Just another late night post, resulting from late night thinking.
Looking back, I've realized that for some reason, it's become the case that we confuse what is immoral with what is "progressive" or modern.
Suddenly, being conservative is almost an insult. Or perhaps it already is.
I mean, all I need to do is say I'm Christian, and bang! Suddenly I lose all credibility.
If I say I'm against abortion.
People tell me it's because of my religion that I say so.
Never mind the fact that I do believe that there is a better option in adoption etc. Never mind that there's stats that show how it has negative effects.
No. They tell me that pro-life freaks made up the stats (yes, I've had this said to me before) that embryos are like a cancer or tumour, they have no life till they're born (and yes, this has also been said to me). Oh yes.Don't listen to the conservative boy.
If i say I'm against gay marriage.
Bam! I'm a homophobe. Stuck in the year 1600. Never mind that heterosexual relationships are proven to be the best way to maintain a balanced society. Never mind the fact that like it or not, there is something special about when a man and woman come together.
If I say I'm against premarital sex.
It's because I'm a prude, and the church is doing it's best to restrain my true sexuality.
Never mind the fact that most guys would rather marry a girl who is a virgin. Never mind the fact that it contributes to so many social problems, unplanned pregnancies, STDs (or STIs or whatever you like to call them). No... haha... it's because I believe in an outdated religion that doesn't make sense. Never mind that your housemate is keeping you up with noises he makes at night with his girlfriend (also unfortunately a true story), the moment I mention that he shouldn't be doing that, it's because of my religion.
I'm labelled as such, simply because there are people out there who aren't willing to be responsible enough to draw the line where it needs to be drawn. There are people out there who are more interested in getting what they want, rather than what they actually need.
Ask yourself now, in the three issues I just mentioned, and everything else so many people tell us is right, whether it truly is right to do away with the old morals to make way for what is less conservative.
Is it right?
No, I don't want any weaseling out of the issue with exceptions like "what if it's a dire circumstance" or "what if a couple is really in love and they can't help it?". It's true, these cases do exist, but they are the exception, not the rule. We do not say all murder is acceptable simply because it is when done in self-defence. Similarly, we do not say drug abuse is alright just because some people cannot resist the temptation to try them.
You know that most of the people pushing for the acceptance of these things, the abolishment of what is truly good and right, you know that they want it because they want it. Not because it's better, or right, or progressive.
And you know, if you have any sense at all, that these things shouldn't be right or acceptable. Ever.
Perhaps you can write it off like everyone does, and say it's because I'm a Christian.
It is because I am one that I disagree with these things.
But that shouldn't discredit my stance, because what I believe in is rational, or else I wouldn't believe in it.
You know the problems issues such as these cause, we see it in the news, and even in our daily lives.
I'm a Christian, so what? I'm "conservative", so what?
I'm standing up for what is truly right, even though my life would be so much easier if I just agreed with everyone else who says otherwise.
It's the only way of living that's worth it.
What do you think? Do you ever find yourself in a similar situation, or definitely not?
Comments (36)
Hector, Craig, and Nate are masters of stereo typing anyone who is a Christian. That's simply what bigots do.
But the reversal is Brad, Jamie, and James all claim to be christian and do the same thing to all non Christian.
Amazing where this country has gone in this hand-basket!!!
bravo... something I've been echoing... it's a wonder how we can live in such an open-minded society and yet be so judged by said open-minded folk... I find it pathetic and comic at the same time... pathetic in that it's these folk who do such and claim to be tolerant and diverse and open-minded... comic in the apparent and abberrant hypocrisy that I can't help by laugh at them... in that sad, pitied sort of laugh....
My thoughts, IOW.
Well I don't know what IOW (above comment) means, but I really love your post!!! and I say a hearty AMEN! Â And it is indeed refreshing to see a young man who believes this and sounds like he lives his life according to these beliefs!
What strikes me the most, too, is that we have modern-day examples of problems arising from all these moral issues not being given enough credit, and then when they look at the Bible STATING that suching things need to be minded a certain way, they scoff and say it doesn't make sense. It's as if they have been told not to play with guns, then shoot themselves in the foot, and wonder later why their foot is bleeding profusely. And those who argue that there is no real true completely miss the irregularity in their own statement. If there is no real truth, then even their own statement won't hold up because they're making a statement they believe to be...get this...TRUE!
If morality is relative, then NO ONE can argue when they are offended. Because if mere beliefs are all that matter, then we cannot hold it against someone for violating what we believe to be fair and just. CS Lewis said in his book "Mere Christianity", that if morality is a mere social construct and applicable only to that society, then we could not hold it against Hilter for what he did to the Jews. Because in the Nazi society, that was perfectly right and good to do. We would have fought a war with no foundation to support our claims for fair play. And popular opinion (often what makes or breaks what is deemed as right or wrong) never works, either, for if we only ever go with what we prefer, we may not get what is best. I PREFER Peanut Butter M&M's to snack on. But if I'm getting sick and lacking REAL nutrition, it would be BEST for me eat some fruits and veggies.
Ultimately, whenever we call foul, especially to against certain moral standards - and even more so to the standards raised by Christianity and God - then whether we agree with this or not, we are testifying to a foundation of moral standards and what we claim to be truthful that were established BEFORE we even existed. Otherwise to what do we compare our claims of foul play against? Some people use the laws of the nation to justify their claims of right and right. And in some cases, that's perfectly acceptable. If the law is to stop at all red lights while driving, then someone who gets T-boned by a driver who did not stop at a red light has every right to claim they were violated. This is not a spiritual law set up by God, but God does call us to obey the laws of the nation so long as it does not violate his laws. And if nothing else, this is just common sense: you can't drive through another car like it was a ghost...someone has to make way for the other. But other laws, such as that against murder, getting drunk, marital bigotry, and others, have spiritual foundations. We can argue this point back and forth and many will do so just to argue. But you must ask, if a nation has a certain law at all, on what does it base the law on as to whether it is truly right or wrong? If a law is just or unjust, there must be something to compare it to - a standard that messures what is truly good or not.
So with all that said, those who have critisized Mr Mathias (this post's author) and others like him (myself included...I am a Christian as well) for believing in a God who is holy and just and good and real, I would ask: We believe in a God who established this world in a certain and good way. Yet you deny God at all, and many of you go even further to deny any real standard for right and wrong. If that is the case, then on what do you base your ideas of morality? How do you discern what is good and true? Because without a foundational standard, your ideas of good and bad are little more than opinions. And opinions are not always based on what is true. This is not a question I need an answer I need from anyone for. It's just to get you thinking. Because, all too often, we Christians are accused of being brainwashed and just going with the flow because that's what we're told to believe. You assume that none of us are smart enough to actually examine the facts. True, people on both sides of the fence are guilty of that...but not everyone on the Christian side believes blindly.
@leadworshipper82 - Agreed and AGREED.
It can definitely go both ways for any certain group of people. Although I am the opposite of what you believe in, of course it shouldn't change what you believe in. The main difference is if you try to assert your beliefs onto other people who do not share the same view as you. There is also the discussion of certain issues that really shouldn't be voted on by the people (like gay marriage). That's when people really get up in arms about the issues.
You live by your convictions, you do what you feel is right, and don't want to be labeled/insulted for it. So do the people that have different (perhaps conflicting) convictions. Everyone sees the logic in what they believe. People have different morals/opinions, and yours have no precedence over anybody elses. People do things because they believe it is right. You may not think it is right, you might think they do it because they want to, but it doesn't stop the fact that it is just a difference in opinion. If my roomate decided he was going to try and tell me what is or isn't right and push his morals on me, I would probably get a different roomate, because that roomate would be rude and disrespectful. It is always best to give respect before expecting it. Best of luck to you.
Meh. I just don't buy into the "I'm a persecuted Christian" thing. Not saying you're being whiny or anything, but I hear this a lot that Christians are attacked. By a minority of angry nutjobs? Sure. Are you having to go to church through the back entrance for fear of being harmed or harassed? Are people knocking on your door or stopping you in public places to tell you how you should renounce God and become atheist? Not likely.
Christians are the overwhelming majority in the country and hold a high amount of political power. I'm living in an area now where alcohol isn't even sold on Sundays. Not even at Applebee's. The next county over is having a heated debate on whether or not to even sell it. In this state, the ban on interracial marriage was just taken off of the state constitution sometime after my white husband and I were married. Christian lawmakers used scripture to label my marriage "immoral". There are children being shipped back and forth in foster care and group homes while Christian politicians and voters won't open up the legal door for gays to adopt. The Christian military violates the rights of my husband and I at every event and ceremony where a chaplain commands everyone to pray.
I've been told that I'm just "young and confused" and that I should be Christian just because I'm a black woman in America. I've had people completely cut me out of their lives socially, just because I didn't share their beliefs. If anybody is attacked for their moral convictions, it's the rest of us.
These issues are all so complicated...I know that for myself, there are a lot of factors that came into my formulation of whether these things are right or wrong (and for the most part, I agree with you, poster). I think that people are very one-dimensional in their thinking on a lot of things...if someone with religious convictions doesn't condone certain activities or lifestyles, the non-religious people assume we make those decisions just because we're little Jesus robots and want to think we're better than other people.
But at the same time, I think a lot of non-religious people get treated badly when Christians just assume that they live without morals because they're bad people and/or they like offending us. We can't assume to know everything about them based on them getting involved with things we don't believe in.
Of course, I just also read a post about first impressions and people's tendencies to make snap judgments. I have little hope of that kind of thing stopping. Like...ever. Whether we're Christian or not.
@LiberalArmyWife@xanga - Wow you live in a strange part of the country.
from the perspective of a self-proclaimed liberal....
it's not that i want to change your mind. i really don't care whether you personally believe that abortion is right, that gay marriage is right, etc.
it's the issue of privacy. just because you feel something is morally wrong, that does not give you the privilege of interfering with a situation that does not affect you in the slightest. two men choosing to get married does not harm your life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness in any way. same goes for a woman getting an abortion. your personal morals should not affect my rights. as a non-Christian, i resent the idea of being told what to do based on a religion i do not adhere to.
for example, i refuse to drink alcohol on weeknights (with the exception of special occasions). i personally think it reflects poorly upon an individual. same goes with drinking alone. but i do not seek to make either act illegal. i respect an individual's right to make choices for themselves. and i'm not so self-righteous to believe that what i feel is morally acceptable should apply to everyone. plus, how does it affect me if a stranger wants to get drunk alone at home?
essentially, i view conservative morality as the viewpoint that one has the right (usually God-given) to save America from the heathens/pagans/homosexuals/socialists. it's ignorant. who are you to decide what i need? you know absolutely nothing about me. i also connect conservative morality with groups of people who would rather hang out at funerals with "God Hates Fags" signs, than volunteer at a shelter... or holding fake pictures of dead babies, instead of adopting and actually HELPING to solve the problem. conservatives seem quick to condemn and unable to actually offer alternative ideas. making abortion illegal won't change how many unplanned pregnancies there are. keeping gay marriage illegal won't stop homosexuality.
"And you know, if you have any sense at all, that these things shouldn't be right or acceptable. Ever."
This statement may in fact be the reason why your religion is stereotyped. Just saying.
You're not being attacked. No one is. There are just too many conflicting beliefs out there. Liberals think they're surrounded by nothing but conservatives. And I have been. And it's highly unpleasant to be discriminated against. From either side.
personally, i think morality is relative. people will get on the offensive if they feel that you think your morals are superior to theirs, and when they feel you expect them to adhere to your moral code.
it amuses that you defend your stance on virginity by saying "most guys would rather marry a girl who is a virgin." as if preference were an absolution, and as if male preference were all that mattered.
@too_pretty_to_die@xanga - that was a great comment!
Welllll...you have to see that almost no one who isn't Christian holds all of those "conservative Christian" ideals. That's probably why people are telling you that your religion/family is indoctrinating you.
@nidan@xanga - Where did that come from? Was that really necessary?
Since all of those convictions are Christian based, it is a correct stereotype. Nothing wrong with that, unless you're ashamed of being a Christian?
@MissPixieGlitter@xanga - i believe, though i could be wrong, that his point in saying that(HIS POINT NOT MINE) is that when a woman gives herself to a man premaritally, she devalues herself in that particular mans eyes. the whole "try before you buy" thing backfires. because once he has sampled the goods he wants to buy a pristine version of what he just sampled, thus leaving said woman out in the cold. i would balk at saying that this is a tride and true rule, but i am certain statisticly speaking that it does happen. how often? how could i know?
@Shy___Away@xanga - way to miss the entire point of the article. but answer me this. if they are all "Christian based" how would you explain muslims, jews, budhists, hindus or even secularists that hold the same convictions for whatever reason?
@ionekoa@xanga - I didn't miss the entire point of the post, dork, although that was poor wording to state "Christian". I get what he's saying- he's pissed because people brush off his moral convictions with "Oh, it's just because you're Christian." That can get annoying, I know, because I used to have the same problems. It bothered me that the reasons I had thought through and deliberated were being dismissed just because I was also a Christian. I had put intelligent thought into those decisions!
However, it is silly to say that being abstinent, pro-life, and against gay marriage is a completely typical mindset. Maybe it's just the people I hang around, but I don't know ANYBODY who is all three of those things. (Except my old church, and my Christian family.) These things are all marks of religion, and a set of pre-determined moral codes. Most people aren't born thinking they should wait for a legal ceremony to bang one person they'll spend the rest of their life with. That, along with homophobia, is taught.
agreed
i find myself in situations like that occasionally
but most people are respectful about my religion
x
@Shy___Away@xanga - since to have a phobia means you have a fear of something, to believe that the gay lifestyle is wrong and in contradiction to God's word, is not a phobia.  It is really annoying that people say/think that.  I am willing to bet that the person who said she thinks it is wrong to drink alone isn't told she has a drinking alone phobia!
@subSacred@xanga - Exactly, and I'm willing to admit that my perspective is a bit different for that reason. Conservative Christians in San Francisco probably feel as violated and ignored as I do. However, they hold the "moral" majority countrywide, so I can't really sympathize. Especially when there's this idea that Christian morals are superior. Morals are morals and I resent the fact that the religious community has taken the idea hostage. Climb down from your crosses, folks. Geez.