dagblog - Comments for "We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity"

That's why I am glad there

arias — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:53:38 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

That's why I am glad there are Christians like yourself, Resistance, that seem to be ideally suited to reform fundamentalists that act un-Christian like by engaging them "with their own Bibles if necessary" in your own words.

Although you can't expect all progressives, especially those that are not Christian, to share your knowledge and love of scripture and Christian theology to have your capabilities. It would seem you appear to be uniquely qualified to be one of the few able to lead by example in engaging fundamentalists and reforming their worldview. Perhaps God chose you for this purpose. If this is as it appears to be, then I am truly glad and appreciative of your passion to tackle a portion of our populace that can appear so obstinate and intransigent as to be alien to most progressives who are unable to relate in any rudimentary way with fundamental Christianity.

I thank you for applying your rarefied talents for the betterment of your countrymen and the rest of the world at large. Just as Jesus would do.

"Many here buy into church

brewmn61 — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:00:39 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

"Many here buy into church involvement if they like the cause and not otherwise."

Again, no. The only reason I don't have a huge problem with churches involvement in the civil rights movement was because 1) blacks in the south were being denied involvement in the political process by physical force and 2) that denial is a blatant violation of rights clearly granted by the constitution.

Before you try to impose a false equivalence on me, I would ask you what constitutional violations these churchgoers are seeking redress for. Otherwise, your argument rests on the rather ridiculous premise that we cannot criticize certain people's use of religious dogma simply because we disagree with the way they use it, unless we criticize all use of religious dogma.

And I say, fuck that. If people are using scripture to deny people the right to live their life free from these dogmatists' interference, then I can cite any authority I bloody well please, and I can ridicule them for dressing their intolerance up in the language of biblical imperative if I choose to do so.

It's because of people like

Resistance — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:21:18 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

It's because of people like you, the progressive wing of the Democratic party cannot put forward social ideas; because the progressives have intellectually stunted types as yourself.

Instead of the United States enacting legislation that cares for one another as any so called Christian should know or could be shown, they might have considered joining forces with the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party. But you give them good reasons why they’ll find their champion with the Right Wing.

The reason so clear to them, the Social Democrats have an alliance with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, calling them idiots.

You stand in the way of Social progress, because of your attitude.
If you’re calling yourself a Democrat, even I am ashamed to be associated with you or Mr Shaeffer.

You don’t run away or ignore the Christian right, you engage them using their own Bibles if necessary, to set the matter straight as to how Christians should have deeds of godly devotion.

Deeds that include Healthcare, caring for the homeless, or food for the needy to name a few Christian qualities.

But you would not be on any list to be intellectually capable of using the tools necessary to change their hearts or their minds.
you denigrate them and they're Holy Book.

Is that baby talk?

Resistance — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:52:12 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

Is that baby talk? Intellectually incapable of speech or discussion?

Here's to hoping that many

lizbensky — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:36:27 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

Here's to hoping that many becomes most then.

"You are referring to some

lizbensky — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:28:35 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

"You are referring to some construct of yours not of historical Christianity"

Perhaps I am referring to my own construct, but that's all I have. And I am willing to alter that construct based on examining evidence and other perspectives. If there is some mechanism inherent within Christian doctrine (the Bible) that supposes humans can improve the doctrine itself via skeptical inquiry, I am unaware of it. Are you suggesting that Christianity’s codification in the bible is not relevant to the fundies or to most Christians? It's not necessarily incoherent to be appreciative and cognizant of the richness and evolution of Christianity (which I am) and to concurrently speculate what fundamentalists long for even in the 21st century.

And I try to formulate my construct based on what Fundamentalist Christians say and do. They seem to hearken back to an original intent, or construct if you prefer, of Christianity based on literal interpretation of scripture. While I am convinced that the normative current view of Christianity has accommodated science to a significant degree, the text still hasn’t changed. Perhaps Christianity’s biggest mistake then was in pretending to get God’s word in writing. Of course, if they didn’t write it down, it’s not likely we would be discussing it now. Isn’t the Bible still a much valued source among Christians? It still seems to hold sway for the fundies. Does it not repulse them that a self-admitted gay woman (Maddow) can publicly call into question the morals of Christians when the very source of their morality clearly states that homosexuality is an abomination?

It’s the fanatical attachment to arguments from authority that is the most disturbing and dangerous. And this is not confined to Fundie-Christians, but they exhibit a really good grasp of it. They will eventually act on those convictions when they feel endangered or marginalized. The question is; what is our responsibility, if any, to anticipate and possibly prevent violent action of unstable groups of people.

(A side note: that dude with the stove pipe hat is correct in calling the NJ anti-Christ poll into question. Although, I suspect a well conducted poll might provide similar results)

This has often been true. On

oleeb — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:20:44 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

This has often been true. On the other hand there is liberation theology which flies in the face of that and is embraced by many Christians far and wide of all denominations. Remember, Rev. Wright was excoriated for being an advocate of liberation theology. Many believe that Jesus' message is essentially revolutionary and that the Pauline emphasis on obdience to authority and acceptance of one's lot is simply not in accordance with the teachings of Jesus.

"My point was that

oleeb — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:15:47 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

"My point was that Christianity (not necessarily people who identify themselves as Christians), as presented in its "pure" form, does not contain allowances for independent discovery, growth or modernization."

It's pure form? And what would that be? You are referring to some construct of yours not of historical Christianity which has been all over the lot in terms of embracing discovery, growth or modernization as you put it. There has never been one unified or accepted form of Christianity and every faction of it throuhgout history has considered it's "pure" form to be something different whether the group might have been Gnostics, Orthodox, Coptic, Roman, African, Cathars, etc...

Those who are knowledgeable

oleeb — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:10:08 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

Those who are knowledgeable about Christianity know precisely what I'm referring to. You are not one of them. You comment about matters of which you know little or nothing. Bad habit of yours.

Thanks for that, mageduley.

Cindy Etal — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:50:56 +0000

In reply to We Have A Village Idiot In This Country: It's Called Fundamentalist Christianity

Thanks for that, mageduley. It's perfect.