All hail the second coming of Christ: Greta Thunberg. That's according to a surprising proclamation by the Church of Sweden, which said the teen climate activist is a successor to Jesus in a statement on its official Twitter account.
"Announcement! Jesus of Nazareth has now appointed one of his successors, Greta Thunberg," the church tweeted.
Thunberg is a rising star in the climate justice movement. The 16-year-old Swedish student became a household name nearly overnight after speaking at the UN Climate Summit and getting into a dust-up with President Trump.
In her speech, Thunberg lambasted a room full of world leaders for coming to youth for hope, hat in hand, having stolen their childhood dreams with empty words. "We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth," she seethed in an address that went viral. "How dare you?"
In the eyes of climate action supporters, she is a hero an inspiring voice of the next generation that will have to bear the brunt of humanity's impact on the climate. From this perspective, Thunberg's admirers ask, is it really so outlandish to compare her to Jesus?
After all, the dynamic teen has taken on a central leadership role in the battle to prevent a looming humanitarian crisis that potentially threatens the very fabric of our existence. In the process, she has reached an untold number of people and convinced many to follow her cause. If Jesus could appoint a successor, they argue, that person would probably look a lot like Greta Thunberg.
However, some critics aren't buying it.
Not So Fast
While Thunberg's popularity cannot be denied, not all Swedes were amused by the Church of Sweden drawing a parallel directly to Jesus. Backlash quickly built online, with many criticizing the comparison as entirely inappropriate.
"Time and time again I ask myself: when was the Swedish church kidnapped by left-wing extremists?" asked one Twitter user.
"Should you now abandon the celebration of Jesus' birthday and start celebrating Greta Thunberg's birthday instead?" mused another. "After all, we members must know who is the Savior we should worship and pay homage to."
Making Amends
The church first responded to the backlash by posting a second tweet suggesting "success" could be interpreted in many ways. But the account was abandoned shortly after, with a final sign off by pastor Jonas Persson defending the original comparison:
"If we have hurt someone we apologize, it has never been our meaning. Our meaning has been to talk about Jesus Christ in our own way. Now we leave the arena. Thank you for your commitment, joy and debate. God bless you!"
Jesus, Is That You?
Historically, comparisons between Jesus and regular people haven't gone over so well. When John Lennon famously mused that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus, an off-the-cuff remark that might have gone overlooked, American fans were furious and burned albums in protest across the Bible Belt.
Of course, the backdrop here is decidedly more political. The Church of Sweden was the official state religion up until the year 2000, which only added fuel to the fire for conservative religious critics. They ask: is it really responsible for a progressive church to declare a teenager as Jesus' successor? Just because she got international media coverage for dressing down world leaders, does that really make her a savior of humanity?
Then again, Jesus often rebelled against the system as a way of getting people to open their eyes. Whatever your feelings about Greta Thunberg's style, she's basically doing the same, although for her planet mother, and not her divine father.
In that sense, perhaps the Church of Sweden was onto something. What do you think? Was it a reasonable comparison, or should the church have chosen its words more carefully?
46 comments
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Norma Battes
Any of the looneys here know what melts ice faster that warm air?
Warm water. Guess what's under the polar icecaps? (You DO know it's floating eh?) When a slug of that the size of Texas finally breaks off, well....
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Ron Phillipe
her,''handlers,are,speaking,through,a,child,,,granted,she,sailed,here,,,but,what,fuel,type,has,kept,her,warm,,,heated,her,parents,home,and,so,on
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Lionheart
Poor child. She has a long way to go with her education.
?♥️
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Michael J McCormick
When she parts the sea, heals the lame, turns water to wine, etc...
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Mark Hannon
She seems to have struck a nerve for a lot of people no matter what prompts her to speak out. I remember the words of Ghandi, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win”.
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Kat
We all know who Jesus is and no one will ever replace him but we are all Sons and Daughters of the Lord including Jesus that's all I have to say about it. Minister Katherine
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DL Lawrence
Greta is being used. Her knowledge of actual science is limited. A mile wide and an inch deep. For those who are fans of this dupe, you are emotionally involved and are not looking at facts, the nexus of her support and those who influence (control) her.
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marie
Sorry, but this "Greta" is a nut case. The anger that bubbles up in that kid will someday turn violent if she is not reigned in. All I saw in that face were cold, hate filled eyes and evil, and I don't consider myself a Christian.
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Norma Battes
The "hate" and "evil" you think you see in her eyes is a birth handicap. What's your excuse? Sorry, never mind.
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Secretary3rd
By praising her is putting the nails into her coffin. It will be pointed out to her that she is one of the 2 billion born since the year 2000 who from the day one has help add CO2 to the atmosphere. She doe not have a solution at all. From day one she has done two things food had to be produced, process and shipped to her so to feed her body, and she has pooped. If she wants to blame someone she does have parents, grandparents who should have tried population zero. Her warmth is provided by what society gives her, what she feeds on would be a hot meal, the cloths on her back and the bed she sleep's in are products of today's society. There is nothing she can do about it. Do praise her and do it a lot. It will make her look foolish in a very short time.
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brianna
Next we'll be hearing about (cannabalism) and eating our babies....where do these nitwits come from?
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Chris
Considering how many so-called "Christians" think Trump has been sent by God, I find this hilarious. Whether Greta is being "handled" or not is irrelevant. The Earth, according to Christians, was a gift from their God and she's fighting to save it while Trump et al fight to destroy it by lowering pollution control and allowing more devastation. It's almost like these people who claim to be followers of Christ haven't got a clue as to what Christ would really do.
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Norma Battes
Well, Evangelicals believe Mr. Trump is here to bring about the Rapture. All the good ones will go to heaven. The rest will stay here and meet Satan. If he's reelected, they may have a point.
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Karen W.
She could well be considered “a savior to humanity” by confronting world leaders to wake up and pay attention to the SCIENCE of climate change, NOT $. This is not an issue of religion, but politics. Leave Jesus out of it. And leave climate change out of politics!
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M.E.Holt C.N.
She has run her course. I think she over the top and needs help. Looks close to a break down. Her parents need to step up. We hear her and 90% agree. Politicians are the problem. We all know it. We'The People" are working on it. The world already knows what happening and most are taking action. YES. God is in charge and in action. He is working HIS plan and we all get to wait and see.
She should know that 'EARTH' is a living planet that continually changes and always will. We get to adapt.
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Norma Battes
" We get to adapt. "
Like the dinosaurs? Hahahahahahahaha
3 days without the grid, gas, running water and flushing toilets, you'll shoot your neighbor and eat her cat.
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Minister Dennis Gordon
When reading Matthew 24 you will find Jesus Christ own answer to false christ appearing amongst mankind. Pay close attention lest you be deceived by predators. His warnings are clear. If you can read with comprehension it is there for all. Do not worship what is that of man which will leave your cup as well as your belly empty but with the word of Almighty God to fill your body and soul. Choose your path.
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Preacher Man
If the UN is going to jump through hoops for a rude, snotty, under-educated child, it just shows us that the UN has out-lived its usefulness to the world.
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Lea Weisenbach
We have been melting since the ice age...The only thing we can count on is change...Our habits have to change for sure because Mother Earth feeds us. As for Greta being the second coming of Christ!! Shame on this chruch using a child for their hype...We all know what happen to Jesus..
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Willi
I found Jesus! In fact, many of them. I live in Mexico and we have many men and boys named Jesus (pronounced "Hey Zeus"). I have a dog and an aunt named Maria and the old farmer nearby is Josef. Yes, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary are all over the place. Someone told me there is a holey ghost that you can hear who lives down the hole in the well.
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Craig Clement
I’ll just wait and see about this one also. There have been many pretenders for Christ’s soot and name throughout history, not a one seems to have filled the empty shoes left for two thousand years or so. I’m not going to do any judging here either, just going to hide and watch!
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distefanostefano
è un esibizionista pagata e basta
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distefanostefano
LA CHIESA DI SVEZIA è IN ERRORE GRETA è PAGATA DALLA MASSONERIA PER FARE CONFUSIONE NEL MONDO NON è UNA MANDATA DI CRISTO MA DI satan
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JASON D BENDER
Church of Satan says what?
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David Reynolds
She’s a puppet of her activist parents and some big players in a globalist movement which is pushing the climate change agenda so as to distract people from their true intentions. She is just an actor, and her performance before the UN was scripted like that to seem like she’s genuinely enraged, but if she we’re really that passionate, then she wouldn’t need that script, which is all it was. She’s not the messiah, she’s just a very naughty girl who’s been brainwashed into doing these performances.
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Alicia
I am so sick of her scowling face. This is a child on the autism spectrum who is being used by her parents and others with the same agenda. This girl is from an entertainment family. She's an actress (and not a very good one at that) who was put in the forefront as a pawn. She came on a "non-carbon" boat, but how many flew to meet her here? How is she getting from city to city? It's nothing but "Do as I say, not s I do" mentality.
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guidvce4
Pointing out the obvious hypocrisy of the left is never a good idea. Witness what is going on in the current scam from the leftist leaders of the US Congress. This "greta" thing reminds me of an old movie where the travelling revivalist used shills to convince the dupes he could heal their ills. It didn't end well for the revivalist minister nor the shills. And so it will be for this latest batch of climate alarmists. It already crumbling. Its all about control and power by the left over the rest of the folks on the planet. We will all become "believers" if they have their way. One way or another. Just sayin'.
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arawngraalrd
First of all, Jesus won't be turning 16 until next February, and is much cuter; secondly, Jesus speaks in her own voice, rather than reading from scripts previously used by a twelve year old in 1992.
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Linda Weeks
Anyone who speaks the truth aNd follows Jesus teachings can be considered a successor. This is ado about nothing. If you have time and energy to complain about a child speaking truth, go do good in the world yourself.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp MSW
Thank you Linda, I agree with you.She is more Christ-like than the deplorables who are gnashing their teeth about the truth of the effects of Climate change on children's future.It is amazing how people who come on our minister's website can be so nasty about a child who is courageous, intelligent, articulate and knowledgeable. She speaks truth to power and boy do the powerful and corrupt have a conniption fit and have to go low to the sewer pit to castigate her. She has more intelligence that any of the corrupt morons in the WH.
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Tom
How is she christ like? Christ told the people to love one another and work together to solve problems, he never shamed someone. I just think the Church of Sweden made a stupid claim and that this shouldn't even be a discussion right now.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp MSW
Once more it is pathetic that some adults will denigrate a child who is attempting to wake up those power mongers who only care about their bank accounts rather than care about the climate crisis and making important changes which will benefit all, including future generations. Don't bother to ask for some silly fairy tale quotes. This child has a pure heart and intentions, so stop with the trash talk about her and her family. I, for one do care about our beautiful Mother Earth which is undergoing severe crises. Over 200 species of animals created by your God are going extinct. Do something positive to help rather than go full out mean and nasty about a kid..
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Norma Battes
" ...he never shamed someone... "
Wasn't there something about "money-changers" and some others?
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marie
Um...the climate has been in constant change since forever! Otherwise, for example, many of the people who live in the northern/northeastern part of the country, would be living on glaciers!
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp MSW
Try to educate yourselves about the climate crisis and stop making silly statements about "constant change since forever" What do you really know? Have your read and do you understand the IPCC? Obviously you have not read the report.
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Christopher Carlson
All's I have to say about that is Christ would NEVER wear clothing that advertises for terrorist's but Greta and her Parents ALL do and while she made some fair points half of them were so rediculous that she just looked like an idiot. That's my opinion but it is fact based and completely accurate.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp MSW
Have YOU read the IPCC??? Obviously not as you are still stuck on denigrating a child rather than understanding her message. Hmm, that's what supposedly happened to your Christ who was an anarchist..
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Norma Battes
CO-G, You're pushing a chain up stairs. Do you know what logic sounds like to these people? THUD! Trust your faith, and know that we outnumber them.
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angel
Christians can be SO over-dramatic!!!
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Hobgoblin
And full of it, too.
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Guairdean
Greta appears to be an actress, the 19+ entries in her IMDB page show that she's building a resume. The entries are not automatic, the data is entered by the actor/actress or their agent. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10361418/?ref_=nv_sr_2?ref_=nv_sr_2 She also falls into the category of "useful idiot" or "useful innocent" for the climate alarmists. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot She's either been fooled by her handlers, or has instructed her handlers to ensure that she gets the exposure she needs to continue her climb in the "shock jock" media. Her rise was quick, and I pray that when she falls there's a soft landing.
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JT
Yes, she comes from a family of acting, theater, performance types. Her "performance" was way over the top. Sorry, I don't listen to children, let alone take my cue from them. Just the latest cause attracting the attentions seekers (and those pulling their strings) and (far more dangerously) the power seekers. The urge to save humanity is almost always a front for the urge to rule humanity. When will all the lemmings out there figure that out? Or will they ever?
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guidvce4
I agree. Its all a ploy by the leftists/globalists to control the world and elevate the elite to complete power. Look behind the curtain to see who is controlling this child and putting her forward with the faux "climate change" message. Probably the usuall suspects of the left the world over. The socialist/communist movement no doubt. And, no, the true lemmings will never figure it out. Those who are going along with it cuz its popular at the moment, may come around to being sensible adults and see it for what it is. An attempt to control the world, sorta like Stalin, Hitler and others have tried to do over the history of this planet. Sad for Greta. She will eventually implode, and be unable to have a normal life following all this hoopla. Just sayin'.
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Frank Villari
If she isn't being "handled" I applaud her vigor, but either way this simply sounds like so many other rants from the League of the Perpetually Offended who constantly offer up liberal amounts of offense and displeasure without offering any sustainable actionable solutions.
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Christopher Carlson
No it's not ok to compare that ignorant little girl to Jesus. He was a teacher of man, she sports clothes literally glorifying and advertising terrorist organizations and terrorism. Theres a huge difference. Jesus may have spent time with criminals but he would have NEVER advertised for them.
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Forget Muslin sleeper-cells. This is a ding-a-ling cell. Hahahahahahaha