Fuck Your God and Fuck Your Christianity

It’s my own fault really. I shouldn’t be following people on social media who have an opposite point of view. I should stay in my echo chamber and reinforce my bias. What did I think would happen following a person called InfiDale?

My Twitter feed has the occasional right-winger and plenty of atheists. As a Jew, it’s probably not a good idea to follow people who hate religion and poke fun at G-d. I never debate them. It’s pointless convincing people G-d exists and that’s okay. Religion isn’t for everyone. I understand their arguments and it really boils down to faith. I don’t declare to the world my Judaism because the world has a life-long hatred for Jews.

I don’t consider myself political either. I have opinions and speak out and write the occasional article or two. But I’m not politically active. Neither am I religious. Believing in G-d doesn’t make me an orthodox Jew. I was raised Jewish and love the culture but I’m not worshipping in the synagogue every week.

I’m against slavery. I can’t imagine anyone would dispute that slavery was and is bad. I don’t know much about the slave trade. I don’t live in the US or studied US history to fully comprehend the impact of the slave trade upon society. This doesn’t make me stupid or ignorant. I don’t consider myself an ally. I will stand up against racism and call out racists but I’m not motivated enough to join protests and speak out against systemic racism. Living in New Zealand, there is a racial divide between the indigenous culture (Maori) and the colonizers (Pakeha), but again, it has very little impact on my life.

What I care most about is antisemitism. I will fight for equality. I will stand up against people abusing Jewish people. You can be an atheist without being an arsehole.

Given my adoption of the name Reuben Salsa, it isn’t obvious that I am a Jew or my affiliation to Jewish organizations. And so it should be. Why should my background prevent me from speaking against anti-abortion and pro-life crusaders? Or against censorship and intolerance?

On Twitter, InfiDale asks a question. It’s what people do on Twitter. They ask questions and expect their followers to reinforce their bias. Occasionally they will sucker an innocent person into their sphere who has the opposite view. From here, it quickly escalates into bullying and mob rule.

InfiDale’s question appeared harmless enough. I wasn’t aware of his background and certainly took the question at face value rather than it being a rhetorical question playing to his audience.

G-d has control but chooses not to intervene. That’s my take. I don’t know if G-d has a plan. I’m not G-d or a prophet so I can’t talk for G-d. I responded in a fun way and didn’t think much of it.

I didn’t feel this needed explaining or justifying. I’m open to debate and couldn’t see where I may have offended anybody.

Naturally, any conversation with atheists will end in ridicule on social media. It didn’t take long for the mob to answer back and jump on my every word. Everything I replied was pulled out of context. Maybe it was the way I replied that angered them. Hardcore atheists on social media love nothing more than destroying religious people.

I stuck by my guns. The original point concerned free will. Regardless of G-d’s actions, people have free will. I firmly believe that. The Torah teaches this lesson. People can turn their life around, become good and change only because they have autonomy over their lives.

“G‑d rewards those who listen to His will and help perfect His world; He chastises those who disobey and destroy it. The choice to do one or the other is clearly in our hands. “Behold,” G‑d says, “I have placed before you good and evil, life and death. Choose life!”” Source Chabad.org

And then came the trigger point. Slavery.

The very mention of slavery set InfiDale off. He had turned into an angry keyboard warrior no longer listening to reason. Read my words carefully. At what point am I in favor of slavery? Again, let me reiterate the initial question. Do we have free will? It doesn’t matter how G-d chooses to react, do we have the free will to prevent such an action?

But no. InfiDale was no longer listening. Am I really white-washing slavery? And like any good bully, InfiDale wants the conversation to end. He wants to shut me down. He wants control over the narrative. He now believes I’m in favor of slave trading and a hardcore, right-wing, Christian fanatic whose ancestors took part in the slave trade. He believes the only book I read is the Bible, New Testament.

Maybe I should read more. Maybe I need more education. Was I wrong in my belief that William Wilberforce, a Christian, stood against the slave trade? Or that the Quakers prohibited slavery long before the American constitution did? There were as many Christians who were abolitionists as those who preached the bible to justify slavery.

There sprouted several tangents to the original tweet. Mostly me having to justify the ‘imaginary being in the sky’.

And then I doubled down on what I wrote. The narrative, including this Twitter thread, is controlled by people’s bias. Christians helped stop slavery as much as they propagated slavery.

Cue Mob Rule. Quoted tweet. Burn in the fiery depths of…oh, atheists don’t believe in hell. Sick point…neither do Jews.

I’m not arguing against anything he’s said. I agree. Christianity turned a blind eye to slavery. I’m sure he’s misreading my tweet.

Oh…you do understand what I’ve written? But you’re now showboating and using me as the victim to justify your bullying. This guy — Jewish born and raised until he saw the light of atheism and the indoctrination of religion — is on a roll. I’m everything wrong with society. I’m a slave-owning apologist. I’m the embodiment of the racist right.

“You’re speaking about individuals”, yes I am. Individuals who had strong religious beliefs. Individuals who petitioned for the end of slavery based on their faith and yes…humanism.

Again, he attempts to shut down the conversation.

But at least his followers get his temper.

I’m ignorant. I’m also NOT from America. I can’t rightly claim knowledge about American history. I don’t speak for Christianity. I’m not a Christian.

Again…am I apologizing for slavery? Is that how you’re reading the situation?

But it’s okay. InfiDale calmed down when he realized the truth about my religious affiliation.

This just pisses me off more. If I was a Christian, then there would be the same righteous anger. He hates religion but he hates Christians even more. But he’s a humanist. A lover of people. Just not Christians. What a fucking arsehole.

The mob continued to rage around me, mocking my beliefs. Damage was already done to my reputation because of this angry cock. And all because of his trigger temper and hatred for Christians. Am I really the one with the issue?

I did check out his links and they were a fascinating read. I do have a better understanding of how religion (or the Bible) was used to uphold slavery. But is the best way to change minds is by belittling people and mocking their beliefs?

I’m still confused about how we jumped from ‘free will’ to slavery.

What do you think? Am I the one in the wrong?