Welcome to the Theistic Rhetoric Online Language Lab. In today’s lesson, Communicating Online Christian Knowledge, you learn to identify and understand Christian social media posts and comments by critiquing a typical comment answering a Christian critic. Before we read the comment, let us review the primary elements of Christian communication.
Denoted by complex semantics, Christian communication differs from traditional information transmission that says what is meant, instead employing a combination of hostile stubbornness, willful ignorance, arrogance, and defiance couched in passive, sometimes civil-sounding statements that avoid direct communication and rely on other Christians’ bias to provide meaningfulness.
With these qualities in mind, let’s review Steven Rudolph’srebuttal to a prosperity gospel criticism.
What you describe is unfortunately true for the so called Christian’s that follow the prosperity gospel. They and others that look at the Bible as a historical anthology are being taken in for suckers. You or the robot that helped you write this peace are very articulate and describe it colorfully. The story you write is both one sided and short sighted.
In the example’s first paragraph, we see the embedded passive aggressiveness that defines Christian communication with its positive ring, masking an insult while deflecting blame. Notice the cleverly designed accusation “so called Christian’s,” which points to no actual Christians to create the generic enemy, “the inauthentic Christians.” It is important to remember that Christian semantics always avoids criticizing fellow believers and instead reveals them as “false Christians.”
Notice also unfounded claims appear as if the author did not know fact-checking, free AI-driven search algorithms exist. Similarly, a pattern of errors makes this “peace” appear as if the commenter lacked the willingness to use the built-in grammar and spelling function in all modern writing software. Don’t mistake this writing as careless, haphazard, mindless statements because they form purposely devised marks meant to show this Christian is authentic and the critic a poorly skilled writer.
Brilliant!
Let’s continue our critique with the second paragraph.
This is a theme that runs through most of these anti-Christian rants. You paint all Christians the same color with the same brush. It seems you haven’t done much homework. Though there are many sects of Christianity that are nothing like you describe, they are completely ignored in you essay.
In this next section, the literary genius of Christian commenting burns bright as the author shifts tone into boredom to give the feel “these anti-Christian rants” are derivative and trite. Then, drawing deep from the passive-aggressive arsenal, the commenter, in sheer defiance of linked sources and the critic’s website filled with cited rational arguments, the Christian literary warrior claims, “you haven’t done much homework.” With no citations and only the power of his words, he declares, “there are many sects of Christianity that are nothing like you describe.”
Isn’t that amazing!
From this paragraph, the rhetorical device of assumption launches inspiration’s persuasive arrow, striking the Christian reader’s mental bullseye. Truly, this author possesses uncanny wisdom of the audience, knowing Christians believe unfounded ideas conveyed in sardonic accusations lacking credible research forms profound, original writing. We learn from this passage that Christian social media commenting finds strength in the author’s finely honed skill to confirm what Christians already believe.
The Christian commenter strategy unveils, and we see the final execution as he interlaces assumptions with self-righteousness to satisfy the Christ-lovers and keep them starry-eyed believers.
The second thing I always wonder is, why do they bother you so much? Were you a victim? If so there are Christian groups that will help you. Jesus forgives mistakes. Jesus also said “beware of false prophets”.
There is always the chance however, that you wrote the story as clickbait. In that case I contributed to your bank account instead of Joel Osteen.
Wondering, “why do they bother you so much? Were you a victim?” provides a masterpiece of empathy sculpted in blame. Now, the Christian commenter unleashes gaslighting rhetoric accusing the critic of false prophecy or writing clickbait, all while playing the savior offering Christian assistance.
Bravo!
In conclusion, this lesson reveals Christian social media authorship’s power to sunder truth with innuendo, unsubstantiated claims, and gaslighting — all to sate the Christian reader. While this writing style provides an excellent means to convince Christians of many ideas, like multilevel marketing, hating LGBTQ, and voting for lunatics, keep in mind this literature fails when audiences possess a modicum of education, common sense, or objectivity.
Thank you for attending. 👨🏫
