Star Bellied Christians

Over the years I have grown to detest the exclusionary phrase “brothers and sisters *in Christ*”. It seems to me that if the religion you practice doesn’t lead you to feel a special bond with all of life, all of humanity, the universe entire, or at least the desire to feel a special bond with all those things, then it’s really more of a snobby social club, like one of those restricted country clubs with members who think they’re classy and privileged and deserving of privilege, while those who don’t belong because they don’t want to belong or because they’re not allowed to join might be inclined to think of the members as assholes. I’ve known many Christians, and most of them aren’t this way, but there are quite a few who divide people into two classes, those who are saved--according to their dogma--and those who are not. Of course they would claim that they love everyone and they are not being exclusionary. But it’s obvious from the way they talk that they see those who are “not saved” as outsiders and those who are saved as “special” and more worthy of their concern and friendship. And the only way to become “special” in their eyes is to accept their beliefs. These are the Star Bellied Christians.