Was it ever? If so, definitely not in my lifetime and I'm 62 years old. And not in the lifetimes of family members who have gone before me, whom I can remember.
Historically speaking, Christianity turned into an instrument of hate and control many many centuries ago, at least, if it were ever anything better than that.
In Europe, Christianity turned into a force for colonizing and enslaving. For keeping women subordinate to men. For propping up the powerful elite classes and enriching powerful clergy beyond measure.
In Canada, Christianity was a force for keeping French speakers subordinate to English speakers — not to mention dictating almost every aspect of people's private lives. Read about the Quiet Revolution, a period in the 1960s when practically the entire population of Quebec, almost overnight, rejected Christianity because of how controlling and abusive it was.
As a child, Christianity tortured me. Catholic and Protestant alike.
I know up close and personal that traditional Christianity is an evil, disgusting religion. It's about exercising control. It's about force. (I was beaten with a paddle by mainstream Christian leaders.)
Mostly, as a gay man, I recognize that traditional Christianity is the enemy of queer people everywhere. They hate us. They seek to control us. They seek to destroy us. They're not embarrassed about it either. They'll tell you straight up that we're sinners. They seem to delight in morally condemning us.
They can go f*** themselves.
I know that there are a few progressive Christians actively working to radically change the religion, to make it into something loving and nurturing, something it probably never was in the past.
I hope they succeed.
I have a lot of doubts. Because the core theology of traditional Christianity is sadistic and sick. It's about a cruel god who created human beings to be tortured for eternity for not adhering to arbitrary rules.
It's a religion that reveres blood sacrifice, glorifying the intentional sacrifice of a god killing his own son by torture. That's some straight up sick shit right there.
You don't get more disgusting than that.
I hope it's possible to turn Christianity into something far less cruel, evil and horrific.
Observing Christianity on the ground in the United States, I certainly have my doubts.
