Tweet About Religion And Predators Goes Viral All Over Again For Being So Spot On

Photo via @quinncummings/Instagram

July 27, 2021, 1:52 pm

A 2018 tweet by podcaster and actor Quinn Cummings was brought back to life over the weekend for its incredibly poignant message about religion and its uncanny ability to attract predators, particularly ones of the sexual nature, but also just men and women who suck money out of pockets like giant tapeworms.

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Cummings’ original tweet was on the conviction and sentencing of Harry Thomas, founder of the nation’s largest Christian music festival, to 18 years in prison for a pattern of sexually abusing children in his congregation.

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Thomas was 75 at the time of his sentencing, having enjoyed many years of abusing kids with impunity before he was brought to anything resembling justice. While many wondered how that could happen, Cummings had an insightful observation to share on the nature of organized religion.

It’s not that all religious people are predators. It’s that predators will gravitate towards environments where maleness and authority are not to be questioned and shame can be leveraged. https://t.co/Uz5oEUORVQ

— Quinn Cummings (@quinncy) August 2, 2018

“It’s not that all religious people are predators,” she wrote. “It’s that predators will gravitate towards environments where maleness and authority are not to be questioned and shame can be leveraged.”

This is not the first time sentiments like this about institutions such as religion have been expressed. Any time you have a position of power and trust available, predators are likely to seek this position so that they can abuse people and get away with it. Similarly, abolitionists argue that the institution of policing will always attract so-called “bad apples” when you offer people guns, legal immunity, and a badge in exchange for a few weeks of training and background checks that seem to leave a lot to be desired.

When it comes to Christian churches, it’s unclear if background checks are even being implemented, and if they are, they’re clearly not working.

The tweet went viral in 2018 and was recently revived among widespread condemnation of Pastor Joel Osteen, the megachurch preacher who was recently spotted in a Ferrari and generally lives in luxury while taking PPP loans means to keep small businesses above water during the pandemic. The revival could also be related to any number of sexual abuse cases with religious leaders as defendants going on right now, including a former Tennessee youth pastor who faces 160 years in prison for abusing three different kids and distributing child porn.

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Whatever the exact reason, Cummings’ tweet has clearly been resonating with people again.

Sexual predators know a target-rich environment when they see one.

— Colleen Bartlett (@CBartlett1963) July 26, 2021

She put the thing into words.

— Allie (@Allie_F) July 25, 2021

Likewise, if you look at any manmade institution, a dishonest, unscrupulous person, or many of them, are likely to be at the top. Why?

Because people who make & use unfair advantages win more often than people who don’t.

Supposed meritocracy without strict ethics is impossible.

— Definitely not Deidre (@d_veebee) July 25, 2021

And they will gravitate towards positions of power in those organizations.

— Jim Golab (@austwitnerd) July 25, 2021

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*First Published: July 27, 2021, 1:52 pm