My Problem with Christianism

Time.com ^ | Sunday, May 7, 2006 | Andrew Sullivan

[small voice in the wilderness]

It's just funny to watch them twist, turn, babble, deny, decry, defy, denigrate, delineate, deprecate, dismiss, add to, take from, ignore, skip over, excuse, accuse, refuse, signify, justify, alibi, promote, provoke, misquote, blow smoke, defend, pretend, retract, subtract, attack, react, search, besmirch, and coerce. And still, the knowledge of the truth is never attained.

[ClearCase_guy]

The mindset appears to be that Christ offers infinite forgiveness (which is true, I suppose, on the condition that one is repentant), and that all that talk about judgement is just talk.

An interesting mindset, eh? Perhaps they should think about turning it around: Christ is judgmental, and all that talk about forgiveness is just talk.

Or perhaps Christ meant everything he said. The fools who cherry-pick which parts "seem true" are doing themselves no favor.

[bondjamesbond]

That list pretty much covers it!

[denydenydeny]

Let's just say that Andrew's problem is that he likes the kneeling more than the actual Christian stuff.

[newguy357]

If Jesus were alive today, 99.99% of FReepers would label him a "liberal". He spoke of equality, love, compassion, tolerance, and peace.

You are either:
1. Joking
2. A moron

[BibChr]

Sullivan's real "Problem with Christianism" is the same as his problem with Christianity and the same as his problem with Christ. It's a problem he shares with millions, including many FReepers. Here it is:

It makes him feel bad about his pet sin.

Dan
Biblical Christianity BLOG
Pyromaniacs

[Osage Orange]

There are lay Catholics who, while personally devout, are socially liberal on issues like contraception, gay rights, women's equality and a multi-faith society

ROFLOL!!

Now there's the oxymoronic statement of the day....

[bondjamesbond]

The fools who cherry-pick which parts "seem true" are doing themselves no favor.

My favorites are the ones who seriously intone "Jesus was a great moral teacher, but not the Son of God", as if that statement makes any sense at all.

[MeanWestTexan]

LOL.

Not being Roman Catholic (a Catholic of the Anglican persuasion), it took me a while to get that joke.

[sauropod]

Isn't Andrew Sullivan gay?

And his being gay, doesn't make all that he says suspect? How can one be a practicing gay person and a practicing Christian? Cognitive dissonance doesn't cut it.

[agrace]

And there are those who simply believe that, by definition, God is unknowable to our limited, fallible human minds and souls. If God is ultimately unknowable, then how can we be so certain of what God's real position is on, say, the fate of Terri Schiavo? Or the morality of contraception? Or the role of women? Or the love of a gay couple?

Because first He gave us prophets and the criteria by which to accept or reject them. Later on He gave us His written Word.

What to do about it? The worst response, I think, would be to construct something called the religious left.

There's already a very sizable religious left - does he really believe there isn't? Its members include the World Council of Churches and enlightened guys like Bishop Spong and nominal Catholics who think they can make up their own rules like John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and Kate Michelman.

[EyeGuy]

I think I'll adopt a mirror-image of Sullivan's tired modus operandi:

I'm really a liberal who disagrees, except for a few key issues, which I will throw out every now and then to keep everyone off balance, with pretty much everything that modern liberalism stands for.

Problem is, Personally I can not find one left wing position that I can even pretend to be in agreement with.

[bondjamesbond]

Isn't Andrew Sullivan gay?

LOL!

Uh... yeah!

But remember, Christians are not required to be perfect. We all struggle.

[agrace]

LOL!

[sauropod]

I'm not disagreeing with your comment that Christians struggle with sin. We all do.

I think Sullivan is pushing something else, IMO.

[x_plus_one]

Andrew Sullivan's idea of Religion is the same as brand recognition. He can't find a label he likes and complains loud and long so the problem will resolve itself. He needs to get a life.

[frogjerk]

But remember, Christians are not required to be perfect. We all struggle.

Christians are to strive to be perfect.

[Suzy Quzy]

His desire to engage in homosexuality AT ANY COST has made him unhinged. Where his P*nis is is more importnat than where his soul will be.

[itsamelman]

If Jesus were alive today, 99.99% of FReepers would label him a "liberal". He spoke of equality, love, compassion, tolerance, and peace.

Equality: We could all be equally enslaved to the state under the boot of an atheistic communist system. Not sure Jesus would prefer that to freedom where people are free to develop their full potential and grow spiritually. Although personally I try to treat (good, decent) people equally, I prefer freedom to equality.

Love: Not sure there's anyone that at least has most of his/her marbles intact who's against that.

Compassion: True personal compassion, yes. However, Great Society-style liberal government "compassion" has nearly destroyed the lower class, torn families apart, stunted self-reliance & personal development, and fostered dependence on the state.

Tolerance: Tolerate what? You mean like tolerate "cultural diversity"? Like other cultures who treat women as chattel (or worse... much worse)? After all, it's just another culture whose values are just as valid as ours?

Peace: True peace, yes. But if you mean Jesus would advocate withdrwal from Iraq, that's not peace, that's Cambodia all over again, stacks of skulls and all.

[Suzy Quzy]

You are NUTS!! Jesus IS goodness and life....Liberals are the party of DEATH.....and PERVERSION.