The Insipience of Some People

[Gregory_de_Bois]

Well, I really should be doing my homework right now, but I need to talk to you guys. You most assuredly have more importance than this paper on Luther and Erasmus and their peculiar dialogue, Discourse on Free Will. Now that I have tried to please you, I will continue with what I meant to post in the first place.

I do not know whether I have told you this, but I go to a Classical Christian High School. Basically, it means I am better than you. :lol: Not really, but it is an amazing form of education that I love. Here (http://www.accsedu.org/) is the association through which my school is accredited. Now the reason I am posting this has to do with some comments from a man who helped forge the way for the reintroduction of Classical Christian education, so let me give a little history.

There is a school in Moscow, Idaho called Logos. It is a Classical Christian school. IT was founded by Douglas Wilson, who has written on CCE (Classical Christian Education). It was one of the first CC schools in America in a while. Douglas Wilson is also a pastor of Christ's Church in Moscow, Idaho. He has also written on many other issues, and this is where he begins to drive me mad.

He is in part a Christian Nationalist. He wrote a book called "Reformed" is Not Enough and contributed the Federal Vision movement, which is very similar to the Christian Reconstructionist movement.

To cut to the chase, he believes that the abolitionist movement was Anti-Christian, and if he were to suddenly rise to power here are some changes he would make:

Only his form of "christians" would be allowed to be in the Gov't
Slavery would be allowed
The Death Penalty would be reinstituted for every crime in the Bible
Pity for those punished would be banned
Homosexuals would be exiled (he thinks it would be nicer) if they are young, killed if old
A Pledge/oath to his god would be mandated for every citizen of the USA

Now this may just seem like another loony, and in part it is. But what frightens me is his influence in my school. I mean I knew it would be bad if I came out (which I don't plan on doing until during/after college), or was found out, but now I am even more frightened. I respect his work on CCE, which I love, but every other aspect of him terrifies me. I also think he is gaining credibility among many Christian Conservatives. He was recently in a debate hosted by Christianity Today (which magazine I generally like) with Christopher Hitchens over atheism (and I have to say, he can be a good debater there). I don't know if there ever could be any power behind him, I think conservatives bicker to much about so many little things that it is hard for them to unite, but you never know.

[Daniel]

The thought that comes to mind here is that one learns to see the good in a person and let the rest go. Even the smartest, sharpest persons can believe the most heinous stuff. And just because a guy can talk and artfully weave an argument doesn't mean he has a heart. Reading between the lines is what is important here. And it sounds as though no one has to teach you this.

Case in point: that little voice tellling you to stay mum about being gay in your current environment knows what it's talking about. Try to stay calm....and keep listening. You'll know what, and what not, to do.

[Gregory_de_Bois]

Thanks, Daniel. Yes, you are right about reading between the lines. I just find it so interesting that he can be such an influence at my school. But I suppose it is more due to his efforts in CCE.

[Daniel]

Thanks, Daniel. Yes, you are right about reading between the lines. I just find it so interesting that he can be such an influence at my school. But I suppose it is more due to his efforts in CCE.

I bet he has a great deal of personal charisma, right? That and looks will hook people in right away. And we shouldn't forge: some people can sell anything.

[Emproph]

He is in part a Christian Nationalist. He wrote a book called "Reformed" is Not Enough and contributed the Federal Vision movement, which is very similar to the Christian Reconstructionist movement.

To cut to the chase, he believes that the abolitionist movement was Anti-Christian, and if he were to suddenly rise to power here are some changes he would make:

Only his form of "christians" would be allowed to be in the Gov't
Slavery would be allowed
The Death Penalty would be reinstituted for every crime in the Bible
Pity for those punished would be banned
Homosexuals would be exiled (he thinks it would be nicer) if they are young, killed if old
A Pledge/oath to his god would be mandated for every citizen of the USA

Now this may just seem like another loony, and in part it is. But what frightens me is his influence in my school.

Definitely scary stuff:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr.htm

Are the people in your school aware of his particular brand of "Christian" beliefs?

[u-dog]

Greg,

I am in awe of your courage and common sense. yes, definately keep your head down and bide your time. Monitor yourself carefully to be sure that you are not internalizing this poison in subtle ways.

These ideas are definately frightening, no question. And I can imagine the possibility of ideas such as his gaining ground among Conservative Christians ... especially as they begin to lose traction in the culture at large (which I believe is happening now) . This, however, makes me LESS fearful about the possibility of their ideas gaining ground in the larger society. In fact, I believe that their presence on the Conservative Christian side of these issues PROBABLY works in our favor over the long haul.

There is a new book out, which has been discussed on another thread, called Unchristian by David Kinnaman (a conservative evangelical researcher). In the book Kinnaman discusses how people your age (16-29) who are OUTSIDE of Christianity view Jesus, Christians, Christianity, and the church. What his research indicates is that the exclusive, hypocritical, judgemental attitudes of Christians are serving to marginalize the church ad its influence in larger and larger parts of our society. Even among CHRISTIANS in this age group these doubts are becoming widespread.

I think if you can get hold of this book you could safely read it since it is NOT a GLBT book and the Barna group (through whom Kinnaman did the research) is associated with conservative, evangelical Christianity. I recommend it. You may find it reassuring.

I keep you in my prayers!

[antiochian]

What about grace? Did Christ not do away with the Holiness Code? The Mosaic Law? What about mercy? Jesus was surrounded by sinners throughout his ministry on earth. Did he have them put to death? Did he stone them or burn them at the stake? Did he ostracize them? No, he did not.

Somewhere in Mel White's "Religion Gone Bad," Fundamentalism is defined as "orthodoxy gone cultic." When there is talk of excluding everyone who doesn't believe the same things, or behave in the same way, to me that is where the line between a religion and a cult starts to fade.