>From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: What does "Christian" mean, anyway >Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 13:15:22 -0800 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > >Here's a discussion between two friends that ends with my thoughts on the >current use of the word "Christian." > >First, some thoughts on Christians from the first friend, as the term is >generally understood today: > >Lets face it----Christianity is a threat to every >free-thinking----free-willed individual. >Christianity denigrates the individual and free-thought. >In the Christian mindset the individual is worthless and dangerous. >Christianity is all about using the power of the group to suppress the will >of the individual. >Anyone ever go to church and try to voice some original thoughts---some >original or unique viewpoints? >I did----I still have the letter the church sent me asking me not to come >back. They said my little girl was welcome but I was not. I sat in on a >training session for Sunday school helpers where the youth minister told the >assembled group--"if we can reach them at age 3 then by age 5 they will >belong to Jesus Christ for eternity". >Christianity constantly battles against the rights of females to have >control over their own bodies. >They blindly spread hate and intolerance against homosexuals. >AND they do not support your right to put into your body whatever you choose >to put into your body. >The way they see it your body and your mind belongs to >God/Christianity/them. > >-------- > >To this, my only response was "Bravo!" > >Then followed, a response from a "true Christian" friend: > >[the person above] writes: >Lets face it----Christianity is a threat to every >free-thinking----free-willed individual. >God the Creator gave mankind freewill. True Christians are not a threat >to anyone. > >Christianity denigrates the individual and free-thought. >Christianity upholds the individual. Liberal Socialism denigrates the >individual and promotes the group and the State. >In the Christian mindset the individual is worthless and dangerous. >See above. >Christianity is all about using the power of the group to suppress the will >of the individual. >Again, Christians help each other in their individuality - to help each >become all that he/she can be as an individual. >It is not only SOME Christians who would control what you put in your body - >it is most of the sheeple in this country who are so brainwashed by the >Socialist government. Republicans and Democrats all have the same agenda - >control of the people. Vote Libertarian if you want freedom. > >The Bible mentions wolves in sheep's clothing. I can only think that those >people who you believe are Christians, are really wolves in sheep's >clothing. They are certainly not true Christians. > >Christians are taught "hate the sin, but love the sinner." I hope that >you can meet some real Christians one of these days. > >---------- > >And, finally, my own two sheckle's worth: > >I agree with this fully as well. The problem is that too many "wolves in >sheep's clothing" (the fundamentalists such as Pat Robertson) have taken the >word "Christian" and misused it and the TRUE Christians have not spoken up >and condemned him. Because the true Christians have not spoken up, the >popular use of the word "Christian" has come to mean the fundamentalist >type, so when people criticize "Christians," they mean, quite rightly, Pat >Robertson and his pack. (Wolves run in packs; sheep gather in flocks.) >"Christian was once a positive adjective" The term "Christian charity," for >example, meant helping others. Today, "Christian values" or "Christian >morality" means hating all sorts of people and behaviors -- from homosexuals >to sex outside marriage. > >This new meaning of "Christian" is not entirely Pat Robertson's fault, >however--it is the fault of true Christians for not speaking up and setting >the record (and the use of the word Christian) straight. For decades there >has been a deafening silence from true Christians on wolf-Christianity, so >now when true Christians get painted with the same brush, it is their >silence, in part, that is to blame. > >So true Christians should not criticize those of us who criticize >wolf-Christianity, but criticize the wolf-Christians who mischaracterized >the teaching of Jesus in the first place. It is not too late, but there is a >lot of work to do. There are two entire television cable networks >broadcasting wolf-Christianity 24 hours a day, and "Christian publishing" is >almost entire of the wolf variety. > >This is not my battle, as I do not refer to myself as a Christian. I merely >say that I accept and follow the fundamental teachings of Jesus, as written >in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and I do. Like Jesus, I do >not criticize people their failings, except dishonesty and >hypocrisy--especially in those who wish to use force, or threats of force, >to control others. (Intimidating others with eternal suffering after death >is a form of "threats of force" and promising perpetual happiness in this >life if only you follow OUR "one true" interpretation of Biblical law is >dishonest, because so many wolf-Christians who make this promise are so >blatantly miserable.) > > > > > > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: