I think it a mistake to allow a small minority of extremists to govern our view of an entire group of people. Yes, there are people out there calling themselves Christians who will tell you that you are going to hell because you are an atheist and, yes, it will rightfully enrage you. The fact is, however, that the large majority of practicing Christians are not at all like that and do not deserve that level of vitriol. It’s like hating a billion Muslims because a few thousand are horrible people.
Christians who actually understand what it is that they purportedly believe realize that how they live their lives and treat others has a far greater influence on people than trying to beat them to death with dogma, and it makes them far better ambassadors of their faith.
It doesn’t bother me in the slightest that christians believe what they believe, or anyone at all believes whatever they want to believe.
It is when they push for legislation and social changes based on their beliefs that secularists need to stand up and resist. When secularists resist the changes that are being pushed by the christians who want to see the country run in a more theocratic way, they villainize the secularists, and claim that the more mainstream christians are on their side when they push for their agendas.
And, keep in mind also, that many of these very vocal “christians” also do hate all Muslims because of a the actions of small minority of their population.
The problem isn’t “pushing for legislation and social changes based on their beliefs”—everybody who pushes for legislation and social changes does so because of their beliefs, unless they’re doing so out of sheer self-interest.
And as I pointed out before, the vast majority of the leaders of the American Civil Rights movement were black ministers and pastors, who used the language of religion to push for the end of segregation. President Obama has mentioned his faith and religious beliefs when pushing for the ACA or accepting Syrian refugees.
I think it’s a bit simplistic to claim folks need to stand up against religious people when religious people push for legislation and social change on the basis of their beliefs.
There are those who push for legislation and social change based on belief, and there are those who push for such things based on evidence.
The confounding part of it being christian beliefs is that those who are trying to get things changed claim that all christians are on their side, and ascribe immorality to anyone who disagrees.
You do have to differentiate between those who adopt the name Christian, or any other religion, out of actual conviction and those who use the name as a cover story for deplorability. The criticism here is of those who claim to follow Christ but follow a belief system that has nothing to do with anything he ever preached, all while denouncing anyone who doesn’t share their own pet hatreds.
Just look at how hard so-called Christians are explaining away, excusing and straight out ignoring that their boy is a serial adulterer, a liar, a slanderer, a cheat, etc. He’s a very immoral man, yet they approve of him.
As I said in the other thread, the 10 commandments are apparently no longer in effect for American conservative “Christians”.
No respect for you people anymore. Just none. You’re base trash who obey no rules in your own lives yet clamor to apply them to others.
It would be easier to do that, if when you reply to a “Christian in name only” (CINO), the rest of the christian community didn’t come to their defense. They may not agree with what other christians are doing, but they consider an attack on the Phelps clan to be an attack on them as well. They will take the side of a christian over that of any atheist every time.
He says he’s a Christian, therefore he’s forgiven of his sins, just like they are. Besides, he’s gonna nominate judges who will save the babies and the guns. Simple, really.
I should add that conventional Christian doctrine is that forgiveness of one’s sins requires contrition, repentance, and reparation too. Apparently that’s all now waiveable under some circumstances.
When they push for preferential treatment from government, bigotry, intolerance, discrimination, and denial of various medical treatments (and other things) for OTHER people not of their “faith” (and hide behind the Bible they do NOT actually follow), then their so called “beliefs” need to be opposed.