Rural "Storefront" church spreading Covid19 disinformatiion

[orangecrush]

I live near a very small town in NW Pa..

Unknown parties about 6 years ago opened a church in what was once a grocery store, it isn't a particular denomination, they seem to have made it up themselves. (Christian "born - again&quot .

This is a rust belt area that was overrun with heroin. I work in a local halfway house as a live in staff.

I never had much reason to pay attention, but I did notice a large number of local female recovering addicts seemed to join this place.

It wasn't until the pandemic hit, that I noticed a change in the nature of the facebook posts of some of the women I know that go there.

They were all posting memes and texts promoting the bullshit that the quarantine is oppression, and the pandemic is a hoax!

They all have membership in this place in common.

So apparently, whoever is running this operation is pushing a hard right political agenda on some very vulnerable people, telling them this is "God's message".

I am willing to bet the same sort of thing is being done in many rural areas of the country that are economically depressed.

I am also willing to bet this is being funded by big right wing money from who knows where.

I know these people, they are not politically minded, just hanging on by their fingernails.

You can bet repug voter registration and voting are part of "God's message".

This is the kind of vile scum we are up against.

[roamer65]

1. They sound like the church from the original Kingsmen movie.

[orangecrush]

2. Never saw the movie

But this is 100% real.

It's sickening.

[roamer65]

3. I'll leave it up to you if u wanna watch it.

The church scene is very graphic...Warning.

[orangecrush]

6. Will do.

Not squeamish.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. Church leaders cause lots of problems.

I think they're the main reason that most white evangelical Christians vote for Republicans now.

Jimmy Carter was popular among the evangelicals UNTIL he proposed taxing religious groups.

Here's the electoral college map of 1976 (Carter winning the blue states):


That was AFTER the Civil Rights bills of the 60's and after Roe v. Wade.

Taxing religious groups turned the church leaders against him, and their flocks soon followed.

[orangecrush]

5. Thanks!

Interesting info!

[ZERTErYNOthe]

7. small town in NW Pa...

Hello orangecrush. I too grew up in a small town in NW PA (perhaps not very small, since we had a college and were the county seat, but about 6-10K population), but I also had a lot of friends who were outside of the "librul" influence of the college, including some who have made national news. I've also seen this sort of behavior with churches in Western Michigan, and Montgomery County MD. I don't think it is exclusive to this part of PA, it is a pattern of certain types of people preying on and taking advantage of a part of the vulnerable population for their own goals.

I've seen firsthand how church building occurs. It's not easy, especially if you want to abide by traditional church doctrine. The church I joined after moving to my first job seemed like a decent and reasonable place. And then they got kinda weird. It wasn't just the talking in tongues, or the personal demands. That wasn't enough, so some members decided to form one of these store front churches, which they did. I have no idea if they are still around, but I doubt they are.

In any case, my sister was taken in by one of these groups, which is when I found out I was going to hell for reading Harry Potter. She has come to her senses, and regrets her involvement.

But in general, they are organizations that helps the people that society and the government don't. They are the only organization that will help them out, so their message is truth. I think this is the most important point: If you are separated from society, society has failed you, the government has failed you, you are looked down on by friends and family, and the storefront "church" helps you out and tells you why your problems aren't your fault, you listen.

tl;dr: Poverty breeds desperation. With desperation comes people to prey on that vulnerable population. What you see is the end result.

[tanyev]

8. Probably related to this:

Bot Army Behind 'Reopen America' Push On Social Media, Study Finds

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213481279