]

As a curious person, their warnings only fueled my desire to dabble 😄

[@randallpickering9944]

As a grade-schooler during the British invasion, I can personally attest to the furor caused by the Beatles' hair.

[@Call.Me.Shayne]

​@@jezebelvibes Yes! As a person who was an evangelical teen in the early 80's I remember this as the tipping point that fueled the rise in contemporary Christian metal music. Bands like Stryper, Resurrection Band, Saint, Bloodgood, etc. that emerged in the mid to late 80's. I distinctly remember the refrain of "if we can't beat them God will take over their music". Such twisted messaging used to keep young people under their thrall.

[@lokilawson]

The satanic stuff scared me, as at the time I believed there were forces at work I didn’t understand. But it didn’t last long at all. I listened to see what was actually said backward, and was like, wait a minute. If you take any speech that is long enough, play it backward, and listen really closely, you can make it sound like anything. I remember thinking… why would they put “I stink cheese” into their lyrics, and it hit me. They didn’t, and somebody was getting a LOT of attention claiming that they did, so they could sell their books and cassette tapes explaining it all. I remember putting Alabama’s album with the song “Love in the First Degree,” on my Fischer Price record player. You could put the knob between the 45 and 33 speeds, and the speaker would work, but the turntable would not move. I could spin it either forward or backward, at any speed I wanted. I laughed my hiney off when the lead singer said “I love the devil” like a chipmunk when I spun it backward. But it hammered home for me the power of misinformation, and it taught me to look for it. I have never unlearned that lesson.

[@PaulHosey-u3l]

Christians probably helped create black metal lmao

[@ocelotlten145]

I appreciate your diligent research and your presentation skills. You are transparent and sincere. Refreshing to those of us who are years into deconstruction. Thank You!

[@jezebelvibes]

I appreciate that! Thank you for the support 😊

[@Queenread82]

I went full on into Christianity as an adult. As a baby Christian adult I heard about how should we then live? By Frank Schaeffer. There was a lot of buzz about it. Suddenly, we had to be afraid of letting our kids play in the front yard for fear that Satanists would snatch them.

[@Masterpirate1]

Hmmm. Let's see now . . . According to the Bible, God’s body count is 2,821,364 (24,994,828 if The Great Deluge is included). Satan’s is 10 (Job's children). That means God beat Satan by 249,948,180%, putting Him in league with Mao, Stalin, and beating H____.

[@Timmy803]

❤❤❤ We love you!! From St Louis

[@jezebelvibes]

Thank you so much 🥰

[@arthuryi3130]

When you mentioned Christian Dominionism, you forgot to mention that U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is a big supporter of this. When I first found that out when he ran for the Republican Party nomination for President back in 2016, I was shocked that there was such a sect of Christianity that is like that. Especially since I was never told about Dominion theology from my church Pastors when I was a Christian.

[@kenpeters4744]

Good morning, Happy to see you back. Love this content you provide.

[@colibri1]

I'm so glad you talk about the fact that abortion wasn't controversial even among Christians during the 1970s. As someone who was alive then, I remember that being the case, too, with abortion not being declared "controversial" until Reagan's presidential campaign in 1980, when it seemed strange to hear him say that. People just don't believe these days that abortion wasn't controversial in the seventies, but it really wasn't. Since anti-abortion attitudes have dominated since the 1980s, scholarship has focused on the few far-right Christian groups that were opposed to abortion during the seventies, but those groups seemed tiny at the time and really were on the fringe of society. Among general US society in the seventies, abortion really was accepted and uncontroversial, unimaginable today but true nonetheless. Really, the 1970s were unimaginably progressive by today's standards. Also, those sensationalistic "Satanic panic" TV programs you show clips of, those were enabled by Reagan's 1980s deregulation of media, which not only moved everything to the right but also resulted in really crass, flashy/gawdy programming that didn't try to inform but just tried to draw more viewers, no matter what. You really didn't have TV like that in the seventies.

[@k.a.29]

As an atheist, I find it insane how our community normalizes abortion and pretends like it's not a big deal. We protect bald eagle eggs more than we do human beings in the womb.

[@jamesaston410]

Yep, it was the likes of Jerry Feltwell et al that made the connection between abortion and Christianity. Many have believed him ever since, yet if they read the bible it isn’t even mentioned!

[@cedarwaxwing3509]

I would argue that abortion was always opposed by the Catholic Church. I grew up in the 70’s and in our religion classes and during the homily at mass we were often lectured about “the great sin” of abortion and the Church’s ongoing outrage over the Roe decision. The Roman Catholic Church wasn’t a “tiny” “far-right Christian group … on the fringe of society,” given that millions of Americans belonged to the church. I find it amusing that when these discussions come up among Evangelicals/protestants (practicing or deconstructed), Catholicism is often ignored. Many Protestants - even deconstructed ones - apparently don’t consider Catholicism to be “Christianity,” which is a little ironic considering that it was the only Christian church for almost fifteen hundred years. To be clear, I left the Church years ago via my own version of deconstruction, do not oppose abortion, was upset over Dobbs, and love Kristi’s videos. But I did want to set the record straight regarding Catholicism’s stance on abortion pre-Reagan.

[@joehorn1762]

​​@@cedarwaxwing3509if you look at most religious debates most Christians don't consider other sects of Christians real Christians. And if you have a name like catholics or anything other than certainty they claim you arent a Christian. And many catholics don't think other Christians are real Christian. Christians like to fight over who has the most believable fantasy.

[@dewardroy6531]

In the 1970’s women were dying because abortion was illegal. Most of us adults recognized that women need access to life saving medical care. Secondly: The catholic church is thoroughly corrupt and hypocritical. Pre- birth children have all the rights in the world; pre-school children are completely on their own. The church has a long and SORDID history of child abuse. How dare they tell anyone what is moral or ethical? I’ve heard many a faux pastor rant and rail against homosexuality, but it’s never the women’s volleyball coach who comes out as gay who is causing irreparable harm to the children, it’s the youth pastor in their own evangelical church.

[@adamc1966]

Yes those rock groups who got the warning label laughed all the way to the bank 😂

[@jezebelvibes]

I'm SAYIN! Maybe they really did sell their souls to the devil 🫢😈

[@Bobbyboy-i3z]

Exactly they're so stupid.They think guys like ozzy osbourne believe this crap. Ozzy is a total burnout. Movies like the exorcist that the omen. Made a fortune over their superstitious fears. Just like the people who created the ouija board. Barnum once said, There's a sucker born every minute.

[@Bobbyboy-i3z]

Exactly. They think people like Ozzy.Osbourne actually believed this crap. They're just cashing in on their superstitious fears. As do the people who make the exorcist and the omen. You're right , they're laughing all the way to the bank.

[@NeilmacRory]

It’s a good thing country music is morally superior….wait….if someone ever developed a ’cure’ for infidelity, the country music business would collapse overnight!

[@sheldonlamey7010]

The infighting distraction isn't only to distract us from Authoritarianism, it's to prevent the lower classes from working together because of shared problems. For Example the united healthcare shooter helped start the healthcare discussion on both sides of the political spectrum and both sides seem to agree.

[@jezebelvibes]

Definitely. Distract us with a culture war so we don't get wage a class war.

[@blind3dbylight]

Lee Fruigi

[@slipperybillmantishandsgay3890]

​@@jezebelvibesNo worries. I've recently developed an AntiRacism vaccine. By the 3rd shot, everyone will be Pink, Hairless and 5ft 2

[@winslow-eh5kv]

Anti-black prejudice had something to do with religion? I would have you elaborate on THAT a bit further if you could. Now I already knew that anti-gay did.(of course, who doesn't?).

[@jezebelvibes]

Check out the previous episode! (linked in description) I talk a lot about how desegregation actually sparked the rise of the Evangelical right in the mid century. It's fascinating stuff.

[@Dunlop-hg2ql]

But most of the black population in this country is Christian too (Baptist specifically).

[@jezebelvibes]

Yes but not christian nationalist. A very big difference.

[@stevecagle2317]

Great video and analysis of the playbook used by authoritarians, both religious and political. Fear is one of their greatest tools along with division, lies, misinformation, and manipulation. I'm older than you (1960) and was a teen in the 70s when much of this Christian dominionism was beginning. I don't remember much about it as Watergate and Vietnam were the big stories. Still, I can remember reading Hal Lyndsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth" about the final days, Armageddon, and Christ's return and my first foray into Evangelical Christianity. That ended when I set my emotional response to it aside and switched on the skeptical, questioning, side from my scientific education, but not until after I had thoroughly studied the Bible. I am pleased you concluded with your acknowledgement of how fear, division, misdirection and manipulation is being used by the current crop of evangelical/conservative/fundamentalist Christians in conjunction with politicians and our new would be authoritarian POTUS. The next 4 years will determine which direction we as a nation go. I'm afraid I'm not optimistic.

[@TheTeaLeavesKnow]

Yes. Who is fighting who? Some cannot see the lies, distraction, propaganda and (some) make excuses for those who are controlling everything as we know it/see it. I do not let anyone talk 'christianity' to me. Also, I do not accept the 'news' that is pushed in our faces. Be alert, people. Question everything you see/hear today. ❤

[@Bobbyboy-i3z]

I worked with a guy that said secret societies are in control. Like the Freemasons. He said they control everything, money, religion, politics. Political parties are just experiments to them. I don't know beginning to make sense.

[@marcomoreno6748]

​@@Bobbyboy-i3z seriously? It's obviously true, but it's out in the open. CEOs, corporations, capitalism.

[@Bobbyboy-i3z]

​@marcomoreno6748 They said kennedy was shot by the freemasons because was messing with our monetary system. He wanted to put us back on the gold standard. That Pyramid on the dollar bill is the Freemasons. George washington was a freemason. As were forty percent of the people who signed the constitution. I don't know I think God is green and that's him on the back of the dollar bill.

[@Masterpirate1]

Who's k______ who? Question _everything_ . . . _Cough, cough_ . . . New Orleans, Magdeburg, Waukesha, Paris, Toronto, NYC, Edmonton, Barcelona, Stockholm, Nice . . . _cough cough_

[@BidenWearsTrumpsCrappyDiapers]

You can thank Joseph McCarthy for all the billionaires that now run the United States.

[@mindless_ecstasy]

Thanks!

[@jezebelvibes]

Thank you so much for the support!

[@gregoryminton]

Great video, Kristi. I’m really digging this series. The last five minutes or so of this video truly brought a smile to my face. It’s like; of course things can’t actually get better. That doesn’t follow the narrative of moral decay!

[@rsnsol2490]

I was born in 71, grew up in all of this. it still affects me, how deeply we were programmed. these ideologies should be taken very seriously. these people can easily become a christian version of jihadist .

[@kirstencorby8465]

I appreciate you doing this. People need to know.

[@stefanertelt2583]

Thanks for Your diligent research. As a european, many of those developments are really hard to understand. Another universe over here. This series helps me to understand those US-centered concerns a lot better. Please continue Your work :)

[@jezebelvibes]

Thanks so much for the support and encouragement!

[@norwalltino]

Great, you're a Genius!

[@kelleyhatlee1562]

Kristi, thank you so much for your Bible deconstruction conversations and also for shedding light on how the Bible and the church are affecting our culture and politics. I appreciate what you’re doing. Keep up the good work!

[@jezebelvibes]

Thank you so much for the encouragement!

[@pacificbob24]

Kristi, you are brilliant. I remember Bob Larson's radio show when he would cast demons out of everyone.

[@adamc1966]

That guy was a total grifter 😅

[@CJ-nf5jd]

Thank you. That was clear and informative. You nailed it.

[@jerryyeager1307]

Thank you Kristi Burke. I couldn't agree more. Through the years I have been to many churches. It's all like lets start over with the same idea's and motives. I still strongly believe, but Religion gets in the way. You covered a lot of ground.

[@threadbearr8866]

I've been listening to audiobooks at work and I think two would interest you, The Age of Grievance and American fascism: How the GOP is subverting democracy by Brynn Tannehill. Thank you for this series. 😊

[@JanaWestMusic]

Thank you Kristi, for connecting the dots! I was raised within this culture and thought I might be going crazy when I started realizing I could not keep believing this. Listening to you think through this out loud is very helpful. Keep up the good work!

[@rochelebierhalspereira7106]

Great video as usual! The bit about the guy who didn't follow the ideas in his private life reminded me of the Commander in The Handmaid's tale whose house was totally secular on the inside, full of art as he listened to secular music and drank wine. His involment with the extemist cult was to the extent that he thought he could use them as a viral vector to create a necessary change in the world. One of the things that I wonder about the most is which of the people who belong to the same christian cult I grew up in were (are) sincere, and which are fully aware of the manipulation.

[@gracekinsley3142]

really loving this series. well researched and well presented

[@helenr4300]

Couple of interesting reflections - 1. The US has birthed so many Christian rooted but not (or less) accepted as 'Christian' religious groups I would suggest more than any other nation; especially over 1800s. (Millerites leading to Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses; Joseph Smith and the Mormons (LDS); Christian Science (Mary Baker Eddy); Christadelphians; Christian Spiritualism...) The US churches also embraced Biblical literalism (a reaction to German Biblical Scholarship) and Rapture/End times (though Rapture theology came from an Anglo Irish preacher and founder of the Exclusive Brethren) more than any other parts of the world. My theory is that in US there was so much fluidity in belief - settlers working out faith in a very different contexts; and also heading west people were ahead of structured society and it was easy to emerge as a preacher with a message distinct from the established denominations in the east coast or back in the European cultures, with no one to decry their messages. Even today there is a strong element of Bible Belt churches and beyond being set up from scratch by a self appointed pastor (and then passed down to sons like a dynasty) as fully independent. Whilst this can exist in UK they are only a minority and mostly from US mid 20th century influence. So I think the historical setting gave voice to the 'independent' religion; and seeing the main line denominations as negative. Echoing the independence and self sufficiency culture of people creating their own communities in places new to them, that is part of the American psyche. 2. The evangelical right have long defined themselves as what they are against; what they are defending people from. But that shifts especially when the culture changes and maybe the old battles are not acceptable. So the mid 1800s literalism was a reaction against scholars asking questions about the dating and authorship of parts of the Bible. It was a novel theology (even early church fathers had multiple ideas about the meaning vs history of creation etc) and one that increasing painted itself into corners. So when Darwin published a couple of decades later the science was seen as a direct attack on faith (unnecessarily) and something to be preached against and fought. It could not be allowed as an idea in schools in case it weakened faith - enter Scopes Monkey Trial. Then it was desegregation - in the slavery areas (as in apartheid South Africa) the Bible had been used for generations to justify the white supremacy. Being free was one thing - but a black marrying your daughter! The reaction to Brown vs Board of Education was much stronger than Roe vs Wade. And lots of churches started setting up their own private schools, for white christian children. Even higher education where students dating was policed and even when Liberty university was forced to accept non white students inter racial dating was banned. Then there was the Reds under the Bed fear of communism - McCarthyism etc. And the religious right's paranoia about anything hinting as socialism triggers this deep reaction. We saw it in the election rallies - anything that helps others = socialism = communism = godlessness. That socialism is a part of capitalism; that the communist nation powers were less about people having rights and provision and more about absolute control and totalitarian regimes.... doesn't matter, anything centre politics or mildly left is 'raging Markism' to be hated and condemned. (for the record I don't think living communally can work above a certain number of individuals and requires all of them to actively choose and believe in it - nothing forced). When defending segregation became untenable (at least publically) then it became abortion as a single issue (despite even the south baptist convention being okay with it). Instead of being a catholic (so not really christian ) issue it became number one issue. Then there were those pesky gays - but lets claim AIDS as a judgement on them. And as abortions weren't going anywhere the fear of the Godless - worse satanists - and the toxicity of 'recovered' (induced?) memories gave fuel to the religious although the satanic panic was wider than that, they held it longer. And so the new century - still anti communism; still anti abortion and women's rights; still dabbling in satanic panic (our political opponents are demonic) ; and anti gay with the new added 'trans panic'. And what some hold but not publicly admit to - racial segregation. All of these are juggled by the religious right in their teaching and rhetoric.

[@RasheedGazzi]

To put everything you said plainly. " Wyt folks goes from one terrible idea to another"~ My father.

[@sillymanblues]

I took a Political Science course back in college. My professor said to the class, many years ago, that the first thing we need to understand in politics is:"Give me a devil to beat!" Hence the fear mongering and the many fears bestowed upon vulnerable/gullible minds. Taking people for their word these days won't cut it anymore. Factcheck it. The old saying that if you tell a lie over and over again, it slowly has a way of becoming the truth to quite a few people. I like the way you connected the dots and you failed to mention Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, etc., but also Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Another segment, perhaps. And where did you find that McCarthy clip!? Now there's the devil, figuratively speaking, fabricating a devil. All of it makes sense. Thank you for doing your research.🕊🕊

[@davidronin1536]

Thank you, This series has been really good.

[@JohnSparcino]

Excellent commentary Kristi. I've not heard anyone else talk about these things.

[@docforest4851]

Thank you Kristie. As a Canadian, we now are faced with reasoning with a powerful neighborhood child, and it’s scary. It’s becoming harder to listen to Americans after you elected a narcissistic psychopath for a second term. I know this is not all Americans…but 81% of evangelicals did. There’s a definite problem when a belief structure stops your ability to critically think.

[@Masterpirate1]

Now Mr. New York is paying his Baptist followers back by appointing Vivek Ramaswamy (Gov Bureaucracy). . .Harmeet Dhillon (Civil Rights) ... Kash Patel (FBI) ...Tulsi Gabbard (National Intelligence) ... Sriram Krishnan (AI Advisor) . . . and opening the H-1B floodgates.

[@antilaw9911]

And you Canadians voted Trudeau a Marxist dictator. Nice

[@4ntrsts]

That was so well done, Kristy. I've lived those things, saw them all come to be and continue. Have been part of -read books by some. You enlightened me even more than I'd come to be. I thank you for that.

[@jezebelvibes]

I love hearing that! So glad to know you got something out of this 😊

[@macman1138]

Pray??? Might as well write a letter to Santa Claus for all it would do, 😂

[@royhruska2731]

Santa is more believable

[@Bobbyboy-i3z]

Well, if you don't believe in Santa the worst that can happen to you is a lump of coal. You don't believe in Jesus you get to go to hell forever. I don't know. I think I'll put my trust in santa.

[@PolymorphicPenguin]

I was praying to God about my jury duty back in November and the entire pool of potential jurors ended up being dismissed when I got to court. Might just be a coincidence but I credit God with getting me out of being on a jury. (I'm really indecisive and I would really have difficulty deciding guilty or not guilty.)

[@Bobbyboy-i3z]

@PolymorphicPenguin Now that's a real responsible attitude to take. Nobody wants jury duty. God got you out of jury duty.He's just as irresponsible As you are. If you were so worried about making the right decision why didn't you ask god? That would have been the right move. Instead of getting you out of dirty duty.

[@PolymorphicPenguin]

@@Bobbyboy-i3z You're right, I should have just asked God to help me know whether the person was innocent or guilty. Nevertheless, I'm thankful that everything worked out.

[@kenhoover1639]

This was a great video! I learned so much today! Thanks Kristi!

[@pixelgoat7317]

This video really connected the dots when it came to why there were so many f***ing 'exorcism/occult' movies in those years.

[@AKnightWhoSaysNi]

Excellent! ❤

[@mleary001]

First-rate, very informative episode. You are a very effective teacher!

[@MarkMiller-gt5tu]

We're all living in the moment. No faith or belief required.😊

[@xxsnow_angelxx3953]

Cultural wars were always a destruction. But its nice to know the proper origin thanks

[@pdrivest57]

Thanks for this next segment Kristi. I've renewed my membership after hearing from you in Bsky that would would be posting more content here. Thanks!

[@jezebelvibes]

Thanks so much for the support! I got a little behind on life but I'm working to getting back to regular posting :)

[@rockylowery1364]

They understand fear more than love; that's obvious. Thanks for finally pointing that out, Ms. Burke. All we need is Love.

[@eottoe2001]

Gary North was the one who came up with Y2K and it was the first real effort to line up evangelicals in fear organizing through media.

[@duanethompson8770]

Great video! Lies are so powerful. It has been sad for me to see the rise of powerful people who lie so much in our country.

[@richardb1949]

Amazing explanation of our predicament.

[@harrybrooks8514]

Three words: Chicken Little mentality, of course you could use another three words- Henny Penny mentality. Your commentary is stark and yet refreshing. Judging from your youthful appearance, you couldn’t have lived through this stuff, so kudos to you and your scholarship. You’ve inspired this 68-year-old bloke who first became involved in right-wing Christianity at age 18. Life’s experiences and relationships certainly have a profound impact on how we view the world

[@israelvazquez2592]

Go girl, Go Sister

[@SnuffHoover]

Always enjoy your videos and this is yet another good one. Thank you!

[@bennorman1093]

Thanks for the video.

[@YaoEspirito]

Very clear-headed and articulate.

[@sun1one1]

The irony with the fear of communism is that the USSR was never successful in eliminating religion. They gave up eventually.

[@EclecticianG]

That was brilliant!

[@patrickkirby7612]

Yaaaaay!!!

[@jezebelvibes]

😊💙

[@williambock1821]

I wish people like Rush-doomy would just go meet Jesus if they’re that in love with him. And goddamn I love your hair.

[@philipdubuque9596]

Kristi, I can't think of a single thing I would add to this presentation. You've gone way beyond the basics of the cynical rise of pseudoreligious fear mongering by the evangelical Christian right. And "Satanic Panic"? If there isn't already a rock band with that name... I might have to start one, Well done!

[@jasompinard4576]

I love this history you're giving. Everyone should know this history. Thank you for giving it. There's a song called 'moral majority' by the band 'The Dead Kennedys' you've insipried me to go listen to it.

[@billycalifornia1112]

It’s not really Fringe it’s more Christianity is just being what it’s always been about Power and Political Domination

[@jezebelvibes]

Eh, i grew up in a very fundamentalist church and didn't know anyone advocating for the death penalty for lying 😅

[@robertchambers5630]

I was a teenager playing Dungeons and Dragons before I became a christian and while I was in the faith. I remember watching a video during a Wednesday night youth service where they focused on "evil in today's society" and it covered D&D. I can assure you, no animal sacrifices took place in our games. Just the regular sacrifice of Doritos with bean dip and a ton of soda. So yeah, the brief discussion on D&D hit home with me. Thank you again for your video! I'm really enjoying the series. Keep up the great and wonderful work! -Signed One of the many former christians following along 🙂

[@EllieM_Travels]

Create a problem, blame others, fight the problem by fighting the others. Fanatical fear based religion is one of most manipulative, destructive forces in this physical experience.

[@eq2092]

I had a now former friend tell me that the Harlem Renaissance was anti-american and therefore communist. By extension all Black cultural expression was also not "American". He has started listening to Nationalist like Doug Wilson.

[@ericshank3061]

People need to see the real war is rich vs poor.

[@YLLPal]

I think this content is brilliant! I would like to note that this process, especially distraction by culture war, is a glibal process. Here in Australia, the ruling class di the exact same thing, sometimes with digferent topics, but the methods and purpose are the same; distraction and blinding from what the ruling class is doing to the working class.

[@Howie-f3z]

Get 'em, Kristi! Get 'em!

[@stevesmachineempire]

Great work, Kristi. Hard to believe you're in Floriduh of all places.

[@DM-zq8qy]

There are many “sane” people in the ☀️ state. 😂

[@stevesmachineempire]

@@DM-zq8qy oh, that's good to hear.

[@Masterpirate1]

@@DM-zq8qy Namely in the central and southern parts.

[@DM-zq8qy]

@@Masterpirate1 Yes!

[@mazen1010]

Everything in this life is temporary, and worse, it goes in cycles. What if the struggle was made by design? Each person at every generation must struggle to take the permanent defining identity. To be significant at the next eternal life requires deep experiences, many defining moments and stories. The law itself is not the main issue. The main issue is the harsh path to find the truth and the harsher to stay on it. With the many failures and disappointments, emerging to other life as a vector who never thought that he/she can ever make it, this makes all the meaning.

[@Arlen.Kundert]

Great video! By the way, everyone should read Carl Sagan’s book “The Demon Haunted World”

[@JubeiKibagamiFez]

9 01..... I guess they didn't realize that this already happened during the roman empire adopting christianity all the way to the late 1700's. Constantine was emperor around 300 AD. It took hundreds of years to implement the christian patriarchy that we know today..... That led to three crusades that led to endless bloodshed and oppression.

[@jezebelvibes]

I don't think history took a priority over biased magical thinking for some 😆🥴

[@Masterpirate1]

The Western Crusades sought to liberate the Levant from the Meccan occupiers, like the US, British, Canadian allies liberated Europe from N_____ occupiers during WWII.

[@ronwright6870]

This is good stuff Kristi. But, sadly, the people who need to hear it will not listen to it. This fear thing is hard to deal with.

[@thehaunted1]

Great video!

[@wattsizname]

Yes I remember a lot of this stuff from back in the early 1980s here in Britain, especially the Satanic panic that revolved around rock music. I was a Christian drummer in various rock bands and I remember seeing Iron Maiden in their early years just before they released the Number of the Beast!! I also remember seeing the Christian bands Petra and WhiteHeart, and also Stryper, as they Rocked against the darkness!!🎶😎🎸 love ya Kristi❤

[@randybaker6042]

Great info Kristi. Everyone needs to read John Barry's Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul. Then everyone would understand where it all comes from and how we have reached this point.

[@TheMythriel]

Hey, there you are! I was just looking yesterday thinking youtube had tried to not suggest your videos or something

[@UrbaNSpiel]

Great

[@rebeccagibson9644]

It's about gaining class consciousness over culture war infighting

[@WasOne2]

I'm not only old enough to remember these people, I knew several of them - Fawell, LaHaye, Gothard. I knew Bill Gothard when I was a teen. I thought he was creepy then. I moved into the Fundamentalist Baptist movement, which was a lot less political but just as racist. Glad I got out with my sanity.

[@1234567mrbob]

Interesting you talk about Frances Shaffer. I listen to podcasts by his son Frank, who turned his back on the movement and sounds alarm bells about the dangers of what these people are doing. "Pro life" is only the tip of the iceberg, it doesn't end there. I recommend Frank Shaffer to anyone who wants to learn more about this movement.

[@StevenGentry-c2v]

Hello Kristi 👋👋😊😊

[@ballsymcfee9882]

I caught a Kristi video within the first 10 minutes?! There must truly be a gaaawd! ... Naaaah. LOL I do find myself fortunate tho. You're my favorite atheist advocate, fr. Good work. Keep it going! You're inspiring me to start a channel too, and make content to support those going through deconstruction. It was a terrifying time in my life that I felt like I couldn't say a single word to anyone about it. I was a teenager and on top of the usual loneliness teens go through, I felt like I was even further on the outside looking in. I had no help, nowhere to turn to, and no-one I could talk to about the questions I had. I asked a few to my parents at 11 and 12, and after the third time, they brought me before the whole congregation to "expel the demons of doubt". I don't want anyone to have to go through what I did. What do you think?

[@justrosy5]

Things I was told by Seventh-day Adventist adults when I was growing up in their religion: 1. "In the world, not of it." 2. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, so you need to be baptized or you can't go to heaven. You were born a sinner because Adam and Eve sinned, and it's all Eve's fault. That's why periods hurt." (Never mind that if your periods hurt, it actually does mean you need to have a full exam, not only a pap-smear.) 3. "Don't lose your crown!" 4. "Memorize these verses. Honor your parents and grandparents. Do what we tell you or you're going to hell. God doesn't love you if you don't do what we tell you to do." 5. "Make fishers of men. Tell all your friends about Jesus. Invite them to xyz kid-activity." 6. "Good SDAs don't listen to rock 'n roll. They don't date, they 'court.' They don't hold hands, etc. They don't do this, they don't do that..." 7. "Jesus only died for believers" and "Believing isn't a 'good work'. Good works are things you do." and "Belief is a choice." 8. "You don't need evidence, you need faith." (Canned answer if I ever heard one.) Things I wasn't told, but should have been: 1. The Hebrew names for "God" as found in the Old Testament are the same names of the gods of the Canaanites. 2. The Mesopotamian gods all had the same stories as Jesus, Mary, Joseph, etc, as well as Noah, before the time when Israel left Babylon. 3. The Essenes made Jesus up, and here's their history and why they did that... 4. The original Hebrew language is rooted in Egyptian hieroglyphs. 5. Israel is a secular state that uses a religion (which is really an amalgamation of various elements from local ancient religions) as their excuse to attack and slaughter everyone around them, and the United States is paying them to do that. This isn't out of caring about Israel, but rather, it's about murdering the civilian populations controlled by the governments in the Middle East which the US sees as enemies with oil fields that the US wants. It's all political. None of the religious stuff, on any side of this, is real. That's what tax dollars are being spent on: oil over human lives. 6. We don't love you any more than we love those people: we just want 10% or more of your paychecks for the rest of your life, while we lie to you, and get others to lie to you too, about how that money is actually going to be used. 7. We're just poning you. 8. When we realize we can't use you anymore, we'll convince you that you're so evil and unwantable and unlovable that you'll just off yourself so we don't have to go to prison for offing you ourselves. I don't care that it's "not just the SDAs" who do these things. They claim to have "the truth" and "the moral high ground" and and and? Then they can stop doing all these things. They lost my respect decades ago. As the saying goes, "I do not remember" them "fondly."

[@Jojojump3268]

Great job explaining the abortion issue and its impact.

[@mirandahotspring4019]

You have to ask why people who claim god's law says "Thou shalt not kill" want the death penalty.

[@Masterpirate1]

That's only one passage . . . *Matthew 5:17* "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to *FULFIL* them." *Hosea 13.16* "The people of Samaria must bear their guilt because they have rebelled against God. They will fall by the SWORD; their little ones will be d_shed to the ground; their pregnant women r_______ open." *Isaiah 13:15-16* "Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword. Their infants will be d*shed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives r_____." *Isaiah 14:21* "Let the Offspring of the wicked never be mentioned again. Prepare a place to slau_______ his children for the sins of their ancestors. They are not to rise to inherit the land and cover the Earth with their cities." *1 Samuel 15:3* "Now go attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them do not spare them put to d______ men and women children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." *Jeremiah 11:22* "Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says, "I will punish them: their young men will d_____ by the sword; their sons and daughters by famine.'" *Exodus 22:20* "Whoever sacrifices to any God other than the Lord must be destroyed - k____ those who don't worship the same God as you."

[@andriebester]

Got me thinking of the book by Rebecca Brown, "He came to set the Captives free". It came out around the time of the satanic panic. Brown probably had a good ride while the wave lasted.

[@MarkMiller-gt5tu]

Imagine meeting someone "IN PERSON" for the first time, only to be REJECTED by that person because you didn't have "faith" they existed previously. This is the Christian idea of God. 🤔 🤔 🤣 🤣 😜!! I CAN'T.

[@Peter_Scheen]

Frightening to see that a man as Trump is reelected. How many Americans can vote against what is best for them by simple fearmongering.

[@mayalaurenboyd]

Could you make a video on why it’s mostly non-white Christians being persecuted? And then in America, it’s non-white Christians being discriminated against and now the rollback of the 1965 civil rights movement? I’d just like to hear from someone that doesn’t have my skin color…because POC know why lol

[@RasheedGazzi]

That's something they really don't want to talk about.

[@rhondasmith3041]

We used to say that the Moral Majority was neither😂

[@Sirandar99]

Fear and aggressive imagery "invade, arny, crusade, citadel"

[@areuaware6842]

You can not truly "deconstruct" Christianity without first deconstructing the god of Abraham.

[@trappedinamerica7740]

Actually you can and people have. You do however run into inconsistent characterization for God as it seems the various writers didn’t care for consistency

[@areuaware6842]

@@trappedinamerica7740 , No you can't. The god of Abraham is evil and the source of all evil on Earth.

[@joyfichtner2581]

Kristi i just want to say your tiktok videos helped me deconstruct after being indoctrinated for the first 25 years of my life and I love that you’re still out here bringing logic and empathy to these topics 🫶🏻

[@jezebelvibes]

That makes me so happy 🥰 thank you for sharing and for being here.

[@edwardtalbot5556]

TAX RELIGION!!!

[@areuaware6842]

Government and religion are one, can the government tax itself?

[@edwardtalbot5556]

@areuaware6842 ...No, the govt. And religion are not one...they're both businesses except one business doesn't take from the other business. And seeing as how religion operates like Wal-Mart or Target..all churches should pay taxes

[@areuaware6842]

@@edwardtalbot5556 , The government and religion are one, that is why the US capital building is built in the form of a church and they pray before every session of Congress, their money says "In God We Trust". Wake up.

[@t0dd000]

All religions were fringe at one point in time. And then eventually, if enough people join them, their leaders lose their grip on the followers and the religion becomes somewhat tamed. We also grow numb to practices, ridiculous storylines, and even the abuses over time as they become more mainstream.