 sj |
||
|
||
BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist
|
|
|
Subject: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Stringsinger Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:08 PM The word is out. The Tea Party is made up of Christian Fundamentalists who want to turn the US into a theocracy. They also want big government on their social issues, anti-choice, immigration reform, (more deportations), less regulatory agencies, more "creationism" taught, anti-gay agendas and general reactionary right-wing hard line views. They are religious fanatics who are represented by Bachmann and Perry. Be warned. http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/651861/atheists,_muslims_more_popular_than_tea_party_(also,_tea_party's_just_a_new_name_for_racist_christian_right)/ http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/152034/meet_the_christian_dominionist_%27prayer_warriors%27_who_have_chosen_rick_perry_as_their_vehicle_to_power/ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Stringsinger Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:09 PM http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/651861/atheists,_muslims_more_popular_than_tea_party_(also,_tea_party's_just_a_new_ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Stringsinger Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:11 PM http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/152034/meet_the_christian_dominionist_%27prayer_warriors%27_who_have_chosen_rick_perry_as_their |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: bobad Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:54 PM Tea Party America's Own Taliban A thought provoking opinion piece from Al Jazeera written by Paul Rosenberg. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Stringsinger Date: 19 Aug 11 - 02:02 PM New Apostolic Reformation |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Backwoodsman Date: 19 Aug 11 - 02:30 PM What is "Crosstian"? Or is it "Extian"? Never heard of either. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: olddude Date: 19 Aug 11 - 02:33 PM Strings they are so far from Christian ya can't even see God from where they stand They know nothing about God ... as far off the track as Bin Ladin was with the Muslim religion. It is power, it is control .. it is big money and politics |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Stringsinger Date: 19 Aug 11 - 04:36 PM It is Perry, Bachmann, Palin and Brownbeck......and others in the Tea Party, coming to an election near you. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Jim Dixon Date: 19 Aug 11 - 05:43 PM Using "X" as a symbol or abbreviation for "Christ" has a long history. The Greek counterpart of "X" is Chi, the first letter in Χριστός, the Greek word for "Christ." However, the abbreviation for "Christian" is usually written "Xian" since the "t" is already part of "Christ." It's certainly a convenient abbreviation to use in, say, a thread title, where space is limited. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 19 Aug 11 - 06:11 PM Speaking of abbreviations, do you think its coincidence that both "Tea Party" and "Toilet Paper" can be represented by the abbreviation "TP"? Personally, I think it's more a matter of the universe attempting to apply the same convenient two-letter label to asswipes of all sorts. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Jim Dixon Date: 19 Aug 11 - 06:15 PM Oops! I spoke too soon in criticizing "Xtian." Apparently that is the favored abbreviation for "Christian" (although the "t" seems redundant to me). "Xian" is apparently the transliteration of a word or name in Chinese, which is why you get so many hits on it with Google. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: katlaughing Date: 20 Aug 11 - 12:17 AM Personally, I think it's more a matter of the universe attempting to apply the same convenient two-letter label to asswipes of all sorts. LMAO!!:-) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Backwoodsman Date: 20 Aug 11 - 02:11 AM "It's certainly a convenient abbreviation to use in, say, a thread title, where space is limited." I knew that of course, Jim, I was being sarcastic. I guess I'm a little sensitive about the use of 'Xtian' as an abbreviation for Christian, as I seldom, if ever, see Christians using it, but I always seem to encounter it being used by rabid anti-Christians as if the full "Christian" is some kind of swear-word, a bit like the prissy practice of writing "f***ing" when what the writer means is.....well, you know what the writer means. It seems to be a means of insulting the faith, or the followers of Christianity. Although why anyone feels so inadequate that they need to insult a faith-system is completely beyond me. Maybe not intended that way in this case, as I noticed the OP used the full 'Christian' in the body of his/her post, and I apologise if I misunderstood. I'll get my coat............. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: akenaton Date: 20 Aug 11 - 02:48 AM I fully agree Backwoodsman. Desperate tactics from desperate people. What is so evil about Christianity? I am an atheist yet I accept that others can practice a religion which provides a degree of psychological comfort in hard times. Also, many of the values promoted by Christians are good and valuable, its just the magic that I cant get my head around. The real problem is that Christianity has been labelled "conservative" by the left, when the opposite is the case! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: GUEST,999 Date: 20 Aug 11 - 03:43 AM I read many years ago that the X was used by Christians to identify each other (make an X in the dirt and then rub it out). If yer gonna be persecuted by say the Romans (pre-Constantine), how would ya find those of similar beliefs? Welcome to the secret handshake society. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Big Al Whittle Date: 20 Aug 11 - 04:26 AM I can NEVER work out how so many moderate Republicans finish off getting behind people who are so weird - Palin and Perry - the younger Bush. Governors of states even before they start looking at the Presidency. I heard it said if Arnie had been born in the USA - he would have been a strong candidate. What's wrong with normal people? Cameron my have his faults but you can't imagine his family playing with stun guns, or him coming out with strange religious utterances. different country, I guess you just see things differently. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 20 Aug 11 - 08:35 AM The key, Big Al, can be found in the way in which the significance of a few minor issues has been magnified way beyond what it would be, given the actual impact they have on our daily lives. The three biggies are abortion, gun rights, and public expression of religious belief. Anyone who's on the "right" side of those three issues will garner full support of Republicans, even those of a more moderate stripe. It makes no difference if he is a blithering idiot whose favorite pastime is feeding kittens and baby ducks through a wood chipper, as long as he's pro-life, pro-gun, and pro-religion. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Greg F. Date: 20 Aug 11 - 09:40 AM Although why anyone feels so inadequate that they need to insult a faith-system is completely beyond me. Unless its the Muslim faith, of course. Desperate tactics from desperate people. What is so evil about Christianity? One might ask "What is so evil about Islam?" |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: GUEST,Jon Date: 20 Aug 11 - 09:42 AM The impression I have is that it works both ways, Bee-dubya-ell. Going by Mudcat, the whole US political system and it's divisions over issues such as ones beliefs and gun control seems crazy to me. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: GUEST,999 Date: 20 Aug 11 - 09:43 AM What's so evil about them is the shit they do in the name of god, as though that gives them a right to do it. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Bobert Date: 20 Aug 11 - 10:17 AM Well, there are Christians and then there are imposters... And both groups know exactly which group they belong... Christ wasn't/isn't all that complicated... He said a lot of purdy common sense stuff about how we should treat one another... I don't see Christ in most fundamentalists... I see a lot of the conflict and bullshit that is found in parts of the Old Testament... Take George W Bush, for instance... No real follower of Christ can possibly believe that George is or has ever been a Christian... But with that said, that's George's problem until he makes it mine... Bottom line??? I have no problems with a Christian being president... Just act like one, for "Christ (couldn't resist) sake"... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Stringsinger Date: 20 Aug 11 - 11:04 AM The Tea Party claims to be Christian or Xtian, however you want to call it. Don't they have as much right to claim their Christianity as any other Christian? This calls into question, what is Christianity? Everyone has their own definition but not one many can agree upon. I don't have respect for "faith", I admit it. I do, however, have respect for the people who claim to practice it. I separate them as human beings from their "faith" and judge them on their behavior. The problem is that when you think of the zealotry of the Tea Party, how do you separate that from the others who claim they are the true Christians? How do you sell that, logically? Thomas Jefferson excised all from the bible except the Beautitudes and wrote his own version of the bible. Can you be a Christian if you don't believe the bible? How does that work? Who are the true Christians? Lutherans? Catholics? Methodists? Quakers? et. al. If they all believed the same thing, why separate into denominations? And why do they fight over that? (They do!) The Tea Party has a Dominionist streak in that they want to turn America into a theocracy and instead of the Constitution replace that with the Ten Commandments. They also believe in their version of Big Government (Theocracy) but think that what we have now is not acceptable and they need to replace it. When they say they are for small government, they are not telling the truth. Abe Lincoln would turn over in his grave at the way Rick Perry and others are throwing around "State's Rights". (Are we going to have another Civil War?) And what about the New Apostolic Reformation? Are we going to have a president that forces the country to accept this abomination? (No gays, abortion, no imigrant labor, no Democrats (they are all demons via the NAR, no Oprah?) Read up on this stuff so you know what Bachmann, Perry, Palin and the Tea Party are all about. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: bobad Date: 20 Aug 11 - 12:46 PM Bobert, as much as you believe that what you practice is the true Christianity and that which fundamentalists, such as Tea Party members practice, is not, so also do they think that of your brand of Christianity. Such is the nature of belief. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Donuel Date: 20 Aug 11 - 12:59 PM The Freedom Works branch of the Tea Party is the multi million dollar lobbyist organization founded through Dick Army by the Koch Bros. and other big coal, gas and oil corporations. They want no government, The other two branches are the christian right who felt abandoned by Bush and the economic collapse, then there all the other misinformed but scared people who wish a pox on both the Republic and Democrat parties. Floating in the entire stew are the libertarians like Ron Paul amd latent and overt racists. The broad brush title of this thread is wrong and wrong headed. The biggest player in the next election are corporations and other countries with all thier unlimited funds they can throw behind US candidates for PResident and COngress. That Supreme Court decision some of you thought less than important will change everything this cuntry was founded on and all the values that support the dignity and independence of the people. IF you litteraly think Corporations are people too, then you drank the Koch Bros. Tea. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Greg F. Date: 20 Aug 11 - 01:26 PM I do, however, have respect for the people who claim to practice it [faith]. I don't. I reserve my respect those who ACTUALLY practice "it" - but only if "it" is benign and/or positive & benefits mankind - regardless of which "faith" the rest of mankind chooses to practice or NOT practice. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: akenaton Date: 20 Aug 11 - 02:26 PM There is perhaps the answer to your question Greg....the practice of Christianity or Islam.....By and large, I see very few Christian suicide bombers. Perhaps Christians in the West are developing a siege mentallity as they see their best principles come under attack...the pro lifers have a point, abortion should not be used as a birth control method, and that does not mean that it is necessary under certain circumstances. They should not be forced to accept the homosexual definition of marriage.....when Christian marriage was defined by procreation and family life. The sexuaslising of all facets of life for profit is also against all Christian principles. All this "liberal" dogma is a concerted attempt to crush Christianity, which is defined by the left as a citadel of "conservatism" In the real world the teachings of Christ were a form of primitive socialism.......the politicians are try ing a little more of the old divide and rule......and succeeding. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: akenaton Date: 20 Aug 11 - 02:36 PM Sorry...that should read .....is NOT necessary under certain circumstances. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Jeri Date: 20 Aug 11 - 02:42 PM Ake, the labels aren't coming from the left. The TPers are the ones that wave their Christian fundamentalism like a flag. Perhaps you should find a way to let them know about the socialist elements. I think liberals have a tendency to dislike holier-than-thou know-it-alls on the right. I wish they disliked the same traits in themselves. I understand it may be difficult to get a clear picture of the political climate in the US if you're not right in the middle of it--it's hard enough if you ARE. I'm another atheist who doesn't have anything against Christ's teachings or Christianity as he intended it. He said "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" (I may be paraphrasing) and that pretty much blows up the whole anti-tax stance of the TP. It may onlybe me, but I'm seeing the TP more like a cult than a political party. They've just replaced the Kool Aid and are inviting the whole country to commit suicide. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Greg F. Date: 20 Aug 11 - 02:48 PM I see very few Christian suicide bombers. Suicide bombers, granted. Perhaps their devotion to The Christ, Jesus simply isn't strong enough, like the martyrs of old, who were prepared to die for their faith. But how about plain bombers & other mass murderers? Plenty of those about - Tim McVeigh, Aryan Nations, Right to Lifers, that nut in Norway to name only a few. Plenty more "Christians"[sic] where they came from I see you've adopted the deeply psychotic "Christians Under Siege" paranoid fairytle. the pro lifers have a point, abortion should not be used as a birth control method No one's asking them - or compelling them-to have an abortion. They should not be forced to accept the homosexual definition of marriage No one is asking them or compelling them to do so. The sexuaslising of all facets of life for profit is also against all Christian principles. How about the promulgation & imposition of Christian[sic] principles for profit? Plenty of examples of that. All this "liberal" dogma is a concerted attempt to crush Christianity Way beyond bullshit, Pharoah, & into the realm of paranoid delusion. Get help. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Greg F. Date: 20 Aug 11 - 03:02 PM "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's"..... and that pretty much blows up the whole anti-tax stance of the TP. You betcha! It commands people to respect state authority and to pay the taxes it demands of them. Paul the Apostle (Romans 13) also reminds us that Christians are obliged to obey all earthly authorities & as they were introduced by God, disobedience to them equates to disobedience to God. Apparently the Tea Potty's understanding of scripture is on the level of their understanding & knowledge of the U.S. Constitution. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: ollaimh Date: 20 Aug 11 - 03:22 PM i'm with bobert. no one who takes the new testement seriously could see george w bush as a christian. the xtians use the old testement all the time to justify their non christian views. modern christianity was corrupted by the ascention to power starting with st augistine's dity of god right up to the many european christian empoires thast routinely committed genocide in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and some right up to the near present. the present if you include the on going massacres of guatemalean natives by americam militrist sponsered evangellicals.they are a little subtler now but back in the regean era the american fundalmentalist supported government of rios mont killed a quarter of a million natives. this was openly supported by pat robertsons groups and many other american fundamentalists.(robertson later admitted this happened but claims "mistakes were made"--pretty lame when you are supporting genocide) as to akenatons idea where are the suicide bomber? the christian militarists don't need them. they are powerfull enough to kill their targets and get away safely. the suicide bomber is the weapon of the powewrless(at leasst powerless within the conventional power structure). nice as it would be for these old testement kooks to go away we do have to find strategies to deal with them so they cause as little harm as possible--same as with fanatic muslims.(and of course most muslims do not support the tactics or aims of the fanatics). sadly the canadian prime minister just signed a deal supporting the genocidal government of guatemala. when issues concern native the military capitalists have no restraint. if they ever admit wrong towards natives once they have to admit their whole world is based on militarism and genocide. those who began the march of the "onward christian soldiers" in the uk, similarily can't admit wrong on any event in ireland (or scotland or wales)or they would have to admit their whole system was based on exploiting the lands and wealth of others. as gorte vidal said:"the english practiced genocide in ireland, thenn took the show on the road, arriving on the coast of california all dressed up for empire and no one left to kill--soo they invaded the phillipines" |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: akenaton Date: 20 Aug 11 - 03:45 PM I think perhaps "render unto Ceasar" may have been a metaphor, much of the New Testament is. But there is no mistaking Jesus's actions in routing the money changers, or his teachings regarding fellow humans less fortunate than ourselves. I'm sorry Ollaimh, I know nothing of the actions of the Guatemalan govt, but I'll try to find out. Are you sure their alleged genocide is religiously motivated? Most genocide is practiced for economic reasons, in underdeveloped nations. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: akenaton Date: 20 Aug 11 - 03:55 PM I think you are right Jeri....but rather than a cult, I see them as a "popular movement".....never forget, we lefties are in the minority almost everywhere, if we want to succeed we must adapt and compromise with the majority, not try to fight then with tooth and claw.......remember the teachings of the philosopher Jesus. They were correct then and they are correct now. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: GUEST,Geiri Date: 20 Aug 11 - 04:33 PM To Guest999- "Christ" in Greek is Christos, where the Ch is written as a X (chi). So, it's his initial. Most of the New Testament was written in first or second-century Greek. The rest was in Aramaic. I think that the secret symbol was a fish, because of the Greek initials of the words for Jesus (~Isus) Christ (Xristos) God (Theos) Son (Ios) Savior (Sotir). I think the problem with the label "fundamentalist Christians" is that they ignore the fundamentals, which are to love God supremely, and your neighbor as yourself. Pretty much the same as in Judaism. Hating people who don't agree with your beliefs is not one of the fundamentals. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: artbrooks Date: 20 Aug 11 - 04:34 PM I believe that it was Gandhi who said "I like your Christ, but I do not much like your Christians". BTW, my entirely unscientific survey of idiot drivers indicates that bad driving is directly related to the number of fish, doves and Republican bumper stickers on their cars. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Don Firth Date: 20 Aug 11 - 05:37 PM GUEST,Geiri, just a post or two above, has it exactly right. Get a good red-letter edition of the Bible and read what Jesus is supposed to have actually said, and you then have the real fundamentals of Christianity. Much of the rest is goat-feathers. Don Firth |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: GUEST,999 Date: 20 Aug 11 - 05:55 PM Thank you, Geiri. It was likely the fish that was toed into the dirt then erased. You describing the Greek letters made the bell go off. Much appreciated. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: olddude Date: 20 Aug 11 - 07:05 PM The nature of Christian is in the teaching and following of Jesus Christ. It is not in any denomination whatever. The fighting between Catholics, Protestant etc is not the path of Christ. The New Testament is the new Testament ... amazing how so many can't grasp that concept. In no written work ever talking about Christ was hate and judgment of others a concept ... Again they are so far from Christian they cannot even see Christ from where they are at ... Follow some preacher or some priest if they like .. Me I will follow Christ and his main directives. Love God with all your heart, love your neighbor as yourself. That what you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me ... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Big Al Whittle Date: 20 Aug 11 - 07:31 PM if you had a friend who told you that you were sinning if you looked a woman with lust in your heart - you'd think he was going bonkers. Pay Jesus the compliment of honesty. Tell him next time you pray, his Dad steered him wrong on that one. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Bobert Date: 20 Aug 11 - 07:32 PM Yo, Bobad... If yer using your "faith" for marketing then you probably don't have any... It ain't "my faith v. your faith"... Either you get Jesus or you don't... You can't dig Christ and turn your back on the poor... Period... That ain't negotiable for folks that made it to the New Testament... The policies that the the Tea Party exposes turns its back on the poor... Time to call these phonies for what they are and if they want to claim the banner of "Christian" they are going to have to walk the the walk... I resent them using Jesus to gain ***power***... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: olddude Date: 20 Aug 11 - 07:47 PM Ya missed the whole concept Big Al. Not to get into theology .. but what he was saying is if your mind is on lust it is not on God it is not being a better person .. It is then on the worldly matters. What did he do when a woman caught in adultery was to be stoned. How did he handle that .. it was the law back then .. Let you with no sin throw the first stone .. then when they all left he said is no one left to condemn you ... neither do I ... Ya missed his point my friend. He got it right and taught us right .. it is just difficult to follow ... it is supposed to be .. one cannot know good if they don't have evil in the world .. ya can't know love without hate in the world .. Ya can't know God if you are only thinking in the terms of the world always ... Hard path .. yup ... will anyone get it right .. nope but all we can do is try our best. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: olddude Date: 20 Aug 11 - 08:10 PM I love the woman caught in adultery story .. he is telling them who are you to judge .. you are sinners also ... Why don't the preachers get that message when they are slamming everyone about everything ... Why because it is power ... all about power .. all about money ... Not about God While be tortured and murdered what did he say "forgive them, they don't know what they are doing" That is the God I believe in |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Big Ballad Singer Date: 20 Aug 11 - 09:03 PM Cindy Jacobs is a screwball, and the whole "New Apostolic Reformation" is nothing but a power-grabbing exercise. Many, many people who subscribe to the NAR's garbage are emotionally starved and desperate for validation of their whacked-out beliefs. They flock to these charlatans because they "prophesy" that these sad, lonely, emotionally-stunted people will "one day", "very soon", be some kind of spiritual super-force... IF, of course, they give the right amounts of money and ingest the right mystical BS from their "apostles". If you want to debate the LITERAL validity of the historical accounts of Jesus and His apostles, that's one thing. If you want to make up stories that validate your particular twisting of the Bible, that's yet another thing. In the end, however, to be able to make what the NAR is and stands for somehow compatible with EITHER the Bible or with Church history is absolutely impossible. In short, the NAR is just the kind of thing that the so-called "Tea Party" needs in their corner... people who will attempt to once again galvanize the religious far-right into a motivated voting block. God will have absolutely nothing to do with making the TP's will come to pass... it will be the same old-boy, old-money network that got others elected. The TP's association with the NAR and lots of the other people associated with so-called "evangelical Christianity" both sickens and scares me. Full disclosure here: I was once a staff pastor at a church, I am an ordained minister and have studied Church history for many years. The aberration that is "Protestant" Christianity (esp the US variety) is the source and cause of all this political mess. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: olddude Date: 20 Aug 11 - 09:18 PM BBS well said ... very well said indeed and it scares me and saddened me also ... The worst kind of person is one that uses the Lord for their own power play and personal gain. The Catholic church in its day had the "give x number of dollars and bam you could do anything cause you were now going to heaven regardless" boy I wonder if they wanted their money back when they died. These people today have turned their twisted corrupt version of religion into their own money making machine and political force. An insult to God and all of us that do believe in Christ. Those that follow are confused and are being lead into a dark place I think |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Bobert Date: 20 Aug 11 - 09:29 PM Exactly what I have been talkin' about, BBSinger... Bob Dylan said it well when he said: "If God's on our side He'll stop the next war" Or was it Pete Seegar... No matter, say's it all... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Don Firth Date: 20 Aug 11 - 10:58 PM A brief passage from one of my favorite science fiction novels—but it's much more than a science fiction novel. The scene is toward the end of the book; a discussion among a group of Jesuit priests as to why God could have allowed this disaster on a planet in the Alpha Centauri system to have happened. And (spoiler alert!) it tends to explain the enigmatic title: The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell. "Matthew ten, verse twenty-nine," Vincenzo Guiliani said quietly. "'Not one sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.'"Don Firth P. S. What are a couple of Jesuit priests (not the ones in the scene above) doing on the Earth's first interstellar mission? You'll have to read the book. It's very well written and most thought-provoking. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Bobert Date: 20 Aug 11 - 11:04 PM Mathew also quotes Jesus saying "Nothin' hidden that won't one day be found and no secrets kept that won't one day be common knowledge"... Bad news for the phonies... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: LadyJean Date: 20 Aug 11 - 11:44 PM I saw a great bumper sticker: "Tea Parties Are For Little Girls With Imaginary Friends". Chistians have made the world a better place. People calling themselves Christians have done some incredibly horrible things. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Musket Date: 21 Aug 11 - 05:23 AM Perhaps the world's media needs to get more information out from correspondents brave and willing enough to go into Dumbfuckistan? From this side of the pond, it seems worrying too. Not in terms of wanting to interfere in how you run your country, you understand. You are far better than us in recent years at telling others how it should be. We are just good at giving you the respectability to go ahead and do it. No, the tea party is a concern here too. If you look at the recent rioting, the right wing element of the conservative party are coming from under their rocks and saying the fault is gay couples being allowed to adopt, political correctness including humouring Islamic fundamentalists, not enough emphasis on Jesus, (and reminding us, sadly, that we are one of the few countries with a state religion, even if less than 1% are practicing Christians...) The tea party is starting to take effect here too. T'was ever thus, although it was always the blue rinse brigade indulging in casual racism with the vicar at the local garden party. People with faith ask me why I don't use scripture as a moral code. (Ok, just one, and he smiles too much.) I answer that scriptures are so obtuse, they can form the moral code for Desmond Tutu. But they also formed the moral code for the crusaders, Spanish inquisition and buggering priests. The 20th country belonged to USA, in the same way as 18th and 19th century belonged to us. (The sun never sets on the British Empire and all that.) But your fundamentalist tea party dudes should beware. USA is losing its international status, as China and India become the baseline economies, so other countries may feel less inclined to bow before the dollar, and if your politicians lose credibility, sadly so will the millions of real nice people, a few dozen or so I am proud to call personal friends. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Tea Party is Xtian Fundamentalist From: Penny S. Date: 21 Aug 11 - 09:07 AM I think I have seen it suggested that the fish in the sand thing was to draw the curve of half the fish, which the other person completed, if Christian. The render unto Caesar statement is very nuanced. Firstly, the group was in the Temple, and there should have been no Roman coins there (that's why there were money changers). Secondly, a perfectly valid interpretation of the the first half of the statement, about rendering to God what is God's, is that everything is God's. Therefore Caesar has no claim on anything. That would have been recognised by Jewish listeners, but misunderstood by Roman eavesdroppers, who could not have accused Jesus of sedition. It has, of course, been misunderstood by many in power since. Paul's writing on the subject of secular authorities while in prison, and his work presumably read before distribution is interesting. How would you interpret something written by Aung San Suu Kyi that urged unquestioning obedience to the Myanmar junta? Penny |
