More Dangerous Stupidity From the Religious Right

THIS is why I attack Christianity

Published on October 9, 2005 By Ionolast In Misc

Last night on Fox News' Heartland, John Kasich interviewed Senator Hank Erwin (R-Al.), starting with this written statement:

"New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have always been known for gambling, sin and wickedness...it is the kind of behavior that ultimately brings the judgement of God." - Weekly Newspaper Column 9/30/05.

Kasich: "Don't you think you're driving people away from religion? I know you're not trying to do that, but don't you think it has the opposite effect?"

Erwin: "It's according to what your heart is saying. If your heart is humble and you have the lord using a message to send along to America we need to wake up. Your heart will respond in humility saying, "Lord, whatever it takes, begin with me to do what's right.
If your heart is hard, you'll turn away. I can't define what men do, I can only say what God would be honored with."

He actually believes he can read God's mind.

He and anyone who agrees with him should do the world a favor and kill themselves.

No wonder the Ancient Romans threw Christians to the lions."

Comments (Page 3)

Chakgogka

on Oct 10, 2005

No offense intended, Chak, and I agree with what you are saying...

None taken, and I agree with what you are saying

Yes, it is chic to say such things about fundamentalist christians, and I think for two (main) reasons. One is that christianity is the religion of our culture; slagging off other faiths is a little more 'abstract' in the western context. Secondly, fundamentalist christians, whatever faults they have, don't usually go round killing their critics (they just wait for "god to sort them out"

)

Ionolast

on Oct 10, 2005

America's religious right contains a lot of christians of a particular fundamentalist stamp, tending much more toward the Old Testamant rather than the New, much more into the idea of smiting the enemies of God, rather than turning the other cheek.

Exactly. Jesus was supposed to have changed all that vengeful God stuff. Too many "Christians" ignore what Jesus said and embrace the Old Testament because they want justification for their hate.

This is why religion is dangerous. No one can ever completely understand it. Too many interpretations.

Stop being a sheep. You don't think you are? Are you not called His flock?

Think for yourselves. Stop being gullible, naive and superstitious. It's liberating. No more fear of what might happen after you die.

this rather harsh and spiritually immature version of the christian message in turn gives rise to a harsh and intolerant secular criticism in the manner of an 'equal and opposite reaction'.

Yeah. Payback's a bitch, isn't it?

I would be interested in any christian on JU who could humbly and kindly explain to Icon that there are all kinds of christian viewpoints and that Senator Erwin's rather silly comments are not necessarily representative of the faith as a whole.

Just wait. They all do it sooner or later, then they use the Old Testament to justify it. Then they're amazed that anyone could tell them they're wrong.

Dr Guy

on Oct 10, 2005

And all he did was quote scripture.

She. Unless she has undergone a sex change.

Chakgogka

on Oct 10, 2005

This is why religion is dangerous.

Indeed, religion is dangerous. As is snowboarding and eating blowfish. But what I think you mean is that religion only ever has bad effects and that these are always truly awful.

Actually I have very little time for the 'religion is the cause of all the wars, divisions and troubles in this world' argument. Humans are the cause of all these things - but I won't attack humanism because of that. In our greed, hatred and folly we can, and often do, use anything, be it ever so sublime, for our own twisted purposes. Politics, professional sport and blogging can also go the same way.

Some people are truly surprised when religious people behave badly, but I really don't see why. Religious people are ultimately still people, just like everyone else. The good ones though are just trying a little harder to be better. It's as if these critics of christianity had a 'supernatural' expectation of christian goodness which has been disappointed somewhere along the way. An irony there.

Religion is really a name we give for a collection of culturally specific spiritual practices; good people make good religion, bad people make bad religion, except the bad - the idiots, the egotists, make the most noise, as empty vessels usually do.

It's a shame that Icon deleted HC's post. Those christians who are simply trying to live ordinary humble lives of compassion and service to others, open-minded enough to be admit when they are unsure of things, but clear enough about what matters to them and navigating to a steady moral compass will never make headlines. But to suppress their voice so that only the Erwin's of this world are heard is a deliberate distortion and an argument that relies on wilful distortion is already lost.

Ionolast

on Oct 10, 2005

Indeed, religion is dangerous. As is snowboarding and eating blowfish. But what I think you mean is that religion only ever has bad effects and that these are always truly awful.

Snowboarding and eating blowfish don't control anyone's lives.

bakerstreet

on Oct 10, 2005

"..equally disgusting if you had framed it thusly: "No wonder Aryan Christians slaughtered Jews wholescale" in regards to their ancestral behavior. (ie: they killed Christ.)"

Too true. I wonder how iconclast would react to someone who said "Those Jews should kill themselves and do the world a favor, no wonder Hitler killed so many of them..."

Dr Guy

on Oct 10, 2005

Snowboarding and eating blowfish don't control anyone's lives.

You have never been snowboarding or willing to shell out $100 bucks for blowfish either I see.

Ionolast

on Oct 10, 2005

Too true. I wonder how iconclast would react to someone who said "Those Jews should kill themselves and do the world a favor, no wonder Hitler killed so many of them..."

Maybe the last two sentences in the body of the article were made solely in anger, but Jewish is a race as well as a religion. Nazis wanted to wipe out an entire race, not just a religion.

Dr Guy

on Oct 10, 2005

but Jewish is a race as well as a religion.

No it is not. Judaism transcends all races, just like Christians, Muslims and Buddhists do.

Gideon MacLeish

on Oct 10, 2005

No it is not. Judaism transcends all races, just like Christians, Muslims and Buddhists do.

But, but, but....if you keep saying that, we'll run out of reasons why our claim that Christians deserved to be thrown to lions wasn't bigoted.

Ionolast

on Oct 10, 2005

No it is not.

Then why do Jews have distinguishing physical characteristics?

Moderateman

on Oct 10, 2005

Maybe the last two sentences in the body of the article were made solely in anger, but Jewish is a race as well as a religion. Nazis wanted to wipe out an entire race, not just a religion.

wrong.. Jewish is a racxe? how so? I am a semite, that is a race, arabs are semites too also the same race , differnet religions though.

Jews come from every race on the planet {MOST RACES}

Moderateman

on Oct 10, 2005

Crap I tried to edit the above post, semites are not a race.

Dr Guy

on Oct 10, 2005

Then why do Jews have distinguishing physical characteristics?

They dont. But bigots try to assign them to them.

Did Sammy Davis Jr. Have those characteristics? Just curious as to what characteristics you are referring to.

Moderateman

on Oct 10, 2005

#47 by Içonoçlast
Monday, October 10, 2005

No it is not.

Then why do Jews have distinguishing physical characteristics

we do??? In my life I have met japanese Jews, I am a turkish jew, I look nothing like a german Jew.

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