Christopretensism is the new word I just learned. So descriptive!

[summer_in_TX]

The word has the definition built in – pretending to be Christian, performing it – devoid of the actual teachings of Jesus.

When I've talked about Christian nationalism it seems still like it must be a valid branch of Christianity. No, it is heretical, a pretense and distortion, defamation of Christ and Christians.

I would love to see this spread far and wide.

[sop]

1. "Christopretendocrats" are those who leverage Christian branding specifically for governance, power, or authority.

[summer_in_TX]

13. I like it - but on saying and hearing it realized it reminds me of the word Democrats.

Not an association I want to trigger. Fits well though.

[sop]

15. "Christopretendocans" then...

I looked up the definition of "Chistopretensism" and "Christopretendocrat" came up as another term with a similar meaning, but more specific to those in government. The similarity bothered me as well. The suffix "crat" is from the Greek word "kratos," meaning "rule" or "strength, and "refers to a person who supports, rules, or is a member of a specific governing body," like a Democrat, someone who supports rule by the people (democracy).

[summer_in_TX]

16. How about calling the individuals Christopretenders?

It would apply to those in churches as well as in government.

[Journeyman]

2. Always enjoy learning new words . . .

especially those I can put to good use.

[littlemissmartypants]

3. See what spread far and wide? ...

Christian nationalism? It's happening now.

And I didn't find your word anywhere but the urban dictionary. The words "Fake Christian" don't begin to describe these violence promoting radicals.

Have you listened to this? It's an audio book excerpt from a scholarly text by an expert in Christian Nationalism, Dr. Matthew D. Taylor.

There are all varieties of fake Christians. This group is a highly motivated and determined group destroying our democracy in hopes of a holy war.

I am very worried.

❤️

[summer_in_TX]

14. They are everything you said. Very determined and hell-bent on destroying democracy.

Practically slavering over the idea of a "holy war."

I ran across the word on Bluesky. While it doesn't capture the evil of Christian theocratic nationalism, it seems like a handy tool for raising the question of motivation and the (non)alignment of behavior with the teachings of Jesus.

[Norrrm]

4. Perfect for those who consider Trump such a good Christian, but he could not remember a single Bible passage.

Perfect for those who consider Trump such a good Christian, but he could not remember a single Bible passage.

[Martin Eden]

5. I call them CHARLATANS

And other things less polite.

[Tikki]

9. Also known as Christohypocrites.

Hypocrisy is their greatest motivator. They revel in it.
Tikki

[Jose Flavio Sanchez]

17. There is no denotative difference between christohypocrites and just calling them hypocrites

Christohypocrites assumes they're real Christians who fail to apply their beliefs to themselves but apply it to others. Christopretenders do not even preach real Christian beliefs to others much less follow those beliefs themselves. Why? Because Jesus is, was and always will be a socialist.

Using “Christohypocrite(s)” has drawbacks compared to the christopretens-/christopretend system:

Also “Hypocrite” just means “says one thing, does another.” It doesn’t specifically encode insincere Christian identity for social and political advantage, propaganda to advance an often capitalist agenda and control others, commercial branding for profit, or to satisfy an insecurity without improving morality.

It's more insult than concept-handle: It functions mainly as a moral jab, not an analytical term you can extend into a clean word family.(adj./verb/system).

Weaker diagnostic value: It doesn’t tell you that false Christianity exists, so it’s less useful for careful critique when those who are getting wealthy and politically powerful are using religion as an opium to feed the masses so they don't rebel against their exploitation like Karl Marx once said except he didn't distinguish between authentic religious beliefs like Christianity and religion being corrupted to be used by the powerful for their wicked ends.


It is not a precise, scalable concept term but it can be useful in judging moral shortcomings from Christian who truly do appear to believe what they claim to believe and are not in it for money or political power but they still violate Christian standards while applying those standards to others.

[Tikki]

18. Agreed...hypocrisy is a sin defined by a Christian book.

It is rampant in this World and along with inconsistency of what is considered a morale life
it is bewildering.

Tikki

[BeneteauBum]

6. Applies to so many

Hypocrisy for gain

Peace ☮️

[paleotn]

7. That's a good word. A few more syllables than liar but means the same.

[ChicagoTeamster]

8. Perfect. Their Christianity is a political identity, not a spiritual religious practice.

[Blue Full Moon]

10. Churchers works as well

[SalamanderSleeps]

11. Roy Moore, Christocrat

More fuel for the fire.

(RNS) "For Christocrats, the sovereignty of God transcends the supremacy of the Constitution."

By Lauren Markoe
November 14, 2017

(RNS) — "Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, that state’s controversial Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, has a long record as a religious right zealot.

Moore has been suspended twice from the state Supreme Court, for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments statue from state grounds and for refusing to obey the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriages.

Because of his beliefs and actions, Moore has been labeled a theocrat. But I prefer a different and more precise term — “Christocrat” — to describe Moore and other politicians who share similar views.

A Christocrat believes America was once “the shining city on the hill” but has in recent decades lost its moral, political, cultural and religious moorings. Christocrats believe a radical transformation is necessary for the United States to fulfill its God-ordained “manifest destiny” and be saved from the evil secular humanists who seek to destroy “Christian America.” "

More at link: https://religionnews.com/2017/11/14/roy-moore-christocrat/

I think this article explains well the characteristic traits of the Christocrat movement. What's scary to me is that this article is nine years old. It just goes to show that evil people make plans.

[Iggo]

12. We call those performative christians.

But performative christians are still christians. This new word comes with an insinuation (if not an assumption) that the person is faking it. And I like that. I also like that the smarter they are, the faster they’ll catch onto that. And that makes me smile.