Monday, 27 April 2009
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On Hating Christians: A Follow-Up
Sunday, Revelife featured a blog titled, Christians: The Last Politically Acceptable Group to Hate. Intending to read this after washing my face, my mind began its own sarcastic meandering as the title echoed through my thoughts:"Come on...the last acceptable group to hate?! Everyone has their moment of being loathed, and sure, we're hated now...but the last? Has the media hated on the Hindus yet? What about the Buddhists? And certainly the Scientologists will always be hated...or at least laughed at...as much as the Christians!"
Then I got serious and realized we just may be the last and most hated group of people in this world, especially as the Bible prophesy pans out. Certainly we were the first group to be hated, if "we" is defined as those who follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and then Jesus. Keep in mind that Abraham and all the others believed in Jesus though they never saw him, and thus they kind of do fit into the category of "Christian" (Hebrews 11).
Ever wonder about Cain? Whether he repented and came into reconciliation with God? Or if he instead hated his Creator and then by connection, his family, who didn't share that hatred? Then there were the people of Noah's day. Certainly they hated Christians...until they died, anyway. And the whole world knows that the Jews are one of the most-hated groups of people in history. Then came the prophets, and flesh-and-blood Jesus, and all his followers in general. Yes...Christians are hated...and in modern Western Culture, the media most especially, it is politically acceptable.
The Revelife post didn't really touch on any of this; it's just my mind that went here, probably because the topic seems to be a big one among conservative Christians. A local talk-show host constantly fills his listeners in on the latest anti-Christian news, constantly warning about what the media and the ACLU is doing through the television and the courts to belittle and counteract Christian-work. Of course as a group we're not perfect, and certainly there are more than a handful of not-really Christians who persist in giving us a bad name...but I don't understand the general surprise I sometimes sense at the backlash.
"You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." - Matthew 10:22, ESV
Anybody, Christian or not, knows that we're a wonderful target. We have these crazy abhorrences for killing infants or not wanting people to get hooked on illicit substances. We frown upon engaging in swinger-activity or "casual encounters." We tend to not like pedophilia and bestiality...go to Revelife to see what that author wrote about.
We're a target...big surprise. We seem to go against all things "fun" and we do these strange, nonsensical things. Still...I'd rather be in a stuffy, stinky, overcrowded boat as the floodwater rises than to be outside banging on the side.
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About the Author
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- From: Miss_Goldenrod
- Name: Laura
- About Me: A Christian living in Metro-Detroit who, when not working as a Horticultural Technician (Plant Lady) or volunteering with the Macomb Literacy Partners, reads, writes, watches too much television, and hangs out with family and friends. I share a home with a crotchety parakeet, a tankful of fish, and an adorable ferret (see photograph...under my skirt). To visit my Xanga alias, go to www.xanga.com/cygnus33
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Comments (188)
What drivel. You think the ACLU is an anti-Christian group? Because they fight bigotry?
People don't hate Christians. I'm indifferent to Christians. The people I have a problem with are those who hatemonger in the name of Christianity. And we all know they aren't really Christians anyway.
I think the ACLU is an organization that adheres to Christian ideals. Too bad so few who call themselves Christian do that.
@tulipsinspring@xanga - which christian ideals?
@nyclegodesi24@xanga - Love thy neighbor. Judge not lest ye be judged. Notions of love, and caring for one's neighbor, and not nastily screaming hatred in the name of a religion.
For starters. Although, if you have to ask that question, my guess is that answering it is a waste of time. I've seen so much hate-mongering in the name of Christianity that I am left with a very negative impression of the faith. But Christians shouldn't whine about that, when they themselves are to blame by violating the tenets of their own faith.
Luckily, I've met some non-judgmental Christians, who have helped me to understand that it's not the faith, but a distortion of the faith, that leads to the hate-mongering.
The truth is that relatively few people genuinely hate Christians as it is. Far more people hate what they mistakenly believe Christians to be. An even larger number of of people find the hypocritical and distinctly unloving behavior of many of those who are quick to profess Christ in public to be thoroughly disgusting.
@tulipsinspring@xanga - With regard to the ACLU, it's fairly clear that the organization does not actually have any particular affiliation with Christianity and supports the rights of members of all religions. But it does frequently take on the courts to protect religious liberties and most of the allegations regarding anti-Christian stances taken by the ACLU are false or misleading.
I'm not even a member of the ACLU, but I've never understood why they are despised so virulently in conservative Christian circles. All it takes is a little fact-checking to see that they aren't out to get Christianity.
@Nous_Apeiron@xanga - I know the ACLU has no Christian affiliation. What I actually said is they adhere more to Christian ideals than those who hatemonger in the name of Christianity. By that, I mean their advocacy against persecution and discrimination, not an overt expression of Christianity.
I think Christianity, in its true form, is a beautiful faith. But what I see so much of in the U.S. isn't true Christianity. And I'd be much quicker to call the ACLU's actions Christian than I would those of the hatemongers who scream "torture those Muslim terrorists."
I agree, people don't hate Christians. I think, though, that the "Christian" media tells them that to try to discredit opposing views. It's like any other faith. Some people are smart enough to see through that, and some are not, buying into the silliness that the ACLU is an anti-Christian organization.
@tulipsinspring@xanga - The ACLU is concerned with emphasing the 1st and 14th amendment; that's what I had thought at least. I never knew they made their cases built on "loving" and "caring" for each other.
@nyclegodesi24@xanga - Their actions clearly demonstrate "loving" and "caring," and it doesn't sound to me as if you've bothered spending any time learning what they really do. Do you just let other people tell you what to think, without investigating yourself?
@tulipsinspring@xanga - I remember what you said. I still disagree that the ACLU is adhering to Christian ideals.
I would agree, however, that in many cases the ideals of the ACLU regarding protecting personal liberties have lead the organization's members to take actions that a Christian of good conscience would agree with. But I would emphasize that the convergence of Christian ideals and and the ideals of the ACLU at times is incidental to the organization's aims, not because of those aims.
Honestly, who isn't a target of someone's hatred?
Honestly...it's a fine line between being called out for being ludacris and being hated. Sure, there's some stuff being lauded. But I think to be a hated group qualifies as more than just disagreement. But oh well...can't knock one's determination in something.
Umm...as a Christian who grew up Jewish, I think it's a stretch to allow ourselves to get comfortable in playing the role of the contant victim. Are there people who hate us? Sure, but there are people who will always find an excuse to hate their fellow neighbor, whether it's religion, skin color, political affiliation, brown eyes, whatever you can think of.
I feel like I've said this about a thousand times on a thousand different Revelife articles...Christians need to take a good look at themselves and see if they are being hated simply for being Christian, or hated for being jerks. It's true that a lot of "Christians" bring some of the hatred on themselves, when they choose to misrepresent Christ. The people who choose to hate them need to wise up and realize that Christianity is a religion of love that doesn't condone hatred, but they are unable to see that because of all the bad examples out there.
If all Christians did a better job of representing Christ, people may still dislike us or otherwise think we're a strange bunch, but they shouldn't have a reason to hate us.
I don't mind if Christians are hated because of Christ. That's just fine and dandy. But when we are hated for the hateful things we do, falsely in Christ's name...THAT'S when we deserve the hatred.
WE Christians in America have earned a great deal of our hatred. We haven't even come close to being hated on account of Christ. I think it's shameful for us to claim the world's hatred on account of Christ, when that hatred is earned with our hateful actions. When we're hated we've got it coming to us.
BP
i am so tired of hearing christians complain about this.
normally, i would tell you that as a liberal atheist i have a lot of christian friends of all denominations and political persuasions and i respect them and they respect me and we get along just fine.
but you're right. for the most part, i do hate christians. you guys are assholes. it happens that a big part of your religion seems to be legally restricting the fundamental rights of non-christians or anyone who chooses to live outside of your lifestyle. and as long as you do that, the people that you opress are not going to like you. and we're going to be vocal about it.
so either stop trying to legislate your religion, or accept that as long as you're forcing it on other people we're not going to like you and quit complaining.
@sugar__tits@xanga - Since you're so tired of hearing about it, what are you doing subscribing to a Christian blog community?
@efarns@xanga - reading everything you write and then commenting/critisizing as i see fit.
got a problem with it? then what are you doing reading my comments?
Hmm, I agree. And I like the way you wrote it! lol. Hope you don't mind if I post this up on my weblog myself, just so I can have easier access to it. :)
thanks for sharing your mind on this topic
@efarns@xanga - no. i don't want your hugs. you can hug me when you vote for gay rights and abortion rights and better education funding and stop trying to legislate your religion.
You really want people to hate you guys, huh?
If our Lord was not popular, why would it surprise us that we (his followers) are not goin to be well liked either?
They do not realize it, but the Bible says it is a spiritual phenomenon. Although I believe it is also a choice.
The horrible thing is that they try to justify themselves for doing so. And they are very, very good at doing so. Even without us helping them. But they do actively deceive, sabotoge and conspire against us nonetheless. If only people knew how much. I don't know, maybe its good most don't seem to.
Btw, your pic is so cute. I love the ferret btw.
We have these crazy abhorrences for killing infants or not wanting people to get hooked on illicit substances. We frown upon engaging in swinger-activity or "casual encounters." We tend to not like pedophilia and bestiality...
See, this is a prime example of why some Christians get people's backs up. Christianity does not hold the moral monopoly - there are buddhists, hindus, muslims and *gasp* atheists who agree with all of these. And no one - NO ONE - but an extreme fringe would endorse pedophilia or bestiality. To imply that this it is strictly a Christian perogative to be appalled by such things is insulting to, well, pretty much everyone else.
More broadly, for American Christians to go on as if they're a persecuted minority, beset on all sides by tormenters as if they were in ancient Rome is ridiculous. Is it truly so difficult to cope with people disagreeing with you? Donning the mantle of the "victim" is comforting, I'm sure, because it automatically casts others as "oppressor" while removing the burden of responsibility for the situation from your own shoulders. You're welcome to the pose, but don't be surprised with the subsequent irritation directed your way.
@Nous_Apeiron@xanga - The ACLU supports the legalized sale of child pornography. They were successful in having the Ten Commandments removed from our courthouses. The Ten Commandments are not religious, they are normative and apply to all men. The ACLU even went after the Boy Scouts in San Diego to get them thrown off of land leased to them by the government. They used the excuse of separation of church and state.
The ACLU works to destroy religion in the public sphere. The ACLU is a menace to civilized society.
@LoBornlite@xanga - The ACLU does not support the sale of child pornography, or at least not in the unlimited way that your post implies. You're usually above that sort of smear. Their actual position, and reasons for it, are here: http://www.aclu.org/privacy/speech/14793leg20020508.html
(I can't say I fully support their position, but it's not as absolute as you implied).Also, the Ten Commandments are very much religious: it's right there in the name - who else but God is doing the commanding? They're certainly not all reflected in secular law: I'm free to covet anyone's ass or even wife as I please, with no fear of legal sanction in most of the world. This is how it should be.