Religion

LostOne4Ever

(9,288 posts) Tue Jun 16, 2015, 11:05 PM Jun 2015

Here Are 3 Examples of Christian Privilege – And How You Can Challenge It

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In the United States, as in many places, Christianity has long been seen as the default.

From the Thanksgiving narrative of the persecuted Christian pilgrims finding refuge in the United States, to the unquestioned holiday closings for Christmas and Easter, to the simple fact that a Christian God is regularly invoked everywhere from the National Anthem to citizenship tests, Christianity is prevalent.

As a result, Christians – whether they’re observant or not – benefit from privilege in a similar ways that people of other dominant groups do.

They don’t have to constantly defend their identities, nor are they expected to fight for their rights to practice their religion. Similarly, they can enjoy social mobility and expect to live free from violence and discrimination directed at them as a result of their faith.

And despite the fact that fewer and fewer people are calling themselves Christians, 71% of Americans still identify as members of this religion. That’s a pretty big percent of the population, so it isn’t really surprising that being Christian is often seen as the norm.

I know a little bit about this. Though as a white, middle class, cisgender woman, partnered with a man, I have definitely benefited from various forms of privilege, as a Jewish person, I have been made an outsider by the Christian privilege front.

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Here Are 3 Examples of Christian Privilege – And How You Can Challenge It (Original Post) LostOne4Ever Jun 2015 OP

Christian privilege gas been pervasive since late 1800s. Panich52 Jun 2015 #1

Good read, especially this part: beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #2

Ah, Modem Butterfly... trotsky Jun 2015 #3

Maybe 10 years? beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #4

That's why your Hello Cthulhu still makes me smile. trotsky Jun 2015 #5

Panich52

(5,829 posts)

1. Christian privilege gas been pervasive since late 1800s.

Reply to LostOne4Ever (Original post)

Tue Jun 16, 2015, 11:52 PM

Jun 2015

Crackdowns in reproductive rights to 'blue laws' keeping businesses from opening on Sunday (latter finally overturned in 1970s).

Just as we were finally breaking their grasp on the national character, St Ronnie allies with the radicals and a new, fully theocratic bulldozer starts plowing its way through long-fought for rights.

With their juggernaut of political allies, even the blatant unconstitutional, wholly religiously-based addition of 'under God' in the pledge and changing the inclusive motto 'e pluribus unum' into the divisive 'In God we trust' was allowed to stand for so long that courts accept them as legitimate due to tradition.

The 2016 field of GOP candidates is nothing more than a host of theocratic tyrants. And, worst of all, the supposed Christianity they bow down to bears virtually no relation to what Jesus taught.

The Second Coming of the Dark Ages is nigh. Keep those liberty torches handy. Be ready to hold them high.

beam me up scottie

(57,349 posts)

2. Good read, especially this part:

Reply to LostOne4Ever (Original post)

Wed Jun 17, 2015, 01:55 AM

Jun 2015

Checking Privilege

Many mainstream Christians, even those who aren’t not particularly religious, don’t realize the impact of the privilege they enjoy.

But if you identify as Christian and are concerned about this issue there are some things you can do to dismantle it.

You can make an effort to learn about other religions and acquaint yourself with what it means to be an atheist or non-religiously affiliated.

Plus, it never hurts to check your defense mechanisms.

Challenging privilege is not an attack on your beliefs. It’s just making space for other views and perspective.

Talking about privilege of any sort makes a lot of people uncomfortable, but discomfort is not a good enough reason to pretend that privilege doesn’t exist, and denying of its power sure won’t dismantle it.

Anyone else here remember Modem Butterfly's atheist challenge? She suggested that people wear an atheist t-shirt when they're out and about on the weekend and report back with the reactions they get from people.

The reaction she got from some theists just for suggesting it was a lesson in privilege.