Particularly within more conservative branches of Christianity. Most of them aren't going to come out and say what he did... at least, not in public - but if this asshole is saying it out loud, there are more who are thinking it. In particular, those who remained to listen to this utter disgrace of a human being. What I wonder is...
At what point will such people be held accountable for their words and/or actions? Perhaps some think that God will hold them accountable - and while that may be a comforting thought for those of us who believe, it does not stop these human demons from promoting their message of hate, intolerance, anger, ignorance... and violence here on earth.
On the contrary - such people write books. Such people are admired, beloved, praised and all but worshiped by their followers, members of their congregation, etc. We have example after example after example. Throughout history, even our own not so distant past. This is the kind of individual - and the kind of message, that enables, encourages, condones the murder of innocent people. Using freedom of religion as a shield, they will preach their hate from the pulpit while bigots, fools and imbeciles praise them for their "hard line", their, "courage", their, "honesty". They do this even when amidst murder and destruction, suffering and starvation, real pain, real terror, right here in their own Country.
What a man like this says one day, others will be thinking about the next. Children with minds that are still very impressionable - who are taught to respect their elders and fear Jesus, will grow up thinking these kinds of thoughts. In fact, many already have - they often grow up to become much like this man... misguided, full of hate, ignorance... and poisonous rage. It is the belief system that enables one to think that the slaughter of other people is okay, particularly when their version of religion brands those particular people as "sinners, sodomites, evil"...
The true evil, is this promotion, encouragement... praising of violence, of slaughter, of murder, in the name of God. Do they not read the ten commandments contained within their "good book"? What part of "thou shalt not" can they not comprehend? They look to the old testament, full of fire and brimstone, condemnation and anger... and that, they think, settles that. There is though, a new testament, which speaks of mercy, love, forgiveness... compassion - and even tolerance. There is a man called Jesus who, according to the story, lived in such a way as to demonstrate these things.
I lost my faith in the Christian God many years ago. In part, it is because if I believed in such a God, even now, I would have to stop believing for the simple reason that such creatures as this Pastor continue to.. "preach" in it's name, with ignorance and hatred so despicable that it blows my mind.
He does his religion, his people... and the human race, no favors. This is not someone in the business of saving souls, but of arrogantly condemning that which he does not understand. Of ignorantly persecuting the innocent, of misleading hundreds, thousands, even millions of people. Truly, if there is a judgmental God somewhere in the cosmos, it must cringe every time this creature speaks.
Recently here on DU, we have been arguing about gun control. I have seen it suggested that we take all guns away, ban them completely. I have seen others respond, suggesting that that would mean civil war. That there would be murder, blood in the streets...
We are already at war, ladies and gentlemen - and with every passing year there is more blood in the streets as a result. This is not a holy war, not a war of religion against religion, nor even Nation against Nation. It is a war of love as opposed to hatred. Of understanding as opposed to ignorance. Of acceptance as opposed to judgment. It is a war for the very soul of who we are as a people. It is a war of faith - in various higher powers.... Do we believe in the ignorant, arrogant, cruel and hateful God advertised by men like this? Do we believe in the Jesus of the bible who shared a very different message? Or, might it be worthy, regardless of or in addition to our other beliefs... to believe in each other? To believe that other human beings are worthy of life, love, respect... compassion? Mercy?
Lately I begin to suspect that there is indeed such a place as hell. It exists within the minds and hearts of those like Roger Jimenez. It is brought forth when the innocent are slain. It is permitted to exist, even to thrive, every time good people do nothing. It is ugly, it is horrendous. For all of that though... it is utterly and completely false. Whether you believe in humanity, or in God, in simple decency, or in logic and rationality, the falseness represented by people such as this Pastor must be obvious.
This war cannot be won by attrition, by engaging our enemies with their own weapons of violence, fear - and hatred. Rather, we win every time we join hands. We win every time we weep together in joint sorrow and empathy for each other. We win every time we find the courage to stand up and denounce cruelty, bigotry, hatred - and evil. We win by loving each other, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or what have you. We win when we demonstrate the beauty and nobility of the human spirit - this can be seen every day, on every street in our great Nation. In every household where parents tuck in their children with an "I love you" and a kiss.
In the end, that which is promoted, pushed... and sold by people like the Pastor, will be a failed message. It will, in time, become a miserably failed ideology. Humanity, as other forms of live... evolves. Not just in the physical sense, but in the emotional, intellectual... and perhaps even spiritual as well. Our combined strength exists within unity and compassion.
This man and those like him will say what they will. They will open their mouths - and their rear ends will fall out. It is in their nature. We each have the ability to determine our own nature. Let it be one of kindness, love - and acceptance. That is how we win. We give those who do such damage as this Pastor the greatest punishment we can... by permitting them to live within their own ignorance, small-mindedness and hatred. It must be terribly lonely to feel so very small as this man must. To so impotently rage and shout to other such small minded individuals.
Let them live in their own hell. Those of us who are otherwise, those of us who cling to the nobility and beauty that humanity has to offer, we will live much fuller lives, with happiness, grace, wisdom, beauty... and even power... that such twisted little men can never comprehend. Let them own their damnation, they bring it upon themselves. I do not pity them, not for an instant. I reject all that they say and believe - I reject them utterly as members of the same species. May they pass from the world like breaking wind. May their rapture come and claim them all - and for once I would indeed, gnostic as I am, have a reason to praise God.
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