WOW. Essay In Today's Boston Globe - "What it means to be a Christian after George W. Bush"

[matcom]

This non-christian found this an extremely worthy read

<snip>

If God's on our side, He'll stop the next war

-- Bob Dylan

EARLY ONE SUNDAY morning in the spring of 2003, in the quiet hours before services would begin at the evangelical church where I worship in Charlottesville, Virginia, I opened files compiled by my research assistant and read the statements drafted by Christians around the world in opposition to the American invasion of Iraq.

The experience was profoundly moving and shaming: From Pentecostals in Brazil to the Christian Councils of Ghana, from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East to the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, from Pope John Paul II to the The Waldensian Reformed Church of Italy and the Christian Conference of Asia, the voices of our brothers and sisters in the global ecumenical church spoke in unison.

Why did American evangelicals not pause for a moment in the rush to war to consider the near-unanimous disapproval of the global Christian community? The worldwide Christian opposition seems to me the most neglected story related to the religious debate about Iraq: Despite approval for the president's decision to go to war by 87 percent of white evangelicals in April 2003, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts poll, almost every Christian leader in the world (and almost every nonevangelical leader in the United States) voiced opposition to the war.

<snip>

But if Franklin Graham speaks truthfully of the Christian faith and its mission in the world -- as many evangelicals seem to believe -- then we should have none of it. Rather, we should join the ranks of righteous unbelievers and big-hearted humanists who rage against cruelty and oppression with the intensity of people who live fully in this world. I am certain that it would be better for Christians to stand in solidarity with compassionate atheists and agnostics, firmly resolved against injustice and cruelty, than to sing "Amazing Grace" with the heroic masses who cannot tell the difference between the cross and the flag.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/07/08/god_and_country/?page=1

[atommom]

1. Excellent essay. It gives me a little glimmer of hope. nt

[Toasterlad]

23. Read the Comments on the Link Within the Essay. You'll Lose Hope Again.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. it has taken them some time but perhaps

with more preyer and faith, they may see the light.

Today's CHiTrib also had an article that touched on how confused today's christians have been, sometimes by design, regarding all things called Bush.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. Wow!

"I am certain that it would be better for Christians to stand in solidarity with compassionate atheists and agnostics, firmly resolved against injustice and cruelty, than to sing "Amazing Grace" with the heroic masses who cannot tell the difference between the cross and the flag."

That IS the Gospel Truth! The faithful have been blinded by the Reich! The Fear Mongering works on the church going crowd like a charm...

[madokie]

8. you know as I look back I see that during the time in my life that I went to church I was scared to

if it wasn't one thing it was the ruskie and the 'newclear' weapons that they were just looking for an excuse to use. Yea those were the early days of my life. To each their own but to me lets talk about today while keeping very much in mind yesterday and always aware of tomorrow as its our childrens world.

but please don't let religion come between us, I won't

[Hubert Flottz]

18. Today it's the same story!

Terra Terra Terra! Be very afraid and your ass is mine, sayeth George BushCo, king of the fear merchants.

You're going straight to hell, if you don't vote for our idea of "MORALITY"! Bush's "MORALITY."

I pray at home where there are no hypocrites, when I need to pray. Bush Preys!(on superstition, gullibility and ignorance) The 700 Club Preys on the same things...

[madokie]

4. brother if you think my life is all screwed up then you ain't seen nothing yet.

Mix a little religion in there and ho'boy, are we on a ride or what, will be your next question/statement, I guaruantee that

[mindfulNJ]

5. Just finished reading it with my morning coffee...

Worthy read indeed.

[Warpy]

6. He makes a point I wish more Christians would realize

and that is that those of faith in Christ's teachings need to come together and repudiate those who ignore the teachings but claim the name and use it to justify most of the horrors this country is engaged in.

Most Christians have gotten the point of their faith but they have been loath to criticise anyone else who calls himself a Christian, no matter how unacceptable the words and behavior of that person or group are. They have rolled over and accepted the worst humanity has managed to come up with, all in the name of Christian solidarity.

This is wrong.

Christians need to speak up about this. Their silence is tacit approval of fascism at home and genocide abroad.

The danger, if they don't, is that their faith will die with them, and it will deserve to.

This article is a first step toward repairing some of the damage. More will have to follow. Action will have to follow.

[doni_georgia]

7. American Evangelical Churches bear no resemblance to historical Christianity

This is something many Americans do not get. Right-wing Evangelical churches in America bear little to no resemblance to the historical Christian Church. So for me, there is no wonder that American evangelicals do not agree with Orthodox Christians around the globe, because there is nothing orthodox about evangelicalism as it is practiced here in America. We attended (for a very brief time) an evangelical church. They wanted nothing to do with any form of tradition. Tradition was a bad word there. They bad mouthed traditional churches especially main-stream protestant denominations. These people knew nothing about the history of the Christian faith. They really didn't know anything about the Bible either (except to quote specific verses out of context to prove their own opinions). It really is as if they have created their own religion based on their conservative political beliefs, in which they hand select quotes from the Bible to back them up. Bush is this type of "Christian" - he's their poster child.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

19. Profound observation

I hadn't thought of it that way before--I haven't gone to any of these churches, so I didn't know. But it makes sense. Around here, they don't even built church buildings--they erect big steel barn like structures instead--they look temporary and fleeting, and about as substantial as their teachings.

[toddaa]

29. Um, no

You do realize that Martin Luther didn't just spring up in a vacuum? The American Evangelical movement has its roots going all the way back to the Reformation. Fundamentalism has a long history that goes all the way back to the Anabaptists. Does the name Oliver Cromwell mean anything to you?

[NC_Nurse]

9. Excellent article.

Thanks for posting it.

[Solly Mack]

10. well worth the read

[trof]

11. Full quote on Franklin Graham:

<whew>
Franklin Graham, the evangelist (and son of Billy Graham), boasted that the American invasion of Iraq opens up exciting new opportunities for missions to non-Christian Arabs. This is not what the Hebrew or Christian prophets meant by righteousness and discipleship. In fact, the grotesque notion that preemptive war and the destruction of innocent life pave the way for the preaching of the Christian message strikes me as a mockery and a betrayal.

But if Franklin Graham speaks truthfully of the Christian faith and its mission in the world -- as many evangelicals seem to believe -- then we should have none of it. Rather, we should join the ranks of righteous unbelievers and big-hearted humanists who rage against cruelty and oppression with the intensity of people who live fully in this world. I am certain that it would be better for Christians to stand in solidarity with compassionate atheists and agnostics, firmly resolved against injustice and cruelty, than to sing "Amazing Grace" with the heroic masses who cannot tell the difference between the cross and the flag.

[matcom]

12. thank you

didn't want to break copyright rules

[trof]

14. Roger.

It's a tough editing job sometimes.
:hi:

[matcom]

26. I really wanted to get in that last paragraph

:hi:

[Benhurst]

13. Yeah and Franklin has the whole Graham organization behind him.

I remember old Billy's being featured at an "Affirmation Vietnam" rally and wallowing on the floor "in prayer" at the White House with Bar and George H. W. Bush at the start of the Gulf War. Evil is as evil does. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.

[DemoTex]

22. "Affirmation Vietnam"

Damn! I'd forgotten about THAT! A small group of vocal Emory University (Atlanta) students sponsored that ill-fated rally in 1966. Most Emory students did not agree with that group, IIRC.

The homophobic Anita Bryant (Florida orange juice spokesperson and precursor to Katherine Harris) was big in the Affirmation Vietnam movement, too.

[Benhurst]

27. You're the first person I've found who remembers it.

:hi:

[ThomWV]

16. I had to laugh

" In fact, the grotesque notion that preemptive war and the destruction of innocent life pave the way for the preaching of the Christian message strikes me as a mockery and a betrayal."

Ever hear of the Crusades?

[bluerum]

20. Stupid ideas never die - they are too easy to come up with. The thrill of

world domination has inspired simple minded morans since the beginning of time.

[formercia]

15. A Crusade against the Heretic

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/n/onwardcs.htm

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

[Richard Steele]

17. "heroic masses who cannot tell the difference between the cross and the flag" sums them up well. K&R

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

21. According to my husband, there is a difference

for this crowd--they burn crosses but would never burn the flag.

[gratuitous]

24. It's too easy for some folks to get them confused

That's why we don't have a flag in our church sanctuary, or even anywhere on the grounds. We know what country we're living in, and don't need to be reminded all the time. I sometimes get the impression that some of the talking chuckleheads on the teevee wouldn't know what country they're in if they didn't all have little flag pins on their lapels.

[jpgray]

25. Awesome essay. K&R

[Skip Intro]

28. LOVE that last line...

I am certain that it would be better for Christians to stand in solidarity with compassionate atheists and agnostics, firmly resolved against injustice and cruelty, than to sing "Amazing Grace" with the heroic masses who cannot tell the difference between the cross and the flag.




yes.

[blondeatlast]

30. Amen to that--and I like them better, too!

:hug: :rofl:

[blondeatlast]

31. Great find. Thank you. nt

[tomreedtoon]

32. The scariest part; his trip to the Christian supply store.

The point where he asked where the dove pins were...because the front case was full of American flag pins, star-spangled ties and the rest. "They're in the back with the rest of the discount merchandise."

That, more than anything else, defines the sins of American evangelicals for me.

[blondeatlast]

33. Good morning kick. nt