A War on Christianity?
Posted on May 23rd, 2006 by catalyst into the Uncategorized categoryI am kind of late getting to this topic, but I suppose better late than never. Quite a few religious groups and conservative media outlets have been claiming that there is a War on Christianity. Other than the poor war metaphor, I think it's a valid question. Is our society unecessarily attacking Christians and their beliefs? Or is this question just another example of insecurity among Christian fundamentalists?
The Washington Post asked the question recently and received several responses. Here are a few of the best:
Conroe, Texas:
Do I feel there is a war on Christianity? Absolutely NOT. There is a Marketing War among those who's business is Church and profits come from a "Chicken Little mentality" about scaring people into submission.
If there is a War on Christianity it's a war among factions trying to manipulate the public for funds to support special interest groups and divide the nation along religious lines.
All need to read the 'Sermon on the Mount' and use that as a guide to profiteering off of someone's faith.
Leesburg, Virginia:
Laws are being passed which undermine Christian values (approval of same-sex marriage, abortion on demand). Hollywood routinely glorifies sex before (or outside) marriage, children who are disrespectful to parents and foul language, while little positive mention is made of abstinence, obedience or wholesomeness. Tolerance is demanded and granted — unless you are talking about the Christian's freedom to express his beliefs. Rather than a war against Christianity, I see it as resistance to Jesus — another taboo word in our culture. His powerful, personally threatening message produces either repentance and freedom or rebellion
Edinburg, Texas:
I'm a Mexican-American woman from a predominantly Hispanic culture where Catholicism and the Catholic Church have always had enormous influence.
Here in the Southwest, we do not see any attacks on Christianity. What we have seen in the last 10 years is what can only be described as a blatant, almost sacrilegious use of religion by political extremists to advance political agendas. When I hear Tom DeLay claim that attacks against him are attacks against Christianity, I cringe. Mr. DeLay and those of his ilk have successfully exploited peoples fears and exploited the use of Christianity to advance their extreme agendas.
What Americans should fear is not attacks on their religion, but those who in the name of a Christian god would destroy those who they neither understand, nor have respect for.
What do you think?
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May 23rd, 2006 at 6:58 am
Where so many Evangelical Christians in the US are trying to build “Christian City” (think Colorado Springs, CO) on earth, a place where Victorian era morals, decency and propriety reign supreme, the constant tide of moral decay in the world would seem to make war with their agenda.
Their agenda is wrong. What they consider a ‘War on Christianity’ would end abruptly IF they would only do what the Bible tells them to do concerning the wicked, unclean, depraved:
He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still. (Revelation 22:11 ASV)
What they consider a “War on Christianity” is true in one sense - but it is not the world vs. Christians, it is Christians who refuse to heed scripture and instead try to force morals on the world who are making war against God who has told us to “let them” be.
May 23rd, 2006 at 7:37 am
I’ll reserve judgment until the new Ann Coulter book comes out. I don’t know what to think until she tells me.
May 23rd, 2006 at 8:09 am
I don’t agree, unless you want to call it a war whenever the rest of the world doesn’t subscribe to the same religion as yours.
May 23rd, 2006 at 8:17 am
Many evangelical/fundamentalist Christians not only feel persecuted, but want to feel persecuted. Afterall, many fundy Christians believe the enemy’s “attack” against them is a sign of God’s work in them. So, there is an incentive to “feel” victimized.
Of course, there is a huge difference between being “persecuted” and being “unpopular” or disagreed with. American fundy Christians are currently at the peak of their political power. There is nothing to stop a fundy Christian from expressing and living their faith. Yes, abortion, gay rights movement, divorce, pre-marital sex, etc., all exist, but their existence does not persecute fundy Christians’ faith in any way.
May 23rd, 2006 at 8:41 am
I like to think of Christ’s words as the supreme court of scripture. What does He say on this subject? Matt. 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring
peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
To get the full effect of what He said, read Mt. 10:34-42.
I try to agree with HIM.
May 25th, 2006 at 6:35 am
I’m not sure where you’re going with this, but you seem to imply that “bringing a sword” is used to justify hostile actions against non-Christians. It’s attitudes like that that brought us the atrocities of the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. The context of this scripture is that Jesus was warning his disciples that they would be persecuted and hated for preaching the Gospel. It is NOT an excuse to persecute others for disagreeing with your slant on specific issues of morality. You seem to forget the prior verses:
13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
You can’t very well be innocent if you’re breaking the law to force your views upon others, which is VERY different than preaching the Gospel.
I think that both conservatives and liberals are guilty of hypocrisy when it comes to this conflict of ideology. Too often it is a double-standard of “tolerance of all opinions - just as long as you agree with us”. I don’t think it’s fair to point the finger just at one side in this matter.
May 25th, 2006 at 7:11 am
Some translations suggest ’sword’ was more of a metaphor for ‘conflict’ - that he did not come to bring peace but conflict … elsewhere the WORD itself is described as a ’sword’ and in Revelation a ’sword’ comes out of Christ’s mouth … in those passages it seems like the term ’sword’ has more to do with judgment - differentiating between sin and righteousness, flesh and spirit - where the ’sword’ is a standard to identify and separate good and evil …
May 25th, 2006 at 11:15 am
I do not agree with “hostile actions against non-Christians”, as it is a violation of His commandments (Matt. 5:39). I meant to clarify that there is always going to be conflict and oppostion to Christianity. It should not be a suprise.
The question this thread asked was if there was a war against Christianity. That was all I meant to comment on.
May 25th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Is there a “war” against Christianity?
Well, I suppose as long as Christ is not here and ruling the planet then yes.
I wouldn’t use the word “war”, though. At least not against “Christianity”. If you want to say there is a “war” going on, then I think it is against CHRIST not against Christianity.
(Since the words “Christ” and “Christianity” are often used to refer the same thing, when in fact they are often diametrically opposed.)
June 8th, 2006 at 3:32 am
I definately believe that there is a war on Christianity, however, I believe that this war began at the time that Christ started His Ministry. As a Christian I believe that the events that are taking place in the world today are a direct result of the Holy Scriptures being fulfilled. The Bible shows those of us who read it with the help of the Holy Spirit, that things will only get worse for those of us who believe. In sight of that, now is not the time to cower and retreat just because people reject us… They also rejected Christ, but that didn’t stop Him from finishing His course and dying for a sinful world. Christians must unite, draw closer to God, and present Jesus as He is to a lost a dying world, before it’s too late.
June 8th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
I get so tired of the people finding a demon behind every stone and a prophecy being fulfilled in every turn of the page in the press. That is so secondary to why we are here. Of course you are going to have trials, tribulations and unfair things happen to you. Of course the enemy does not like you. Of course the world doesn’t like faith.
I am surprised that people are so surprised by all of this.
June 12th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
I think Bill O’Reilly sort of started this deal. Could O’Rielly have finally come to the realization that the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus have nothing to do with Christianity? All I ask is Please, Please don’t hurt the Easter Bunny. The peeps and the Cadbury eggs and the hollow bunnies (they were in the war) just want to live in peace in their little plastic grass nests
Where I have problems is when I hear obvious attempts to distort the truth… I have read people claim that Christians are being “persecuted” and “censored” in America. When I have asked for specifics I get no reply. I see bumper stickers saying MAKE PRAYER IN SCHOOL LEGAL. It is legal. Any student is free to pray… it never has been illegal for a student to pray. However, why insist that a prayer to God be communal? Shouldn’t we be concerned about our own personal relationship to God?
“All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish (Islam), appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.”
Thomas Paine, “The Age of Reason.”
One of the great failures of Americans and Europeans is the complete and total inability to see the world outside their little shell.
The Dark Ages are the perfect example. While it is true that period was hard for the White Man, the Arab and Asian Cultures flourished and prospered.
It is the same here. The Religious Nuts see the decline of White Power as the start of Armageddon. I see it as the rise of the Asian Countries like China and India.
Here’s a little trivia question for you. Who was the most famous Christian of the 20th century?
Mother Teresa? Nope. Billy Graham? Nope. Martin Luther King, Jr.? Guess again. Albert Schweitzer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, any and all popes, any and all U.S. presidents…Nah, throw ‘em out.
The most famous Christian of the 20th century was Adolf Hitler.
Sure, we call Hitler infamous today. But before he started gobbling up European countries like they were little bratwurst sausages, Hitler was famous as a world leader with high moral values and a distinctly Christian vision.
In fact, no present politician has more blatantly declared his Christianity than Hitler, or has had his faith so widely accepted. Millions of Christians around the world admired the savvy tyrant; a couple of his more recognizable fans included Britain’s Lloyd George and that all-American idol of idols, Charles Lindbergh. The most appealing of Hitler’s “Christian” attributes included:
•His morality. He did not smoke or drink and he abhorred pornography and homosexuality.
•His call for his nation to repent. “Providence withdrew its protection and our people fell… And in this hour we sink to our knees and beseech our almighty God that He may bless us, that He may give us the strength to carry on the struggle for the freedom, the future, the honor, and the peace of our people. So help us God.” (March 1936)
Its the Fall of Rome guys. Bush is a stupider Nero.
June 12th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
As an educator, prayer in school is not even a viable option. If the door is open to Christians, it is open to every other religion. Jesus did not say, “Take over the government and impose my will upon the people.”
As I recall, he said something like, “Pray that the Lord of the schools send teachers into the classrooms.” How many Christians who had a desire to teach were dissuaded because the church has portrayed public education as evil?
As an educator; stupider is not a word.
June 12th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
yeah stupider isn’t a word but Bush gets away with making “new” words everyday
politosphere?
June 12th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
It takes a pretty smart guy to invent a brand new word that we all can still understand!
June 12th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
As long as he keeps us safe from that axis of evil and their nukular weapons.
June 13th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
Monotonpoly.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:12 pm
People say, how can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil? You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in’s house and say I love you.
GB
I think one of the 1000 points of light got hit by an IED
June 15th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
yeah lets create more terror so there is less terror.
June 15th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
OK Michael, that was a George B. quote that didn’t make any sense. It wasn’t supposed to. Stay with us here, we’re mocking things George Bush has said. If you need help, try Googling “George Bush silly statements”
June 15th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
i was continuing your satirical emphasis Arcane MAti-tu-tonka-wache Warrior
stupid damn computer!
I told you to put the proper emitocons in that last piece to reflect my current mood as i typed that statement
you stupid stupid computer.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:56 am
Ok, sorry for being so harsh. Welcome, Michael.
What is a “MAti-tu-tonka-wache”
Is some kind of Pacific Northwest Indian blessing?
June 16th, 2006 at 11:46 am
By a vote of 256-153, the House of Representatives passed a resolution containing, among other matters, a pronouncement that the United States “will prevail in the war on terror.” Whew! That’s a relief. We need no longer worry that the recipients of American violence in foreign lands will retaliate. The future has been foreseen and legislated into reality. Isn’t it wonderful how democracy can miraculously change the course of events? So, while these bozos are disposed to producing beneficial outcomes by the simple process of voting, can they go after other troubling matters for us, such as a resolution declaring that the stock market will never collapse; that the price of gasoline will never rise above $4.00 a gallon; and that my beloved San Diego Padres will finally win a World Series?
And maybe file this under ‘Women/War/submission’. I was wondering whether what all these Christian warmongers will do when the US drafts their daughters into service. Think it wont happen? Look around. If it does will you repeat your “obey the power that be” mantra while your baby girl takes a bullet in the head? WHY NOT? YOU HAVE BEEN REPEATING IT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS TO JUSTIFY THE WAR IN IRAQ. Or do we obey God rather than man when it comes to our daughters?
Just weird musings that I try to wrap my shriveled brain around. Since the defining moment of the Bush presidency, the preposterous flight-suit, Fox News-produced photo-op on the USS Abraham Lincoln in front of the banner that read “Mission Accomplished,” the shaming truth is that everything has gone wrong. Just as it was bound to go wrong, as many of us predicted it would go wrong — if anything, more hopelessly wrong than any of us would have dared to prophesy. Iraq is an epic trainwreck, and there’s not a single American citizen who’s going to walk away unscathed. This church should have organized a protest against the war. 18,500 wounded men and women, 2,500 killed, and 120,000 to 200,000 civilians kiled so far. PF supports this president and this illegal war and it is just one more reason I count flags and and order coffee when he preaches.
3 out of 5 cars at City’s parking lot had a political bumper sticker in the Fall ‘04 election. I could not understand how so many fundamentalists vote republican. Is it a lesser of two evils thing? I mean talk about voting against your interests. The republicans could give a hoot about fundamentalists so unless there is a fee on every vote we kick in for Bush, when are these leaders like PF going to see that Republicans are two-faced (I suspect he already does but it’s not in our best interest that he share his vision). On paper, Republicans are easily more favorable than Democrats to a semi-libertarian-minded person such as myself. On paper, they support lower taxes, less socialism, limited government, a rigid interpretation of the Constitution, property rights, parental rights and gun rights. In practice, they do little to permanently relieve the tax burden, they support wealth redistribution in a variety of forms, they’ve bloated the government to an unprecedented degree, they’ve made a mockery of Amendments One, Four, Six, Eight and Ten, they’ve been slow and inadequate in their response to the Supreme Court’s eminent domain decision. That leaves parental rights and gun rights. So if all you want to do is to teach your kid that God created the world in seven 24-hour periods or shoot empty beer cans for fun, the Republican Party has your back. Otherwise, it’s time to wake up and realize you’ve been duped.
Wow, that felt good. Like taking a mental dump.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
I want to know who the 153 other idiots are?
June 16th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
James Shadduck, your mental dump, illustrates rather well, the dump our nation is taking on the world.
Thinking the american young people are very close to, dare I say it, an evolutionary change in how they interact with their elected government.
Those of us who have the energy, blessing, heart to change what we see as morally and constitutionally wrong in this country, have a real oppurtunity to make headway towards more understanding between nations and those who govern nations.
In history, language and culture has always been a hinderence to understanding our differences. With a simple download on the ol’ computer, one in America speaking English can talk to one speaking Mandarin in China. I know people know this exists. But it’s not just technology. We are talking about civilizations learning how to get along in a much smaller pond.
There is hope.
The question for me becomes:
Are we, in america, going to lose our rights to practice personal faith in this country once the whole country and world see that our leaders used religion/followers of religious institutions, to march us into a war that was provoked by differences of religion and faith.
These diffferences will not be tolerated in the future by world governments if these differences drive us towards war.
What I’m saying is that I can see the modern christian church in america being driven underground due to their responsibility in this horrible war.
The evidence is all over the web for us to see.
Do we want to abolish religious institutions to put the power back in the voters’ hands or do we want to continue to be viewed by most of the world as fake followers of god who will go to war whenever we can’t get to and from work all week under $20 worth of fuel.
anyone else here see what the repercutions of this war could be?
This war on terror could actually be a war against the same people (mainly rural followers of christ) who put the leaders of this war in office…
Which would make Bush a pretty smart guy if that was his end goal.
June 16th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
Hey! That hurt!
Not everyone in ‘Jesus-Land’ voted for W. I voted for Michael Badnarik.
June 16th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
I guess I do not perceive this as a religious war. At least not from my point of view. We were attacked. It is our job to kick anybody’s ass who may try to do it again.
The enemy may consider this a religious war, but I’m not even sure what they want? It makes no sense. If they were inclined to tell us, I am sure there would be some middle ground to reach.
I think the issue stems back to Israel. I am not one of these “prophecy fulfilled” people. Israel has trouble getting along with its neighbors. And, we support them. Arabs hate Jews. This was so before the founding of the nation. We support them, so we are to be attacked as well.
I am also always humored to listen to those who have never served in the military talk about the military. They can never understand.
Ah well, I’m probably wrong in all of this, but who isn’t these days.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
Badnarik - he’s running for Congress again? Where this time?
June 16th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
Texas somewhere.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Just went to his website. His slogan is, “It’s time to do something.”
What I say, what?
I found the slogan humorous. :-0
June 16th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
O.k. Arcane Warrior
please explain these comments for me.
“I guess I do not perceive this as a religious war”
“It is our job to kick anybody’s ass who may try to do it again”
“I think the issue stems back to Israel”
“Israel has trouble getting along with its neighbors. And, we support them. Arabs hate Jews”
“I am also always humored to listen to those who have never served in the military talk about the military. They can never understand”
sounds like you are good at making bold statements Arcane Whatever?
care to fill me in especially on the last one? And explain exactly what us who “haven’t” served our country honorably can’t understand.
Oh!
And since you are so bold. Why don’t you go ahead and use your christian name and DOS and rank for us all.
It will be very healthy for you, I think. It’s been good to put my real name up there when I make “informed” comments.
June 17th, 2006 at 7:04 am
OOOOO - calling me out are you? How bold of you Michael.
“I guess I do not perceive this as a religious war” - It is not my religious war, it is theirs. My war is for the country and culture in which I live. It is not primarily religious.
“It is our job to kick anybody’s ass who may try to do it again” - If we do not, why have a nation? Why protect any lifestyle.
“I think the issue stems back to Israel” - I live in a region where there are many Arab immigrants. Many of which are Chaldean and have come from Iraq. Bubbling beneath the surface of their American mindset and gratitude for opportunities is this seething attitude. Not in all, but in a large majority. There is a hatred for anything Jewish. Talk long enough and it comes out. Been there, done that, have yet to find the exception.
“Israel has trouble getting along with its neighbors. And, we support them. Arabs hate Jews” - Arab and Muslim are two different things. This is not a Jewish faith versus Muslim faith issue. It is a racial conflict, Jewish culture vs. Arab culture. They are two very different issues. What gets confusing is when the zealots couch their hatred in religious terms. Don’t feel left out, Christians in this coutry do it too. Take measure 36. This was a cultural issue that spewed religious hatred and bigotry.
“I am also always humored to listen to those who have never served in the military talk about the military. They can never understand” - I served in the military for 8 years. I worked as a field gunner, surveyor, RPV operator, transportation officer, and US Army Ranger. I held a number of ranks from private to lieutenant. This goes back to an issue of culture. There is a different culture in the military that a civilian cannot possibly understand. Our guys want to fight. It is what they have been trained for. I could go on, but most people’s view of the military is colored by what they see in the liberal press.
Why don’t you go ahead and use your christian name and DOS and rank for us all. - My dates of service were 1984-1993. I do not include my name, because my real name is not fun. I like Arcane Warrior because that is how I feel about my position in church and life.
BTW Michael, have fun with this blog. I am glad it has been good for you to use your real name. I little risky on the internet, but Yea for you. I have included my first name in previous posts, but for your pleasure and so that the angst may subside,
Blessings,
Don
June 18th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Thanks for your comments Don.
It’s always safer to hide.