Let’s talk seriously about this for a moment. What is the purpose for these billboards, yard signs, Jesus fish car emblems, etc? It’s not like I’m gonna pass by “JESUS IS LORD” spraypainted on the side of a barn on a country road and go “WELL FUCK, THAT’S IT, I’M CHRISTIAN!”
There is exactly one purpose and two effects. The purpose is to create an “in group” and an “out group,” and you know damned well which one you’re in. The effects are virtue signalling to the in group, and implicitly threatening the out group - and everyone (regardless of group) knows this, even if they’re not able to put the knowledge into words.
Let’s talk seriously about this for a moment. What is the purpose for these billboards, yard signs, Jesus fish car emblems, etc? It’s not like I’m gonna pass by “JESUS IS LORD” spraypainted on the side of a barn on a country road and go “WELL FUCK, THAT’S IT, I’M CHRISTIAN!”
There is exactly one purpose and two effects. The purpose is to create an “in group” and an “out group,” and you know damned well which one you’re in. The effects are virtue signalling to the in group, and implicitly threatening the out group - and everyone (regardless of group) knows this, even if they’re not able to put the knowledge into words.