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Cattledog

(5,897 posts)
Sun Apr 16, 2017, 07:17 PM Apr 2017

Christians must wake up and see the threat the President poses to their values

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/anti-trump-easter-awakening-article-1.3056807?cid=bitly

Three days ago, on the day we Christians call Good Friday, the church marked and commemorated the death of Jesus of Nazareth, killed by the Roman governor in collusion with the local religious authorities.

He was killed because he was perceived to be a threat to their power, a fact we too often seem to forget. The brutal execution method of crucifixion was regularly used for political criminals.

On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which signifies the ultimate victory and vindication of the way of Jesus — justice, love and peace — over the ways of wealth, violence and power preferred by the rulers who had him killed.

But we easily forget that too in America in the young but pernicious political era of Donald Trump.

Instead, many Christians merely personalize the meaning and message of Jesus — coming to believe that to save us from our individual sins, and his resurrection assures our going to Heaven after him.

In the meantime, they believe, we can feel free to ignore or even collaborate with the wealth, power and violence of the state (and, yes, even the church). We can make our private religious well-being a substitute for what Jesus called the Kingdom of God that is intended to change the world and us with it.

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Christians must wake up and see the threat the President poses to their values (Original Post) Cattledog Apr 2017 OP
he perfectly embodies the values of christians who voted for him nt msongs Apr 2017 #1
Correct. trotsky Apr 2017 #2
Kind of like an argument over who should win MVP Htom Sirveaux Apr 2017 #3
Not really. trotsky Apr 2017 #4
Does someone gaining the upper hand in the "true christian" argument Htom Sirveaux Apr 2017 #5
My gosh, you're right, I am so stupid to worry about Christian infighting. trotsky Apr 2017 #6
You'd like humanistic Christians to stop caring Htom Sirveaux Apr 2017 #7
The problem is not which group are the "true" Christians. trotsky Apr 2017 #9
Do you see no value in Christians calling out the hypocrisy of those Htom Sirveaux Apr 2017 #10
None whatsoever. trotsky Apr 2017 #15
Assumes facts not in evidence. AtheistCrusader Apr 2017 #8
More mythicism. The DaVinci Code has mnore credibility. rug Apr 2017 #11
Indeed. AtheistCrusader Apr 2017 #14
Indeed. beam me up scottie Apr 2017 #12
'crucifixion was regularly used for political criminals.' Lordquinton Apr 2017 #16
Trump sure as hell doesn't represent my Christian values. hrmjustin Apr 2017 #13

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
2. Correct.
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 09:26 AM
Apr 2017

Who are just as Christian as the ones who voted against him.

There is absolutely no sense in those two groups of Christians pointing and screaming at each other "YOU'RE NOT A REAL CHRISTIAN!"

Htom Sirveaux

(1,242 posts)
3. Kind of like an argument over who should win MVP
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 01:04 PM
Apr 2017

of a sport you don't follow. No investment at all in the answer.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
4. Not really.
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 01:11 PM
Apr 2017

Since someone is likely gonna try to implement laws based on THEIR version of Christianity, I'm gonna have to live under those laws too.

So I do have some skin in that game.

Htom Sirveaux

(1,242 posts)
5. Does someone gaining the upper hand in the "true christian" argument
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 01:52 PM
Apr 2017

win more law-making power as a result (assuming for a second that it were possible to gain the upper hand, which you possibly don't think that it is)?

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
6. My gosh, you're right, I am so stupid to worry about Christian infighting.
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 02:21 PM
Apr 2017

I and my LGBT and female friends have absolutely nothing to worry about depending on who wins the "battle" to determine what a real Christian is.

I am so very sorry to have expressed my concern. Silly me, thinking that the sooner all of us realize that there is NO FREAKING POINT declaring who the "true" follower of a religion is, the sooner we can focus on real solutions to the problems we face rather than determining which solution will make god happy.

Thank you for setting me straight, Htom.

Htom Sirveaux

(1,242 posts)
7. You'd like humanistic Christians to stop caring
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 03:07 PM
Apr 2017

whether they or the authoritarians are more legitimate Christians? But aren't you also saying there are real negative consequences if the authoritarians win that argument?

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
9. The problem is not which group are the "true" Christians.
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 04:05 PM
Apr 2017

You will NEVER, EVER resolve that. You've had 2000 fucking years and the only progress you've made is to create MORE groups to argue with each other.

The problem is in thinking that it fucking matters when making policy.

I don't want EITHER of you making laws based on what you think god wants.

But the more you both fight, the more you make it about pleasing your god, and the less you make it about solving the problem.

At least you've made it clear you think I'm very confused and stupid. Feeling that trademark Christian love for sure.

Htom Sirveaux

(1,242 posts)
10. Do you see no value in Christians calling out the hypocrisy of those
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 05:48 PM
Apr 2017

who would legislate their "christian values" when it comes to lgbt and reproductive rights, but turn into Ayn Rand when it comes to caring for the poor and the sick? If so, well, that's certainly one point of view. It would be even better if said Christians also remembered the many non-Christians in America and that this is a nation of separation of church and state, but I see no reason why those arguments can't be made simultaneously.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
15. None whatsoever.
Tue Apr 18, 2017, 09:16 AM
Apr 2017

Because hypocrisy is in the eye of the beholder.

You ignore or spin away the bible verses you don't like, just as they do. I have right-wing relatives who are Christians. They don't think the government should be spending money on the poor. They honestly believe that if the "big gubmint" wasn't taking taxes out of our paychecks, we'd all have enough money to donate to churches and charities who can take care of the poor better. The money doesn't add up, however within the framework of their religious beliefs, it's perfectly logical.

The sooner all Christians realize that they're just picking and choosing what they want to believe, the better.

But good luck with your crusade to convince every other Christian on earth that they're wrong, and you're right.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
8. Assumes facts not in evidence.
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 03:17 PM
Apr 2017

"the death of Jesus of Nazareth, killed by the Roman governor in collusion with the local religious authorities"

Assumes facts not in evidence.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
14. Indeed.
Mon Apr 17, 2017, 07:21 PM
Apr 2017

Granted, the Romans might have executed a guy by that name and who knows what sort of spiritual leader he may have been.

But the biblical character of jesus, plus resurrection? Zero credibility.

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