read the dictionary sometime -

[scottobear]

*sigh*

So many emotions.

My current pleasant surprise is that people are realizing that not all of Islam is behind all if the recent hubbub, but a non-peaceful, misguided splinter fringe.

Why can't these same folks realize that other religions are the same way? When I say something is Christian, I mean it as a compliment... some folks I know use it as an insult. It's really a small, misguided percentage of the whole who claim to be Christian, too. They're not all Pat Robertson... many more are kind, giving people that are quite tolerant, working to make the world a better place.


Chris·tian (krschn)
adj.

1.Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2.Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
3.Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
4.Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5.Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

[Middle English Cristen, from Old English cristen, from Latin Chrstinus, from Chrstus, Christ. See Christ.]

that's from the dictionary...nowhere is it mentioned as slang for "intolerant, or judgmental" at all.

for the record, I don't like Jew as a transitive verb, either, but that is in the dictionary. ugly, offensive term.

Hey, want to know a personal philosophy of mine?

It may seem harsh to some folks. I've mentioned it before.

Take care of local problems / interests first. If there's a hungry person on your street, feed them before sending rice five cities, countries or *continents* over. I don't feel that I'm being selfish in that thinking... it saves resources, and can help far more people in the long run.

Comments

[artemii.livejournal.com]

i don't know what prompted this specifically, but i thought i'd answer a little. since christianity is predominate in america, it makes sense that it would be the religion whose followers people in america had had the most bad experiences with.

of course i agree that christianity should not be used as an insult (nor should any other fact about someone: "you sufi!" "you fag!" etc.). at the same time, i also think that people need time to get over a prejudice against christians just as against any group. i grew up one of the few non-christians in my small town and i was harassed a lot by people calling themselves christians. it took a few years of being away from that environment before i was able to stop automatically being wary of people who identified as christian until proven wrong.

i wish we lived in a world where everyone were able to self-identify and work on their prejudices and in a world where people didn't use religions as an excuse for awful behavior. it would surely be a much better world.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't think the majority is like that, at least where I've noticed, but the uglies seem to get more press.

very good...

[shoo.livejournal.com]

The element is human...and perfection is not our forte'

Tolerance and understanding is what we need to teach our young. (among MANY other things)

Re: very good...

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I agree, totally.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

I mainly dislike the fact that definition #5 is applied and implies that no other belief could be humane or compassionate, for the lack of JC in control...

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I don't feel #5 implies exclusivity at all, any more than the word 'beautiful' works more than 'lovely'.

I think it more implies that following JC's teaching implies being loving and humane instead of some other way.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, but what I mean is, as a pagan (or if I was a muslim, or a hindu, or whatever) being nice and being told that was "very Christian" of me would sort of wind me up the wrong way... as though only those who believe in JC get to be the good guys, that's all I meant.

[carrie.livejournal.com]

The other day I got this thing in the mail... it was one of those "save the children" type things, but it was for the kids in the Appalachains. Since it's relatively close to where I am (closer than, say, Africa) and I enjoy the Appalachians, I seriously considered contributing. Then I started reading the letter. They took literally every other sentence to point out that CHRISTIANS would be bringing food and CHRISTIANS would be helping build homes and CHRISTIAN this and CHRISTIAN that.... it was a huge turn-off. I'd rather just stick my contribution in an envelope and send it to some random address in the mountains.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that really gets too much. A lot of aid-giving charities are Christian and do great work, but the better ones don't harp on about the fact - and why is it so hard to find non-demoninational aid work, I always worry some poor section of a culture is going to get the whole "You can have food but you have to change religion to get it..."

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Blackmailing a starving person into joining a religion for food is hardly a Christian ethic.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

precisely

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

and I really don't think it happens that way. they may get a sermon while they eat, but I *strongly* doubt that "sorry, no food for you, until baptism" is a rule in any major food distrobution network.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually mean it that way, sorry for being unclear, but providing humanitarian aid with any kind of strings attached is a big no-no, even a "sermon while you eat" is worrisome...

identifying with a religious group

[argumentplease.livejournal.com]

Organized religion poses some problems... namely that it is organized and led by fallible human beings who sometimes exhort their followers to misinterpret the tenets of their religion. All organized religions have had tumultuous pasts (the Crusades, anyone?) and will most likely continue to do so. It is up to each individual to decide whether s/he is willing to accept the particular foibles of the people in charge (hence the current number of Christian denominations).

Identifying with a very large group of people can be difficult. It's wonderful to know that you are part of a worldwide community, but some members of that community might act in embarrassing or even downright immoral ways. As a result, you might be unfairly branded. The way around that is to be forthright and immediately say, "Hey, those people aren't really Christians. It's not Christian to bomb abortion clinics. It's not Christian to think Jews are the devil." Etc.

Unfortunately, most times that doesn't happen. People are reluctant to criticize their own group members, even when it's blatantly called for. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson (and Pat Buchanan and others) don't get a lot of flak from Christians in the United States, despite their blatant messages of anti-Semitism and general intolerance. The general reaction from their detractors is a muted rolling of the eyes. And then there's the fact that millions of people follow them, donating money, espousing the same beliefs. I hope that, after their destructive comments after the terrorist attack which were later apologized for, people finally wake up and say, "Gee, these guys are loony. They are so blinded by their hatred that they can't unify with the rest of the country, even during the most difficult and trying times. I shouldn't follow them anymore." Likely that won't happen, though... in a little while people will forget their extremism and start thinking of them as "Christian leaders" once again.

I think people of all organized religions need to do a better job of putting forth the best that their religion has to offer. So often we get the worst. And so often outreaches of charity and so-called "love" are presented with ulterior motives, such as conversion or the denigration of other beliefs. It's a real problem, both for the groups trying to promote their religions and for those of us in the minority who constantly have to defend ourselves from those who want to subject us to their faith by requiring it in public schools and other government programs.

Re: identifying with a religious group

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

oh, I agree. Just because someone is "on your team" or whatever, is no reason not to take them to task for acting in a totally inappropriate way.

Unfortunately, I suspect that (just like in tv news), sensationalism sells far more easily than kindness and a good word. Folks like to have the baser emotions pandered to, and there'll be foul folks around to pander to those beliefs.

[plhs.livejournal.com]

I agree that the press spends too much time on the more appalling things in life. The people who do good are left behind in the shadows with no recognition.(Notice that the majority of them never ask for it) Regardless of the religion, there are people everywhere who work behind the scenes to help others.

I live in an ethnically diverse area, and while there are not many Islamic people in my neighborhood, there is an abundance of citizens who hail from the Middle East. My neighbors are generous and kind. Our community is banded together, not just by common area, but by common goals...to live and love. I see people - Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, and Atheists - breaking bread together. My son plays with their children. And it warms my heart.

So maybe, if we are going to use Christian as an adjective, we could include them. Most religions have the same goal, though their God may have a different name.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

That's just it. You don't have to be "Roman Catholic" to be Christian. The definition simply says "loving concern / humane".

Too many labels

[spicycurvydiva.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with eviltwin--I also think organized religion has become a money making machine, devoid of the basic teachings of love and compassion towards your fellow man that most religions are based on. Most (actually, come to think of it, all) "churchy" people I know are totally judgmental, close-minded, "holier than thou" types. The machine is geared to make churchgoers believe they are in a "secret society" who is going to heaven and those sinners-ah are going to be left at the gate. Jesus embraced the sinners. Hell, we're who he hung out with. That's why I am teaching my children faith and Christianity myself. I don't trust "the (Christian) man".