On the issue of persecution of Christians

[ck4829]

What is called "persecution of Christians" in North Korea:

"“Christians are the target of fierce government action, and once caught, are not regarded as human,” said a veteran observer of North Korea who cannot be identified for security purposes. “Last year we had evidence that some were used as guinea pigs to test chemical and biological weapons.”"

And what is called "persecution of Christians" in the United States:

"The overt homosexual participation in Obama’s presidential inaugural events by ‘Bishop’ Vickie Eugene Robinson, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., and a homosexual marching band."

The first example comes from Open Doors; the second from a list compiled by the right wing Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.

http://barthsnotes.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/persecution-in-comparative-perspective-with-worldnetdaily/

Just when you think the Christian Right can't become anymore of a bizarre, but dangerous, sideshow; they attack the HPV vaccine, they help Uganda create a genocide bill against gays, they make disgusting comments about the earthquake in Haiti, they then belittle persecuted people everywhere even if that means belittling persecuted Christians.

How did we get stuck with such a grotesque movement anyway?

[damntexdem]

1. Just think of it as a return to traditional values.

Like those of the early Roman Empire. ;-)

[Warpy]

2. I survived Catholic school

and the desire for martyrdom was a common theme, the one sure way to get your ticket punched for heaven, an honor to die for the faith*. I would imagine that martyrdom wish runs all the way through all other derivative sects, as well. People who desire to be martyrs for their faith will look for martyrdom everywhere. They'll find it every time a TV sitcom doesn't talk about Jesus and they'll find it whenever "sinners" get human rights.

*Like Frank McCourt, I'd have been a lot more impressed if they'd given me something to live for instead of a list of things to die for.

[dorktv]

4. Terry Pratchett does an excellent treatment of the Christian faith

in Small Gods.

One of the more memorable parts was the Prophet Brutha saying "no, you die for your family, your country. You live for your God."

[alp227]

3. Those fools want an American theocracy.

I recently read Michelle Goldberg's book Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism. That's a well-narrated, well-researched book documenting the vast religious right agenda to infiltrate American culture by resisting science and the Enlightenment to reduce all our lives into very limited, simplistic, submissive-to-God duties. It's easy to complain about being the victim of a huge anti-Christian conspiracy by the godless Left. But with your brain, think about who's the much more stupid.