Silencing Christians

[antonyh]

Chris Hedges wrote:

Passivity in the face of the rise of the Christian Right threatens the democratic state. And the movement has targeted the last remaining obstacles to its systems of indoctrination, mounting a fierce campaign to defeat hate-crime legislation, fearing the courts could apply it to them as they spew hate talk over the radio, television and Internet. Despotic movements harness the power of modern communications to keep their followers locked into closed systems. If this long, steady poisoning of civil discourse within these closed information systems is not challenged, if this movement continues to teach neighbor to hate neighbor, if its followers remain convinced that cataclysmic violence offers a solution to their own ills and the ills of the world, civil society in America will collapse.
Hedges, Chris. American Fascists: The Christian Right and The War On America. New York: Free Press, 2006.


Now that the Christian Right have used this argument to defeat the Hate Crimes Bill, they are now releasing a series called "Silencing Christians":

Here is the article:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=68149

Here is the trailer:
http://www.silencingchristians.com/

[Emproph]

If all the ranting and raving they do about not getting their way is an example of them being silenced, imagine what their idea of "free speech" must be.

It seems like they literally confuse the survival of the fittest-drive as some sort of a special mandate from on high. And that by calling it Christianity, all their basal and bestial supremacist behavior should then be respected as "religious freedom."

I don’t think I’ve ever used this line before, but, here goes:

Nothing could be further from the truth!

[Daniel]

...As God as my Ego....

That's going to stick with me for awhile.


Read the article.....here's what leapt out at me..


LBM: Speechless is to wake up the Christian and conservative population to what is happening and to equip them to take a stand for their rights. We are not seeking to take away anyone's right to speak or to claim that our rights are more important that any others. But, we are standing up and saying, "If it's OK for you to stand in the street and say that homosexuality is normal, then it is our right to stand in the same street and say we believe it is a sin." We're standing up for fairness, not special treatment, and we're speaking out against persecution of any kind. Equal should be equal.

Ah......there's some fuzzy math going on here. LBM says that he/she doesn't want to take away anyones rights. I appreciate that. However, it should be noted that gay people don't have the same rights as straight people. And since Conservative Christians already have the right to Free Speech, I hardly see what the problem is. It's not like anyone is shutting them up. Gee. Let's see....they've gotten anti-gay marriage amendments in a heck of a lot of states. DOMA. etc......

Oh..I get it.....that Supreme Court decision about sodomy must have really pissed them off....

So the oppressor is getting upset that their ability to oppress is weakening? Sounds like a good thing to me.

[antiochian]

They go on and on about how they're being persecuted, yet if we speak up for ourselves we're whining and demanding special rights. Makes me madder than a rabid kitty with its tail in a toaster.

[Gennee]

As a Christian and transgender, I realize that LGBT issues are turning some denominations upside down. I see this as the time to educate people about things important to us. Sadly, there are many Christians who rely on their pastor more than they do on the word of God. More Christians are beginning to speak out about the Christian Rights' positions on these things. They do not have the final rule on what and how others should think.

Gennee

[daniel Ray]

You are accurate in your post. Pastors influence over thier congergation is responsible for much ungodly behavior. Not that they are evil, self-righteous perhaps, or simply misinterpret scriptures they take out of context.

I would rather refer to myself as an ambasador for Christ, not a christian. Jesus Christ had a big problem with the religeous leaders of his day. It is Jesus who is our link to God Almighty - not our pastors. While i truely love my church pastor i do have some differences with him. Jesus has shown us the way, the truth and the light. "On a solid rock i stand, all other ground is sinking-sand."

[Gennee]

You are accurate in your post. Pastors influence over thier congergation is responsible for much ungodly behavior. Not that they are evil, self-righteous perhaps, or simply misinterpret scriptures they take out of context.

I would rather refer to myself as an ambasador for Christ, not a christian. Jesus Christ had a big problem with the religeous leaders of his day. It is Jesus who is our link to God Almighty - not our pastors. While i truely love my church pastor i do have some differences with him. Jesus has shown us the way, the truth and the light. "On a solid rock i stand, all other ground is sinking-sand."

I'm thankful that I have had pastors who stressed that Christians are to rely on God. If I say that I'm a Christian to a non-believer I point out that it's my relationship to Jesus, not to a denomination or a pastor. It presents a good opportunity to share with those who may struugle what 'Christianity' may seem to represent. Sadly, I think politics has been too much of a priority in some circles.

Gennee