You don't need religion to be a good person.
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Minneapolis was where George Floyd was killed, and EVERYBODY believed his murderer would get away with it. But Minneapolis wouldn't stand for it, and the murderer is serving a long jail sentence at this moment
It was really dumb to think Minneapolis would roll over for this shit. They've had PRACTICE
Thanks for putting that into context, it makes me feel quite fond of them. I should not have been so indifferent to this good city.
This is anarchist praxis even if most people don't realize it!
Yeah, a better version of this article would talk about how Minneapolis has actually always been a kinda radical town, from the general strike in the 30s, AIM being founded there in the 60s, and the whole co-op wars stupidity that happened in the 70s, all the way through the RNC and Occupy protests in the 2000s. Like, there have been self identified anarchists in that city for almost a hundred years at least, and that has got at least as much to do with what we're seeing as "patriotic and Christian values" do.
As a Twin Cities resident we are surprisingly radically progressive. I think it's important to know how much "work" people did post George Floyd to look at racial bias and systematic change in progressive socials. I know of multiple book clubs of retirees reading books on anti-racism and white privilege. It was eye opening experience here
I think about that all the time. Especially when people online are like "do something". We are doing something. Lots of things. Lots of small decentralized things so they can't be targeted as easy.
They're forced to utilize anarchist praxis because the government sure as shit isn't doing anything to help them, federal or local.
That's what's so interesting. Most of these people are not ideologically anarchist, and probably would be opposed to it in a more general context. But they are using anarchist techniques because that is what is effective in the given moment.
Minnesota has emerged as a heroic example of state and local and neighborhood-level resistance in the name of core patriotic and Christian values.
Christian values.
I thought Christian values were causing all of this in the first place? A cabal of white Christian nationaist pedophiles have coopted the government and are attempting to kick off the apocalypse by baiting Israel into being destroyed.
When you write it all out there, you really do feel insane.
Strictly speaking, Christian values directly oppose treating immigrants poorly. Or as second class citizens. Explicitly stated in the old and new testament. You know, Biblical law that we 'should' all be following.
On the other hand, "It's easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven." And "Love of money is the root of all evil." Doesn't seem to be cited by Prosperity Christians.
Growing up, I was always told to remember John 3:16. As I get older, I become more and more partial to John 2:15.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
John 2:15 - And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
Basically: when young, God and Jesus loves you. As I get older, I'm not above whipping and flipping tables at people who continue to use the religion as an excuse to hurt and subjugate others.
There's "Christian values" then there's "Christ's values". Never the twain shall meet.
There are about 235 million people in the US who identify as Christian. They are far from a monolith. There is considerable variability of values between all of those different denominations and congregations.
Oh honey, I hardly think it’s that many people. God is fake. A man made creation and nothing more.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/
341,784,857 (official population estimate from 2025) * 62% (proportion of people who identify as Christian per Pew survey from 2023-2024) = 211,906,611.
So... You're right, but they were in the ball park, but also about spot on if you include the 7% "Other religions" (who presumably mostly also believe in a god).
How many of those Christians go to church and aren’t just agnostic or religious for social status?
5%? Where is “Pew” to save this one?
The majority at least? Where I live, people say we have a church on every corner. Because we almost literally do. I drive past 5 just on my way to work every day. They wouldn't be there if people didn't attend. In my experience, even most of the non-affiliated will say they believe in a "higher power" or somesuch. In the Pew survey, only 6% out of the 29% non-affiliated identified as agnostic, and only 5% as atheist. Living in the south, having grown up in the bible belt, I can say with very high confidence that more than 5% of Christians actually believe in god. I'm sure some do maintain a facade for social reasons (I did myself for a few years, though would have been honest on an anonymous survey), but certainly not 95%+.
I'm sure it varies by location (obviously, the bible belt was thusly nicknamed for a reason), but the idea that less than 5% of Christians anywhere actually practice / believe in god just stretches credulity.
Where is “Pew” to save this one?
Right here: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-attendance-and-congregational-involvement/
“Who could imagine…that they would freak out in Minnesota…” - Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
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