28/01: Infidels Should Make Demands Also
Category: Religion & Public Policy
Posted by: an okie gardener
Reciprocity, or, thoughts on being an idolatrous infidel
What he said.
Link from Instapundit.
Being just and righteous and even being Christian is not exactly the same thing as being "nice."
Read the Gospel of Mark straight through at a sitting (it's not that long). Now, decide just how the word "nice" applies to Jesus. For an online version click the link.
One of the common modern heresies is that Christians never should give offense, should be "nice." B*llsh*t.
What he said.
Link from Instapundit.
Being just and righteous and even being Christian is not exactly the same thing as being "nice."
Read the Gospel of Mark straight through at a sitting (it's not that long). Now, decide just how the word "nice" applies to Jesus. For an online version click the link.
One of the common modern heresies is that Christians never should give offense, should be "nice." B*llsh*t.
martian mariner wrote:
Interesting article in that it makes a point not man multiculturalists are aware of or care to think about. I don't really buy the extension and example of a secularly excluded area, defined in opposite terms than the example of Mecca (i.e., Muslims and Non-Muslims should compare to Secularists and Religious folk in his example, not non-Muslims and Muslims.) I also find it interesting that while Kimball is making the point that ACLU-ites are under-zealous in pinpointing Islam's failings compared to their zeal in exposing Western-originated curtailings of individual liberty, Gardener deletes the middle man of secularism and faces Christianity against Islam directly.
I understand that you're also saying that Christianity needs to stand up to militant secularism, but how? People fear the reaction of Muslims because they've been conditioned to as a result of previous Muslim reactions. While I agree that Christianity should not be wholly passive in the face of the secular onslaught, I don't think that the answer is to burn cars and threaten beheadings.
I don't think that is the answer BECAUSE of the nature of Christianity. When the Pharisees brought an adultress before Jesus, he accused them of hypocrisy and forgave her. He told her to go and sin no more, yes, that is the active part of our religion. When the prophet Muhammed was faced with a similar situation, he had the woman flogged (the statute of stoning was implemented by Abu Bakr, the next Caliph). The difference here is the nature of the action. Christianity forgives, and strives to live more righteously, with God's help. Islam punishes, and intimidates into righteous living. The connection here is that violent protests are punishment for public transgressions, as well as a threat against future offense, in keeping with the nature of Islam. What would a non-passive pushback in accordance with the nature of Christianity look like?