It really is out of character for me to get into sociopolitical issues. Especially when it comes to arguing about them.
Yeti and I have discussed this before. I often question why he bothers arguing with people who will probably never see his point of view no matter how hard he tries. It just seems like an unnecessary stress that I really don't need in my life. Now that doesn't mean I don't enjoy healthy and deep conversations from time to time. I think a symposium atmosphere or even a blog like this are important outlets for expressing ones views and opinions. But when that healthy discussion devolves into something vile and angry, I just don't understand continuing on in such a manner. For some reason though, this Duck Dynasty thing really got my brain going.
Yeah, I know i'm a *little* late to the party. My brain processes things somewhat slower sometimes. Now It hasn't made me angry at all. I'm not mad that Phil Robertson disapproves of gays and i'm not mad that A&E did what they did. I'm just....curious. After reading all the different view points, from liberals to conservatives and Christians to non-Christians, I really am curious....how can everyone be reading the same Bible and hearing the same word preached and come out with completely different interpretations of it?
Being raised in church myself and having since moved on to form my own views and opinions about the world, I can't understand where this message of hate comes across. Or to be more forgiving, the message of intolerance. Did I miss it? I recently got into a mini-spat with my mother over an image I shared on Facebook which portrayed the following sentiment:
Touching, eh? When I posted it, I picked out a few choice descriptions of myself from the above list since apparently Hell awaits us all. My mother didn't understand why I chose what I did stating that I was raised a Christian! To which I replied, yes that is true but this is not what I was taught. I was not taught to hate or be judgmental. I was taught to love and forgive. So this person who was allegedly WEARING this horrible message was obviously led down a different path/to a series of different beliefs than I was but was still somehow labeled a Christian. I don't understand. I was actually kind of shocked by my mothers reaction as well to be honest. But I think hers was more one of confusion.
How is it that the Christian-turned-Pagan questions the motives and actions of those who call themselves Christian? Not in a judgemental way, which is an important distinction to make, but moreso from a purely quizzical stand point. Something about this seems wrong. Have I just been out of the game too long that things have changed? It baffles me. I know plenty of Christians who are genuinely good people. They help others, are active with their respective parishes, do volunteer work, believe in equal rights for everyone and present themselves in a way that I think Christ would approve of. But then there are others that, well, call themselves "Christian" but seem to embrace some of the worst qualities of humanity and I don't understand it. Where does the disconnect happen? They're taught from the same scriptures, as was I, but the message seems to be interpreted differently.
I also don't understand the reaction to the current Pope. For the most part, he has been received beautifully. His words and actions have rallied believers and atheists alike behind his causes. The low-profile life he has chosen over the usual flashy and ostentatious lifestyle led by his predecessors speaks volumes. But...why is it that when Pope Francis proclaims he wants to help the poor he is called a Marxist or has his sincerity questioned? I thought that is what Christ wanted from his followers: Feed the hungry, help the needy and expect nothing in return. Have we really turned into a society where good deeds, even those performed by the Pope himself, are vilified? Do we really always need to have a bad guy to blame? Damned if you do or damned if you don't, I guess.
I may just be somewhat ignorant on this matter considering how many questions I have about it. I'm sure this post will be met with several comments and remarks alone the lines of "Well this bible verse says this.." and "Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judge" or something like that. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. But don't expect me to come back at you with some witty retort or drawn-out explanation of my beliefs. I'm merely putting my two cents out there to hopefully make some people think a bit. Calling yourself a Christian means you are a follower of Christ. If there's one thing I do know about Christ, it's that he definitely was not walking around like a self-righteous asshole judging people. So in conclusion: Stop being an asshole in the name of Christ, you're just pissing people off.
I also don't understand the reaction to the current Pope. For the most part, he has been received beautifully. His words and actions have rallied believers and atheists alike behind his causes. The low-profile life he has chosen over the usual flashy and ostentatious lifestyle led by his predecessors speaks volumes. But...why is it that when Pope Francis proclaims he wants to help the poor he is called a Marxist or has his sincerity questioned? I thought that is what Christ wanted from his followers: Feed the hungry, help the needy and expect nothing in return. Have we really turned into a society where good deeds, even those performed by the Pope himself, are vilified? Do we really always need to have a bad guy to blame? Damned if you do or damned if you don't, I guess.
I may just be somewhat ignorant on this matter considering how many questions I have about it. I'm sure this post will be met with several comments and remarks alone the lines of "Well this bible verse says this.." and "Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judge" or something like that. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. But don't expect me to come back at you with some witty retort or drawn-out explanation of my beliefs. I'm merely putting my two cents out there to hopefully make some people think a bit. Calling yourself a Christian means you are a follower of Christ. If there's one thing I do know about Christ, it's that he definitely was not walking around like a self-righteous asshole judging people. So in conclusion: Stop being an asshole in the name of Christ, you're just pissing people off.
It's a very good sentiment and there is no easy answer. I speak as a Christian but by no means speak for all Christians. On one hand, you have an amazing thing in a faith that looks at all the awful in the world and says, God still loves all this, the same way a mother loves her son even when he's on death row. There's an amazing story about a God who made a world, watched it break, and then came down to join in the suffering only to be killed for His efforts. There's a quiet sadness and yet since of hope in that message.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, there is the message of what God expects from us and the standard He holds us to is far greater than what some fellow holding a sign or televangelist or Richard Dawkins demands. He demands that we care for the other more than the self. That we look at what matters most in our lives and put it aside in search of something more, something deeper. And that's scary. So folks look to easy things to proclaim their message. They choose to all be Jonahs, going to Ninevah to warn of coming destruction and then get just as upset when God shows mercy.
Fear is a big part of it. Fear of Death, Fear of Hell, Fear of the self. Fear motivates. It's a lot easier to mobilize someone with eternal torture then it is to ask them to honestly look at the world and see if they have made it suck any less. For those of us in the rich, developed world, it's a brutal question.
So yeah, I like the struggle and I like that it isn't easy but man, alive does it lead to some unpleasantness on Facebook.