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19 Jul 19
4 edits
@fmf saidNo, of course not, but it's not too surprising.
Was it appropriate for any Christians to have been chanting "Send her back!" about Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is a U.S. citizen but who was born in Somalia, at that political rally in North Carolina a couple of nights ago?
First, let's allow that there are many varieties of Christian expression, and those Christian mob-chanters do not necessarily represent all Christians or all American Christians.
Even so, what are these varieties of other Christians to do? Form a posse to go up there and rebuke them? Send thoughts and prayers?
Second, a lot of people compartmentalize their religion one way or another, depending on circumstances (not limited to Christians, by the way). However, expecting people to behave with perfect integrity is really just another version of the unrealistic and perhaps harmful Absolute-Purity fetish that some religions aspire to as an ideal.
Two point five: For some people (again, not just Christians), the religion is more of a group or political affiliation than a framework for spiritual development and transformation.
Third, there is an authoritarian foundation to the Abrahamic religions (named for a man who nearly killed his son "because God told him to" ), which I'm sure greatly appeals to people with authoritarian tendencies, because the mirror of the holy scriptures can be found to endorse attitudes and behaviors those people would have had anyway, just as with people who have more mystical or transpersonal tendencies.
Fourth, as the authoritarian Christians rely on Judge Godd (in whose image they are made) to lay down the Laww against their enemies, perhaps they also hope to see a similar representative on Earth that they can wholeheartedly support, a Strongman rather than the President of a democratic republic.
Fifth, an authoritarian cosmology or government can provide a kind of relief by absolving people of ethical considerations, whether by making decisions for them, or endorsing decisions they would have made anyway.
19 Jul 19
@caesar-salad saidWhat do you know, another ignorant person blathering a useless opinion
No, of course not, but it's not too surprising.
First, let's allow that there are many varieties of Christian expression, and those Christian mob-chanters do not necessarily represent all Christians or all American Christians.
Even so, what are these varieties of other Christians to do? Form a posse to go up there and rebuke them? Send thoughts and prayers?
Sec ...[text shortened]... derations, whether by making decisions for them, or endorsing decisions they would have made anyway.
19 Jul 19
@fmf saidThat's as may be.
I think overturning Roe v Wade would be entirely in line with the Christian principles of many Christain voters, your own support for Roe v Wade notwithstanding. Some Christians would argue that there is no more important an issue in America than getting "pro-life" judges onto the Supreme Court and that objections to and approval of other aspects of a Trumpism take a back seat to that.
So far, the majority of Americans still support Roe v. Wade. Illegally stacking the court (such as Trump stealing Obama's pick) notwithstanding, Roe v. Wade is still constitutional.
20 Jul 19
@caesar-salad saidWhile the picture you draw of Christians may be mostly true, there are others who stay closer to the faith that do not agree with the hypocrites.
No, of course not, but it's not too surprising.
First, let's allow that there are many varieties of Christian expression, and those Christian mob-chanters do not necessarily represent all Christians or all American Christians.
Even so, what are these varieties of other Christians to do? Form a posse to go up there and rebuke them? Send thoughts and prayers?
Sec ...[text shortened]... derations, whether by making decisions for them, or endorsing decisions they would have made anyway.
Don't lump us all together.
@fmf saidOh, he made his disclaimer early, but then also said, "even so", and went on to lambast Christians as a group.
Isn't it clear from what he posted that he's not lumping all Christians together?
I get it that he's a member of a group the Christians throughout history have condemned, so frankly I'm surprised he's shown any restraint.
I'm just trying to let him know, if you don't mind (and even if you do), that not all Christians are like those who condemn and judge others in this very forum while treating the commandments of Jesus as mere suggestions.
If you don't like it, then go bark at yourself for a change.
20 Jul 19
@caesar-salad saidFair enough.
I haven't.
Just thought I'd bring the point home. There are too many who enjoy treating us as a monolithic group, when that's just not true.
20 Jul 19
@suzianne saidWhy do you not "bring the point home" by confronting people who you think enjoy treating Christians as a monolithic group rather than browbeating a poster whose take on this issue you now concede is"fair enough"?
Fair enough.
Just thought I'd bring the point home. There are too many who enjoy treating us as a monolithic group, when that's just not true.