Christianity is masterful at making us accept the status quo and all of the social evils that accompany it. It diverts attention from real problems by focusing attention on sexual issues, and when confronted with social evils such as poverty glibly dismisses them with platitudes such as, "The poor ye have always with you." When confronted with the problems of militarism and war, most Christians shrug and say, "That’s human nature. It’s always been that way, and it always will." One suspects that 200 years ago their forebears would have said exactly the same thing about slavery.
This regressive, conservative tendency of Christianity has been present from its very start. The Bible is quite explicit in its instructions to accept the status quo: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." (Romans 13:1–2)
Is it no wonder then that many people fear the Devil, yet they continue to shop at Walmart? Or, they fear the Rapture, but are complacent about globalization? Nope, makes perfect sense to me.
Hello Tink
ReplyDeleteI might not be the right guy for this? I tend to think a little different from my Christian Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I think? Maybe?
The way I see things, and have been spouting off about since I started blogging comes down to this: Religion is certainly a problem. I don't like politics and feel that Believers should avoid it. Changing policies to fit with a certain belief systems ideology is silly to me.
EXAMPLE: I believe homosexuality is a sin against God. But if two dudes or two chicks wanna get married, I say go ahead. It's still a sin whether they are married or not. I also believe that everyone else should leave them alone, that's between them and God. I believe they should have every right and entitlement every one else is allowed to have.
Their lifestyle doesn't threaten me or God's plan. I mean God gave us freewill for a reason. I don't have the right to run around trying to pass laws that try to make people stop sinning.
The Churches responsibility is to spread the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. That he came, died, and on the 3rd day rose again for the remission of our sins.
The Gay's sins are no worse than mine. I believe we should spend less time passing laws and more time evangelizing. I believe my Pastor has the right from the pullpit to say that the gay lifestyle is a sin against God, just like he preaches about lying, stealing etc.
I know even that can be offensive to the Gay. And for that I am truly sorry. But I also would be the first to say that there should be no difference between the way they are treated. And if they are treated rudely by religious snobs then blame them folks.
For all have sinned (especially feeno) and come short of the glory of God. But God proved his love for us, while we were yet sinners, He made a way for us to be forgiven. That is the Gospel message.
Is this a start? Peace out, feeno
Nice work..... To be continued I have to go to work. I do have some things to say about this, and will do later today when I get home. Thanks. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI've only read a few of your posts and am noticing a trend that you are pretty hostile mainly to Christianity/Christians.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering why.
Are Christians the sole reason for your atheism? Are you anti-every other religion and its god, too?
You seem to have some amount of knowledge about some passages in the Bible, so I wonder if you once had a past in Christianity.
Do you know equally much about the the Bhagavad Ghitas or Quran (etc) as you do the Bible? Why or why not?
It simply seems that anti-Christianity is your springboard...
I truly hope to read your answers.
@ Mike
ReplyDeleteGood question. I would not say that I have a past in Christianity. My father is atheist, and my mom tried her best to look like a Christian, mostly tried to set an example.
You are right, I most certainly have an anti Christian stance. No doubt about it. I am anti religion, but I focus more on the Christian position for three reasons.
1. I am working on a project this summer that specifies that I have an articulated opposition to Christianity. There is no focus on any other religion. So, I am trying to verse myself as much as possible in this one area. Perhaps, later I will shift my focus. But for now, for research purposes, this is where it is at. Blogging is almost my way of getting the piss and vinegar out of my Irish Canadian blood, so that when it comes time to get down to work, I am where I want to be.
2. To be honest, I have never really felt as personally imposed on as I have by Christianity. The other religions not so much. How many Jews or Muslims have come to your home to bring you the "truth"? In my world, this makes them fair game.
3. And, no other religion pushes their agenda on public policy like Christians do. That makes them fair game too. And, if you look at past postings on this blog, I have a pretty solid catalogue of offensive examples of this.
Later on, I will get more versed in other religions. For now, I have major time constraints and really just need to focus on what my project requires of me.
Take care.
@ Feeno
ReplyDeleteThank you once again for your respectful comments.
You may be surprised by this, but I do agree with some of what you are saying. If you feel that homosexuality is a sin, there is no need to apologize for it. If that is how you feel, that is it. I would just like to ask you a question, and we will come back to it. How would you vote for Prop 8 in Cali? Yes, or no? I will come back to this when you are kind enough to answer.
The Gay's sins are no worse than mine. I believe we should spend less time passing laws and more time evangelizing. I believe my Pastor has the right from the pullpit to say that the gay lifestyle is a sin against God, just like he preaches about lying, stealing etc.
Okay, technically you are right. There is free speech, and noone has the right to censor. This is where I disagree with you. People in positions of power (like a pastor, teacher, scientist, doctor, etc) have a certain responsibility to the people that they serve in the community. When they use these positions of power to incite bigotry and hate in their followers, they are serving to further marginalize a group trying to get basic civil rights that we all take for granted.
Now, for example, if a doctor or a teacher was discussing the sins of the homosexual to their students or patients, there is a governing body that is accountable to the public and can conduct a complaint process, or strip them of their license for the abuse. Not so with a pastor. This is where I have a problem. We elect governments to protect people and serve the public in promoting our interests. Let them do their work.
Hatred that is preached becomes this
http://www.godhatesfags.com/
People think that it is normal and acceptable to discriminate against groups. If it is not the gays, who is next? It is really scary when an institution enables hatred, and that is where my problem is with all of this.
Keep it coming Feeno.