Devil You Know Quotes

“While Christian nationalists very much want to see the Ten Commandments play a larger role in the United States, they - and the majority of Americans (60 percent) - cannot name even five of the Ten Commandments. Surprisingly, research revealed that only 60 percent of American adults could even identify “thou shalt not kill” as a commandment. Given this, it should not be surprising that most people do not realize the number of commandments that would create an exclusively Judeo-Christian orientation for the government, and that they constitute almost half of God's decrees from the Mount, making the wish for a biblical justice system less than promising for religious freedom in the United States. The goal of Christian nationalism is not religious freedom, however: It is Christian supremacy[....]”
― Elicka Peterson Sparks, Devil You Know: The Surprising Link between Conservative Christianity and Crime

“It is interesting, really: The Old Testament fits far more easily with Christian nationalism but is so problematic to defend that they often retreat from it when pressed. For example, you might have noticed in Leviticus that the wording for the verse condemning homosexuality is almost identical to those condemning cursing or attacking one's parents and adultery. The wages of those sins are death, and the sinner is held responsible for that outcome. But a significant number of Christians commit these sins, including many clergy members (at least, it would seem, when it comes to adultery), so it is very difficult to hide the hypocrisy inherent in strongly enforcing one rule while taking a relatively understanding stance on the others. In some cases, the rules are deemed historical artifacts to sidestep troublesome challenges. The Bible is the literal Word of God… but Christians see no problem in wearing clothing woven of two materials, wearing gold, pearls, and expensive clothing, cutting their hair and beards, and getting tattoos. Those commands are deemed no longer relevant, while, inexplicably, other very similar proscriptions are still thought to apply to modern life.”
― Elicka Peterson Sparks, Devil You Know: The Surprising Link between Conservative Christianity and Crime

“Jesus is a little problematic for Christian nationalists, and Matthew 10: 34 is one of the mechanisms they use to blunt his impact where it is not welcome. He was something of a nonjudgmental, socialistic peacenik, which is inconvenient to a movement characterized by judgment, unfettered capitalism, and war. So Christian nationalists gave Jesus a makeover, combining the unflinching, violent judgment and punishments of the Old Testament with a Jesus who provides eternal life through his death and resurrection for our sins. I often wonder how Jesus would feel in a modern, evangelical megachurch, as he would have precious little ideology in common with his followers there.”
― Elicka Peterson Sparks, Devil You Know: The Surprising Link between Conservative Christianity and Crime

“Conservative Christians got mean when they embraced political power as an instrument of religious coercion. They do not play well with others, because a significant feature of their ideology holds that others must convert to their views or perish. And prior to perishing, those who refuse to embrace their beliefs are labeled as enemies to be vanquished. If someone holds an opposing worldview, they are not simply disagreeing with a set of religious beliefs - they are on the side of the devil. How far beyond such thinking lies the justification for violence?”
― Elicka Peterson Sparks, Devil You Know: The Surprising Link between Conservative Christianity and Crime

“I cannot think of a more diplomatic way to put this - and I realize this is not nearly diplomatic enough - but the animosity between academia and religion is perhaps best understood as tension between people seeking the truth and those who believe they already know the truth and thus do not care to be confused by the facts.”
― Elicka Peterson Sparks, Devil You Know: The Surprising Link between Conservative Christianity and Crime

“One of the biggest problems with Christianity - one shared by almost all major religions - is that it speaks to the deepest fear and insecurity of human existence: death. Insomuch as religion is primarily a means to insulate oneself from trepidation over this inevitable event, it will inspire a fierce defensive response in its followers. If one is saved from death through their belief in a particular doctrine, then competing doctrines threaten their most fundamental sense of security. The desire to extinguish that threat naturally follows.”
― Elicka Peterson Sparks, Devil You Know: The Surprising Link between Conservative Christianity and Crime