apostatement

[apostatement]

Gender Nonconforming Jesus: A look at art history. CW: religion, transphobia, artistic nudity, depictions of open wounds (Long post)

[apostatement]

there’s something uniquely fucked up about the way christianity actively encourages martyrdom.

both judaism and islam do not encourage their followers to be honest about being a member of the faith if it puts their lives at risk. the latter religion even has a word for it— taqiyyah.

the christian view on martyrdom claims that followers cannot “actively seek out” dying for the faith. but, because of the rewards christianity promises to martyrs (i.e. guaranteed access to literal heaven) there is always a subliminal push towards getting yourself killed.

not to mention, it’s a core tenet of christianity to not deny christ, even if you’re at risk of harm (peter denying christ three times the night before the crucifixion, etc.)

the damage these teachings can cause vary due to circumstance. in countries like the united states, it means children being told they need to say “yes” if a shooter puts a gun to their head and asks them “are you christian?”. in countries like libya, it means oppressed people being pushed to put their lives on the line because they feel like they’re betraying the faith otherwise.

at it’s worst, christian martyrdom encourages groups of people—living under forces that are actively oppressing them— to sacrifice their lives to make a point. if they don’t, they risk the salvation of their souls.

#i used to like a band called flyleaf #but then I heard that song about the she said yes lie #and even when I was full morm I was like #disgusted #because that is a real fucking girl #I didn’t even know it was a lie yet just #a rock song glorifying her death is so fucking ghoulish

[apostatement]

I'm so serious rn, one day you will realize that today is conference, but you don't have to watch it, you don't have to write a report about it, you don't have to talk to your family about your "favorite" part at dinner/FHE/etc, so you just sit there, feeling kinda "???!" about it before you decide to go do something enjoyable with your time.

Or you'll just go "oh, is that today?" and then get back to what you were doing."

Sometimes, you will have Feelings about it, even though you were fine last time. That's okay, too. Recovery isn't linear.

One day, you'll realize it's been A While since you thought about it.

[apostatement]

"sometimes, i thought my father was a God. i loved him that much."

— Leila Chattis, "Muslim Girlhood"

ocean vuong, "someday i'll love" / sam fender, "seventeen going under" / the front bottoms, "father" / satanay, tumblr / clementine von radics / agustín gómez-arcos, "the carnivorous lamb" / ?

[apostatement]

Nobody's missionaries hustle like the Pentecostals, you gotta hand it to them.

[apostatement]

[apostatement]

you ever feel like you were born with something rotten inside you and if people get close enough they’re gonna find out

[apostatement]

What a fun and whimsical show! I sure do hope nothing bad happens-

[apostatement]

[apostatement]

[apostatement]

Growing up in the church as a queer kid is so uniquely traumatizing. You’re taught that queer people go to hell before you even know that you are queer. You’re taught to hate queer people before you know you’re one of them. So when you first realize you like people of the same sex, you don’t get butterflies in your stomach when you see your crush, you feel sick to your stomach. You’ve hated queer people all your life, so it’s only natural to hate yourself too. No amount of prayer will make you straight, but of course you don’t know that then. And you make yourself miserable for the sake of god and call your life a sacrifice and your only duty to be a martyr and die to yourself and your sinful desires until you’re tired of being miserable. Until you figure out that the hell you’re so scared of is the place you are right now. I’m not gonna put myself through hell to get to heaven. I’m done being miserable.

[apostatement]

People who hate the south because they think that it's just full of racist white hicks are literally like my least favorite people on the planet. Wdym you think the part of the USA most directly influenced and shaped by black culture and experiences is just only super racist and white. Have you ever been to SEATTLE

#I have had to unlearn this #the south is great!

[apostatement]

"it's not god who was bad to you, it's just the church that was mean. Therefore you should still believe. checkmate!" bro. that is still a good enough reason to leave. literally if that's the only reason (though unlikely) it's good enough.

P.S. a believer will never think your reasons are good enough so don't try to prove it to them.

[apostatement]

Hey you can find me at https://bsky.app/profile/bytholwyrdd.bsky.social

I’m a lot more personal on there but I would miss you all if I decide to ditch tumblr. Let me know if you’re on bsky!

#exmo #exmormon

[apostatement]

why is religious Christmas imagery all so joyful and pleasant? where is the inherent horror of the birth of Christ? A mother is handed her newborn child, wailing and innocent. Her hands come away sticky. Red. Simply by giving her son life she has already killed him. He is doomed from the beginning. Her love will not save him from suffering. Because the thing cradled in her arms is not a baby, it is a sacrifice: born amongst the other bleating animals whose blood will one day be spilled in the name of what demands it. the night is silent with anticipation. Mary, did you know? That your womb was also a grave?

[apostatement]

reading transmasc, transfem, & other trans experiences with transphobia & lateral violence in queer spaces it's clear that generally there is a lot in common. being left out of conversations, not having any resources aimed at your trans group, being gatekept from safe spaces for being perceived as "too male/masculine," being ignored when talking about issues that affect your trans group, losing support networks after coming out/transitioning, being ignored or harassed after pointing out community problems. i have heard the exact same raw wounds from all sides.

whenever we insist that any of this is universally unique to one trans group, that others never experience this & "don't know what it's like," we contribute to the very thing we suffer from. no amount of suffering absolves us from causing severe harm.

[apostatement]

Nex Benedict's death wasn't just for being transgender, it was for being native too. 2 Spirits are revered in many native cultures and it is a native-specific identity. This wasn't just a hate crime against trans & NB individuals, this was also a hate crime against Natives of Turtle Island.

You cannot separate Nex's trans identity from their native identity - this is a case of MMIWG2S (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirits).

Native children being killed at school is nothing new, so it's equally important to talk about Nex's native identity and being intersectional, this is a devastating tragedy for indigenous people, the queer community & especially those of us who are both indigenous and queer.

May Nex rest in peace 🪶