Something to think about
It's been a while since I last posted. Too much work getting the house in order for the penaut and too little time, I guess. That, and I'm a lazy bum. Anyway, as you all know, Pat Robertson, America's favorite Christian psychopath, announced the other day that America should assasinate Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela. According to Mr. Robertson, such a move would protect us from communists and Muslims and, presumably, feminists, abortionists, gays, the ACLU and People for the American Way.
With Mr. Robertson waving his "Christian ethics" around for everyone to see, I suggest reading the following two articles. The first article is all about training young Christians to inject their ethics into the political process. Keep in mind while reading this article that there is a sizable sub-culture of American Christians devoted to promoting Reconstructionism and Theonomy as a means of governing this country. The similarities between reconstructionist beliefs and the folks described in the article are not, I believe, mere coincidence.
It is easy, though, to focus on the evil that arises when politics and religion mix, especially when the bartenders are right-wingers. Thus, I point you to The second article in which the author relates his story of travelling through the middle east with a diverse group of seminarians and laity. The kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness displayed by most of the people in this group are heartening, and I think you'll appreciate the author's discussion of the struggle between exclusionary and inclusionary impulses in many thoughtful theists. Point is, although there are lots of batshit insane religious believers in this world (many of whom would gladly imprison or kill you for disagreeing with them), there are probably just as many who believe otherwise and who understand the diverse nature of humanity and its religious beliefs.
P.S. Anybody else notice the theme running through the Post article of how spiritual awareness often comes most easily in natural settings. Interesting.
With Mr. Robertson waving his "Christian ethics" around for everyone to see, I suggest reading the following two articles. The first article is all about training young Christians to inject their ethics into the political process. Keep in mind while reading this article that there is a sizable sub-culture of American Christians devoted to promoting Reconstructionism and Theonomy as a means of governing this country. The similarities between reconstructionist beliefs and the folks described in the article are not, I believe, mere coincidence.
It is easy, though, to focus on the evil that arises when politics and religion mix, especially when the bartenders are right-wingers. Thus, I point you to The second article in which the author relates his story of travelling through the middle east with a diverse group of seminarians and laity. The kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness displayed by most of the people in this group are heartening, and I think you'll appreciate the author's discussion of the struggle between exclusionary and inclusionary impulses in many thoughtful theists. Point is, although there are lots of batshit insane religious believers in this world (many of whom would gladly imprison or kill you for disagreeing with them), there are probably just as many who believe otherwise and who understand the diverse nature of humanity and its religious beliefs.
P.S. Anybody else notice the theme running through the Post article of how spiritual awareness often comes most easily in natural settings. Interesting.
posted by Drogon Saurischian at 8/24/2005 12:06:00 PM
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