Leave Rage Alone

Last updated on: October 21, 2020 at 9:00 am by Anne Kennedy

Leave Rage Alone 2020-10-21T09:00:11-04:00 Anne Kennedy

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I was going to do another edition to my fantastic youtube channel with this article, but then I just didn’t, did I? I can’t do everything, even by trying really hard. It’s too good to pass up, though, so I’ll just pull out some pretty funny quotes, in the spirit of chuckling over this ridiculous time in the sweeping mess of human history:

And now, by way of a new must-read Daily Beast piece by Aurora Snow, adult film stars are speaking out with a warning on how a Barrett confirmation could mark the latest attempted attack from a religion-obsessed faction on an industry that has long faced pushback from erosive voices.

And

“Instead of supporting equal free speech for all Americans, she seems to support privileged free speech for religious Americans,” Dahl, who’s also worried about Barrett’s potential impact on women’s reproductive rights, said. “There’s no way that will be good for the porn industry.”

And

Mary Moody, a Penthouse Pet and Chaturbate Broadcaster of the Year recipient, echoed these concerns while pointing out that the optimistic approach of assuming Barrett simply set aside her extremist personal beliefs when making judgments is most likely a naive reading of the impending situation. “Her history speaks for itself, and when given the option to rule on cases that will impact sex workers, it is clear she will lean on her radical conservative religious beliefs to aid her,” Moody said. In short, while so-called sexually explicit content—i.e. porn—is indeed protected by the First Amendment, those who seek to dismantle an industry that should remain protected could hide behind the ludicrous argument of obscenity. Obscenity, though not clearly defined, is not backed by the First Amendment.

Be grateful for small mercies, I guess. I finally saw someone on Twitter agree with me yesterday (well, they don’t know that I exist, but someone else is finally saying it). The moment that Mr. Trump won the Republican primary all those eons ago, I said that he seemed to be a fitting icon for the American soul. Not that I don’t love America or anything, but I’d just watched a bunch of Rodney Dangerfield movies, and also was spending too much time online at the time–happens to the best of us. So anyway, it occurred to me that the very best way not to have Mr. Trump would not be to continue to shout about how wicked he was and how he would destroy the whole fabric of American life. That was already clearly frayed, with great wretched holes ripped right out of the middle. Rather, the best thing to do would be for the whole country—right and left—to fall down on their faces and repent in dust and ash, to admit that we aren’t that great. No one took me up on it, unfortunately, instead of doubling down on the idea that it was Mr. Trump who would bring about a further coarsening of American society. But then finally on Twitter yesterday, someone said, “look at who we are,” and then there were some tepid comments in vague agreement.

The thing that I want to encourage myself to do is to, as the Bible says somewhere, is to “leave rage alone.” The best kind of way to constantly be enraged is if you think that everyone else in the world is the problem. Amy Coney Barrett, for example—she’s the problem. Her religious convictions are going to tear the country apart! Leading to further cries of “I just can’t even” and “How will all the men be able to consume the bodies souls of women without any check on their untempered and wicked appetites?”…oh wait, I guess that’s not exactly how the “author” of the piece was putting it.

Speaking as a Christian, and as a woman (don’t hate me for so identifying myself), I’m gonna make the appalling and controversial statement that I don’t think that ACB is really the problem. The best way to get rid of her—or anyone really—is to begin to “leave rage alone.” Simmer down. Take a breath. The reason that things are so bad right now is that human people are sinners. They do bad things—all.the.time. They think wrong and terrible things, like devouring the souls and bodies of others will make them eternally happy. They think that murder in some cases is totes fine. They think that rampant consumerism is not a problem. They think that racism, in some cases, is also totes fine. They think that Moar Socials will heal all our diseases. They—but really We, in a big cosmic sickening sense, need help to climb out of the pit we have dug for ourselves.

Repent and believe the gospel—that’s what you need to do if you want things to get better for you. You’ll have to stop being an “ethical sex-worker” but it will be a small price to pay for an eternity of happiness with the One who made you for better, holier, and more interesting activities.

Demotivations with Anne

Signs of the Apocalypse

Feminism

Politics

Previous Post

October 20, 2020

Do We Even Need Them?

Next Post

October 22, 2020 Is The Pope Catholic?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category books Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Children in Conversation culture watch Daily Devotions Demotivations with Anne faith alone for the grandparents GAFCON In conversation with children In the News Kitchen Notes Lambeth Learning Notes Life Going On Men are Human Notes from Home Pictures Reading the Bible Saturday Links Sermons Signs of the Apocalypse The Bad Word Association The Prayer of Jonah Travel Notes Uncategorized Witless Wednesdays Work and the Christian

Select a Month June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm is famous as the "Shepherd's Psalm"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 51 Psalm 23 Psalm 119 Psalm 1

Books by This Author Books by Anne Kennedy

See All Titles »