Posted on 03/29/2006 1:04:29 PM PST by Crackingham
The "War on Christmas" has morphed into a "War on Christians."
Last December, some evangelical Christian groups declared that the religious celebration of Christmas -- and even the phrase "Merry Christmas" -- was under attack by the forces of secularism. This week, radio commentator Rick Scarborough convened a conference in Washington on the "War on Christians and the Values Voters in 2006." The opening session was devoted to "reports from the frontlines" on "persecution" of Christians in the United States and Canada, including an artist whose paintings were barred from a municipal art show in Deltona, Fla., because they contained religious themes.
Among the conference's speakers were former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and Sens. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and conservative Christian leaders Phyllis Schlafly, Rod Parsley, Gary Bauer, Janet Parshall and Alan Keyes.
To many of the 400 evangelicals packed into a small ballroom at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, it was a hard but necessary look at moral relativism, hedonism and Christophobia, or fear of Christ, to pick just a few terms offered by various speakers referring to the enemy. To some outsiders, it illuminated the paranoia of the Christian right.
"Certainly religious persecution existed in our history, but to claim that these examples amount to religious persecution disrespects the experiences of people who have been jailed and died because of their faith," said Hollyn Hollman, general counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.
"This is a skirmish over religious pluralism, and the inclination to see it as a war against Christianity strikes me as a spoiled-brat response by Christians who have always enjoyed the privileges of a majority position," said the Rev. Robert Franklin, a minister in the Church of God in Christ and professor of social ethics at Emory University.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
And the "War on Christians" legal team and main 'perpetraitor' is the ACLU.
I think these people mean well. But as a Christian it's a bit embarrassing to be complaining about censored "Christian" art when a Christian in Afghanistan just barely got out of the country with his life.
it's not "alleged" it's in plain sight for anyone to see.
"ABC has been doing stories on this. I don't think the problem is exaggerated."
Because we know the MSM would never exaggerate a story to make a profit.
"But as a Christian it's a bit embarrassing to be complaining about censored "Christian" art when a Christian in Afghanistan just barely got out of the country with his life."
What about as an American?
Oh Please. There is no 'War on Christians'.
Didn't San Francisco just say no to an evangelical group that is having its convention in town? They said that the hate filled troublemakers should go away. - Something to that effect. Their reaction sounded like holy water sprinkled on demons and vampires.
"...strikes me as a spoiled-brat response by Christians who have always enjoyed the privileges of a majority position," said the Rev. Robert Franklin, a minister in the Church of God in Christ and professor of social ethics at Emory University."
Hmmm.
I'm wondering why the liberal Christians don't perceive the cultural conflict. Maybe because they are on the other side???
When and if it comes down, the liberal "Christians" will side with those that persecute the real Christians.
Persecution in America - the Government doesn't put up a creche celebrating your holiday.
Persecution in Afghanistan - they kill you if you aren't their religion.
We trivialize the word "persection" when we make it refer to trivial matters like Christmas displays.
I am just glad they are doing the report.
sure. anything you say. And I hope your vision improves soon;-)
you forgot the "sarcasm" tags.
What are you talking about? 'liberal' Christians? 'real' Christians?
Some really ridiculous comments.
When were you - or anyone else - in America persecuted for being a Christian?
Persecution in Afghanistan - they kill you if you aren't their religion.
We trivialize the word "persection" when we make it refer to trivial matters like Christmas displays.
This bears repeating.
the attack on fair treatment of Intelligent Design is clear evidence of this.
They do already.
"But as a Christian it's a bit embarrassing to be complaining about censored "Christian" art when a Christian in Afghanistan just barely got out of the country with his life."
True, but it is a matter of degrees. If we allow our right to freely practice our religions to be slowly chipped away at then it might be our children or grandchildren who find themselves is a climate where people are imprisoned for converting to or openly practicing Christianity.
I see Christians being pushed into a corner in this country. Somewhere we are going to have to draw a line in the sand and fight for our religious liberties.
If we don't then I can only conclude that it must be God's will for the Church in America to undergo a great persecution.
"Persecute??" Please. Real Christian martyrs are probably rolling in their graves at their heirs' complete lack of backbone.
There is a very real worldwide movement to destroy Christianity in favor of secular humanism. These little things are just part of it.
Is illuminating paranoia like following a paranoid person around?
Then address it as a freedom of speech issue, not a "don't hurt me because I'm Christian" issue.
"Oh Please. There is no 'War on Christians'."
There is indeed a war of traditional Judeo-Christian values, an attempt to erase all traces of Christian tradition and heritage in America, and a concerted effort to supress traditional religious liberties.
Exactly.
Chuckling...does that make both paranoid?
Matthew 5:11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Maybe it would make us a little more serious about our faith.
Choke, gasp. I checked out your link. A self-fulfilling phenomenon is in there.
""Persecute??" Please. Real Christian martyrs are probably rolling in their graves at their heirs' complete lack of backbone."
We are not there yet. But there are unmistakable signs that it may be coming.
Our generation may be weak and flacid, but may God strength our children to withstand the fury they will face for not kneeling at the alter of Homo/Diversity.
You say that but I don't see any evidence.
I don't think homos wanting to get married or Wal Mart workers not saying 'Merry Christmas' is religious persecution.
"Maybe it would make us a little more serious about our faith."
I hate to think about it, but historically speaking it's usually one of the best things that can happen to the Church.
It's turned the Chinese Church into a powerhouse.
I had not thought of that, I guess it would. Or there's the phrase: the closer one gets to the light the more dirt one sees.
Agreed. I think my point is that American Christians have become too soft and are too easily offended.
"You say that but I don't see any evidence."
There's no shortage of evidence.
Here's a good starting point for you:
Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ZNV04/sr=8-1/qid=1143667998/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1328089-0523930?%5Fencoding=UTF8
The bias was evident to Millions of Americans when Mandissa sang a openly Christian Praise Song (a bona-fide song selection) on American Idol.
The judges responded to her EXCELLENT performance with confounded/confused and EXTREMELY PREJUDICED and UNBALANCED responses compared to what they were handing out.
Not occupying the place of privilege does not equal persecution. Oh darn, science won't conform to religious dogma, and shucks, the 10 Commandments aren't getting posted in schools or courthouses. Wahh, wahh, wahh, cry me a river. What a bunch of wimps.
I think American Christians became too soft and were not offended easily enough. That is changing. We are beginning to stand up for what we believe.
Alleged?? Alleged???? That is like saying "Bill Clinton is alleged to be a horn dog."
Persecution is too strong a word. It's more like disdain on the part of some people. Here's what persecution would look like:
Churches forced to close by crowds of angry protestors.
The Bible unavailable in your local bookstore.
Cities systematically changing zoning, forcing churhes to leave town.
Gangs of thugs robbing churchgoers on Sundays.
Newspapers no longer running the Church pages every Saturday, and refusing all advertising from churches.
Christians are not being persecuted in this country. Christians are being persecuted in Afghanistan.
Another word would be more appropriate.
"Not occupying the place of privilege does not equal persecution."
How about having your property taken away in a lawsuit because you won't rent to a same sex couple?
How about being imprisoned for preaching that homosexuality is a sin?
How about being found guilty of child abuse for rasing your children as Christians?
How about loosing your job because you won't perform an abortion?
How about being thrown in jail for protesting that your gradeschoolers a being taught about homosexual sex?
All these things are either happening right now, or are not too far off.
Thank you.
The war against Christians is one of the things that is at the heart of Christianity (and not just Christianity). It must be kept in mind that G-d has an opponent. This opponent has, since the beginning of the human race, worked tirelessly to undermine faith, degrade morals and destroy those who follow G-d's law. The war waged is on all fronts: military, political, economic, social, moral. Propaganda is an essential (indeed it is THE essential) part of this. Convince a person there is no G-d, no Christ, no afterlife, no evil and you have effectively desroyed them - not in the immediate present but for all time.
In a way those facing physical persecution have it easier than those facing softer forms of opposition. Their choice is stark and obvious. The choice of those living in relative physical safety and comfort is much murkier and easily confused and confounded. In both cases it is NOT the death of the body or the loss of physical freedom that is the real menace. It is the destruction of one's true self that is the real threat. The stakes in this conflict are eternal salvation or damnation. These are unpopular words in this time (in just about every time really) but they are true.
If you think there is no war on Christians being waged you are simply being foolish. The war is real and lasting and the peril is just is dire here as it is in Afghanistan or Nigeria or the Sudan or any other hell hole.
"...the Rev. Robert Franklin, a minister in the Church of God in Christ and professor of social ethics at Emory University."
Sounds like the "reverend" Barry Lynn, formerly of the ACLU, who as a "reverend" feels that his job is the far more important work of maintaining the famous, and totally absent from the Constitution, "Separation of Church and State".
These are examples of liberal christians;the church and religion are nothing more than tools for social engineering.
The Nazis started with small things before they incinerated Jews.
"How about having your property taken away in a lawsuit because you won't rent to a same sex couple?
How about being imprisoned for preaching that homosexuality is a sin?
How about being found guilty of child abuse for rasing your children as Christians?
How about loosing your job because you won't perform an abortion?
How about being thrown in jail for protesting that your gradeschoolers a being taught about homosexual sex?
"
"the attack on fair treatment of Intelligent Design is clear evidence of this."
But, but, but I thought ID doesn't have anything to do with Christinaity?
Yes. You are right. you found out our agenda! We won't stop until all Christians are herded into traincars, starved and gassed.
Right. Evidence please.
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