Reply #82: My thoughts on "Christian bashing"

[Stuckinthebush]

The liberal and progressive Christian churches in America have let the extremist take over the name "Christian". It is a labeling problem. It was a slow progression of the extreme right in this take over, but let's face it, the term Christian is now associated with Bush, the GOP, and Pat Robertson. Liberal Christians like John Shelby Spong and Walter Bruggeman have been marginalized and their voices silenced. They are now seen as the extremist where the true extremists in the religion have taken over and become the voice. True, there are many sects of Christianity, but the global face of the religion looks a lot like Crazy Pat.

When the networks have a Christian expert on to discuss "morals" or the "church's" (note: singular) position, it is always some loon from the right. This is the problem.

My father, a life long Presbyterian minister, laments this takeover and will tell you that the liberal voices are almost gone even in the traditionally moderate to liberal Christian churches. True there is still the United Church of Christ, but the Presbyterians, Methodists and Episcopalians have had internal resurgences of conservatives in their ranks which has diluted the liberal message.

Back to the problem...Christian bashing on DU. Remember that Christian now means "intolerant, frightening, war mongering, and hate" based on the new face of the religion. It is a bastardization of the original message from that cool dude Jesus, but it doesn't matter...the damage is done and there is little that can be done to wrest the name from the clutches of the angry, hate filled right. That is why you find Christian bashing here (or anywhere). The new "Christian" voice deserves to be bashed. The old Christian voice does not. There needs to be a distinction...a different name given to the liberal view.

Just a thought.