1. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💡" title="Elektrische Glühbirne" aria-label="Emoji: Elektrische Glühbirne">Disclaimerhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💡" title="Elektrische Glühbirne" aria-label="Emoji: Elektrische Glühbirne"> The following THREAD is not meant to offend. It’s for perspective.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Kleine blaue Raute" aria-label="Emoji: Kleine blaue Raute">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔷" title="Große blaue Raute" aria-label="Emoji: Große blaue Raute">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Kleine blaue Raute" aria-label="Emoji: Kleine blaue Raute">

There is a reason some people don’t view religious affiliation with reverence.

Why?

Well, throughout history, religion has been used to justify atrocities.

2. Different sects exist within different religions & interpretations of their religious texts vary.

What gives some people pause is the degree to which ancient religious texts are interpreted ESPECIALLY by people in government power who publicly invoke their religion.

3. It’s one thing to separate your religious beliefs from your official duties; No issue whatsoever if you do.

Below are just a few examples of what I mean and why I don’t think it’s unreasonable for people to be a little uneasy when public officials DO invoke their religion.

4. No matter if you’re a modern/open-minded Christian, the fact remains that there is a dark history of slave owners calling themselves Christian & believing deeply that they were.

If I’m not a Christian, how do I know where your beliefs diverge?

https://time.com/5171819/christianity-slavery-book-excerpt/">https://time.com/5171819/c...

5. Because there are many different religions/sects within, it’s unreasonable to expect people who aren’t associated with a particular sect, to understand all of the nuances. If an atrocity is justified by a public official invoking religion, it’s tough. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/06/14/jeff-sessions-points-to-the-bible-in-defense-of-separating-immigrant-families/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts...

6. My point is that if public officials can twist themselves into a pretzel, using their deeply held beliefs as a foundation for justifying their abhorrent views (like slavery or child separation), then it’s safe to wonder what else might be justified. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/14/sarah-sanders-bible-trump-immigration-border-policy">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...

7. Because religious affiliation in our society gets an inherent reverence & is often synonymous with righteousness or goodness (even though one can be righteous and good without religion)—being critical of religious affiliation is difficult.

8. There is good reason to be cautious given the history of those in power invoking religion to justify harm.