dagblog - Comments for "Religious Fundamentalism and Stepford Christianity "

In many ways you're right.

Danny Cardwell — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 02:32:02 +0000

In reply to I wonder, is your church a

In many ways you're right. Apathy has crept into our church. There are too many people comfortable doing very little and sitting on the sidelines. I'm not asking for some fantasy church where all is well, but it's not unreasonable to expect people to commit to make our community better.

I wonder, is your church a

rmrd0000 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 21:01:50 +0000

In reply to Thanks for taking the time to

I wonder, is your church a monument for works done by past or current membership? Is the current church merely reaping rewards for acts perfumed by a congregation that would find the current members as out of step as you find them? You may be representing the spirit of a church that no longer exists. I am merely posing a question, not stating a fact..

Lol! RM,

Wattree — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:00:28 +0000

In reply to But Wattree, we would lose

Lol! RM,

I have a rule of thumb when it comes to conservatives - whenever I want to know what they are up to, I simply listen to what they're accusing others of doing. Remember how they used to rant about "activist liberal judges?" Now they've turned corporations into people. They also like to accuse liberals of trying to mount "class warfare. Now they're attacking Social Security, labor unions, and anything that seems to even remotely benefit the poor and middle class. Conservatives are the quintessential hypocrites, and the people's recognition of that fact is going to be their undoing in the next two years. Remember where you heard it first.

Thanks for taking the time to

Danny Cardwell — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 16:35:28 +0000

In reply to Danny,

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'm torn in many ways. My church is a monument to civil rights in my community, but there are elements of fundamentalism that have crept in and made their voices heard. I have been verbally reprimanded for asking the kinds of questions you often pose in your critiques of organized religion. I respect the church enough to point out the instances when we fall short.

But Wattree, we would lose

rmrd0000 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 16:08:51 +0000

In reply to If Christians actually

But Wattree, we would lose the entertainment value of the hypocrites. As an example, the Right seems to be on a crusade against Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Geraldo Riveria called the couple a poor example. Beyoncé and Jay-Z are married and had a child in wedlock. Rivera has 5 marriages and 3 children by different women. Multiple affairs are sprinkled in. Who is the better example for marital fidelity.

Mike Huckabee decries the damaging message sent by Beyonces lyrics and calls Jay-Z a pimp. The good Reverend Huckabee performed on stage with Ted Nugent happily playing to a song that talked about vaginal hair follicles that Nugent was stroking on a woman who was not his wife. The hypocritical pastor tried to explain that the Nugent song was for adults..he demonstrated his hypocracy on a recent "Daily Show"

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jon-stewart-mike-huckabee-beyonce

If Christians actually

Wattree — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:40:55 +0000

In reply to The Christian struggle is

If Christians actually followed the simple Biblical prescription below, there wouldn’t be one screamin’ preacher or Bible-thumper in America. All Christians would simply be spiritual, and LIVE their sermons, because the Bible calls screaming preachers and Bible-thumpers hypocrites:

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward . . ." Matthew 6:1-34

NO PREACHIN' AND PRAYIN' IN CHURCH. DO YOUR PRAYING IN PRIVATE.

*
Know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
John 8:32

The Christian struggle is

rmrd0000 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 14:23:27 +0000

In reply to Religious Fundamentalism and Stepford Christianity

The Christian struggle is striving to be on God's side. Those who are certain that they have the definitive interpretation of God's will and/ or the Scripture should be viewed with caution. A Christian struggles with their faith and questions their own actions. This is how we grow. When it comes to judging others and determine who is worthy of our attention, we must keep in mind that we have received blessings that we have not personally earned. How can we turn away from helping someone else because we selfishly consider them "unworthy"?

Danny,

Wattree — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 11:28:13 +0000

In reply to Religious Fundamentalism and Stepford Christianity

Danny,

I completely agree with this article. While I'm totally opposed to a life based on "faith" in what we've been told by other men, I have absolutely no problem with those who do (as long as long as they don't try to make their private views the public view). You remind me of the kind of Christians who raised me, and the kind of Christians who currently remain in my family. While I don't always agree with your views, I have great respect for your character.
.
By the way, this piece was flawlessly written.