from Joanna Fontaine Crawford

Minister at Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church

This morning I preached about how it probably is no surprise that fundamentalist Christians attempt to "persuade" through fear, because of the terror-filled fear that they live under -- that there is a supreme being that knows them better than they know themselves and will cast them into eternal torture if they do not believe a narrow and rigid set of beliefs.

I forgot to mention what is perhaps the worst part of this - that they are taught this being loves them, and they must love it. But Unitarian William Ellery Channing said it best, back in 1819:

"Now, we object to the systems of religion, which prevail among us, that they are adverse, in a greater or less degree, to these purifying, comforting, and honorable views of God; that they take from us our Father in heaven, and substitute for him a being, whom we cannot love if we would, and whom we ought not to love if we could."

To not call out this terrible theology because it is "rude" to do so ... well, being "silent and polite" allows Christian nationalism to thrive. And it dishonors our Unitarian and Universalist ancestors.