Christian Persecution vs Persecuted Christians

[Dannyalcatraz]

There's also the aspect of some sects of Christianity that have somewhat reversed the power structure of the faith hierarchy. In the Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian, and Orthodox traditions, priests are assigned to a parish. Only his superiors can remove one: don't like what you hear, go somewhere else. However, in many American Protestant/Evangelical churches, the pastor is an employee of the flock. He can be fired.

The difference in culpability affects many things, including the messages emanating from the pulpit. Here's an example from an article about the curious cocktail of faith & firearms:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...al-activist-changed-his-mind-on-gun-violence/

Disney said that before she met Schenck, she spoke with three white evangelical megachurch pastors who told her she was right to point out the connection between gun violence and life, but they told her, “If I say anything, I’ll be destroyed.”

 

[Kramodlog]

Even if it is just the local parish or community. Stating that such gross statements go against fundamental teachings. I cannot speak 100% for every different church, generally there is the pervading theme of "Love thy neighbor".

Its pretty easy to have the Bible say what you want. Jesus said to turn the other cheek? He also said he comes with a sword. Let the interpretations beging!

If some people think that there is a state of insurgency, "Christmas is under attack!" to name an example, maybe debunking that there is a state of insurgency is a better approach as it leaves less room for interpretation.

But that sentiment of insurgency about Christmas is just the tip of a much bigger iceberg. The sentiment extends to gun control, abortions, same sex-unions, unauthorized immigrants, the birth place of Obama, Obamacare, socialism, taxes, corruption in Congress, the media, etc. There is a whole infractructure dedicated to fanning the sentiment of insurgency among people and tackling that is more complicated.

 

[Umbran]

The thought that it is futile and so we just need to let it be, is something I will not get behind.

Well, note that I didn't say, "let it be." I questioned whether denouncing people, specifically, is a worthwhile action. I didn't say there are no worthwhile actions!

I will adjust my question to "What should be done?", or "Are we okay as a society with allowing such actions to perpetuate?" and perhaps even "Should something be done about this?".

I am not convinced that attempts to expunge objectionable opinions from the present are generally effective or useful (there may be specific instances, I'm talking about general plans here). The more you try to silence some group, the more they dig in, and the louder they get. You effectively wind up giving their position more exposure, rather than less, and you perpetuate the narrative of, "THEY are against US!" This holds for more than just objectional religious ideas - sexism, racism, homophobia all show similar dynamics.

We see improvement in such things not by denouncing the leaders of the present, but through generational change. As Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young said, "Teach your children well. Their father's hell did slowly go by. And feed them on your dreams, the one they fix, the one you'll know by." On large social issues, it is perhaps more important to teach kids what is right, than tell adults what is wrong.

 

[Istbor]

Can't teach an old dog new tricks.

I see that is going on. It is sad, but it is also human nature it seems. We still seem to only enact change until we MUST enact that change. Even then, it isn't pretty.

Maybe I misspoke, at this stage I am not suggesting simply removing those objectionable opinions. More like, reinforcing word out there that this is not the popular opinion of a particular church. Regardless of the additional exposure. I would be interested to see what certain loud groups would make of it, when the very organizations they are claiming to defend or speak for publically denounce that that is the case.

Ha, but then again that is what some people will want.

And yes, I agree that teaching the next generation to avoid the same mistakes we make is very important. That however... raises a lot of issues in my mind. Especially with the saturation of social media, and its uses as an outlet for all sorts of positions.

 

[MechaPilot]

Starbucks joins in on the Christian persecution.

Unfortunately, it's too little too late.

Christmas is the beast that will never stop eating. It ate Thanksgiving. It ate New Years. It's chomping at the bit to eat my birthday (Halloween). And it probably won't be too long before it starts expanding in the other direction again and tries to eat Valentine's Day. Heck, I know people who start saving for Christmas gifts as soon as they get their tax refund in March or April.

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

Unfortunately, it's too little too late.

Christmas is the beast that will never stop eating. It ate Thanksgiving. It ate New Years. It's chomping at the bit to eat my birthday (Halloween). And it probably won't be too long before it starts expanding in the other direction again and tries to eat Valentine's Day. Heck, I know people who start saving for Christmas gifts as soon as they get their tax refund in March or April.

Well happy late birthday. Mine is actually November first. Christmas already ate my birthday. Down here in Miami, Christmas has already eaten your birthday as well as half of October. I'm pretty sure by next year, it'll be down to June, which for us is the start of hurricane season. I'm betting the first hurricane of the season in 2016 will be called Christmas.

 

[MechaPilot]

Well happy late birthday. Mine is actually November first. Christmas already ate my birthday. Down here in Miami, Christmas has already eaten your birthday as well as half of October. I'm pretty sure by next year, it'll be down to June, which for us is the start of hurricane season. I'm betting the first hurricane of the season in 2016 will be called Christmas.

Thank you, and a belated happy birthday to you as well.

I think naming a hurricane "Christmas" would be quite amusing. Then again, given the tendency for some people to feel down during the holidays, a "tropical depression Christmas" might be equally appropriate.

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

Thank you, and a belated happy birthday to you as well.

I think naming a hurricane "Christmas" would be quite amusing. Then again, given the tendency for some people to feel down during the holidays, a "tropical depression Christmas" might be equally appropriate.

Thanks.
I'm sure retailers are pushing hard to make it happen. Home Depot and Lowes will probably be bringing out commercials telling people to buy storm shutter as Christmas gifts.

 

[Maxperson]

Unfortunately, it's too little too late.

Christmas is the beast that will never stop eating. It ate Thanksgiving. It ate New Years. It's chomping at the bit to eat my birthday (Halloween). And it probably won't be too long before it starts expanding in the other direction again and tries to eat Valentine's Day. Heck, I know people who start saving for Christmas gifts as soon as they get their tax refund in March or April.

I've seen more than one Los Angeles store with Christmas in July to sell the left over stuff from the prior year.

 

[Kramodlog]

Since this is a religion thread.

Baby Jesus? Clearly an anchor baby designed to give Roman citizenship to a citizen of Heaven.