(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

Why do I even bother to look in christianity anymore? Half of what I see there literally makes me sick.

Edit. What disturbs me this morning in particular are (a) ignorant comments about homosexuality which never fails to upset me, and (b) willful ignorance regarding anti-Semitism.

For example, it's being discussed that Gibson has taken a scene out of his movie that shows a Jew lamenting that Jesus' blood will be on their heads forever. Comments such as, "But that's in the Bible, so it's historically true and COULDN'T POSSIBLY be anti-Semitic" are what has riled me.

Comments

Re:

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

I agree that Jesus would have hung out with such people. I just don't think 99% of the people who identify as Christian have the slightest fraction of compassion, love, generosity, or wisdom. YES, that is harsh - but it is based on YEARS of hard-learned lessons. The best of them stand by silently and do nothing while rich public figures use their God to excuse war, destruction of the environment, and social policies which contradict everything Jesus ever said about caring for the sick, poor, and imprisoned. The worst of them actively agitate for theocracy, encourage vigilanteeism in God's name, and commit violence because they find a Bible verse that supports them.
When's the last time you saw a street preahcer loudly exhorting people to feed the poor?

Re:

[publius-aelius.livejournal.com]

About a month ago, in the streets of New York City. If there's one SINGLE thing I agree with the Protestants about it's THIS: "Christianity" is not ultimately about what one does in church, or about one's "beliefs" (i.e. their vexed "faith" issue); it's about one's relationship with Jesus Christ, and the degree to which one allows that relationship to MODIFY all one's other relationships. I like to tell all my "pseudo-radical" friends when they're affronted by the presence or the overtures of some ragged beggar, that the ability to see Jesus Christ's face in his is the BEGINNING OF ALL RADICAL POLITICS. (And I mean that, I believe that all radical humanism in Western society and culture originates, historically, with Jesus Christ. Chateaubriand thought the same thing, about the origins of the great Revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries. Jesus Christ would probably start his "Second Coming" by demolishing the structured ecclesiastic establishments and burning their buildings to the ground. But that's His role, not ours.)

Re:

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

I have never heard a Protestant say that. Every preacher I know is all about the sin, the sin, the sin. And the sin is everything people do that brings them a few moments of happiness. Lately I have met a few - a VERY FEW, proportionate to the vast numbers I run across - Christians who are not into preaching about hell, but who sincerely want to help people. I'm sorry, but a few enlightened thinkers from a couple of centuries ago and a few loving people now does not measure up to the millions who use Christianity to excuse their bigotry, snobbishness, abusiveness, murders and wars. I tend to see them as people who would have been kind or compassionate anyway, but just happen to be Christian.

"I believe that all radical humanism in Western society and culture originates, historically, with Jesus Christ."

The loudest Christians seem to be adamantly opposed to humanism.
And please do not think I got this opinion from watching too many leftist tv shows or something. Until I was 15 years old I never even had a real conversation with a non-Christian person. This judgement of mine comes from suffering years of pain at their hands. It would take a massive "repentance" on the part of professed Christians nationwide of their cruelty to their fellow human beings, followed by a great movement towards heartfelt service of others, to make me even begin to alter my views.

Re:

[publius-aelius.livejournal.com]

Well, then, the only thing I can think of is to say, "Please let ME "repent," i.e. say "I'm sorry," for them, since I'm one of them. And please don't think I say that in any pietistic, supercilious spirit. The boy I've loved most in my life once said that about the behavior of his parents, in getting me terminated from a school where I used to work. He meant it, from the bottom of his heart, and that remark alone, all by itself, provided sufficient solace to get through the succeeding months, to recognize that not everybody shared his parents' egregious misjudgment of my character, and also to begin the cementing of what's probably going to be the most important relationship of my life. So, I mean it: I'm sorry! Please forgive "us." "We" are generally fools.

Re:

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

I know, I'm sorry... it is obvious to me from most things I've seen you say about the net that you are not the type of person I mean.
Its just that - when run into any group of people, or even any lone preacher, who identify/ies as Christian, I have come to learn to expect hatred directed towards me and my friends. To expect otherwise would be foolishly naive on my part.
I've been called - whore, sinner, heretic, blasphemer, Satanist, Satan worshipper, persecuter of Jesus, witch, fornicator, liar, deciever, wicked, evil, possessed, hell bound, seducer of children, deluded dupe of Satan, God-hater, drunkard, pervert, sorceress... and I could go on and on and on. I've been kicked, shoved, screamed at, harrassed, leafleted, had my personal property destroyed, stalked, spammed, had my character assassinated, and was thrown out of my god-fearing parents' home. All of these things happened not because I hurt anyone or broke any laws, but because I was doing something "immoral".
So I get mad and probably over react (sheepish grin)