Congress, Culture, Jesusland, Politics, Polls
Or just expect more from it.
Pensito Review reader Rick left this eloquent and strong comment about why folks like us aren’t doing church anymore:
I stopped going to church after our shameful shock and awe of Iraq. I believe God spoke loudly and clearly February 8th when over 8 million people of conscience poured out into the streets and pleaded that we not do this. This we did, and this we would’ve done even if it would’ve required tanks in the streets of America to enable it.
My faith is not wrapped in a flag. My conscience is not deadened to silently condone torture. And I can’t fellowship with those whose consciences are that dead.I’m not going to church this Easter, as well as not joining with family, because I don’t silently condone torture nor can I shut up about it. I’m supposed to zip my lip and not offend the morality of other family members who “love my countryâ€. Excuse me. My morality is offended, much more deeply than those offended by my protests could ever fathom because of their shallowness. Abu Grahib was the 9-11 event to our morality. Where is the outrage?
This president is not ashamed or embarrassed to use tortured confessions. This country is not ashamed or embarrassed to use tortured confessions. Need I say more? I don’t suspect there is any questioning of this in the churches of this country. Rather, there is pray for our troops. And just what are our troops doing?
My faith is not wrapped in a flag. My conscience is not deadened to silently condone torture. And I can’t fellowship with those whose consciences are that dead… nor with those who sing happy hymns while being totally oblivious to what we are doing, what we’ve become.
Bravo, well said.
There are a lot of people sitting once a week in churches that have never given any serious thought to scripture.
Amen
Notice how the Christocrats LOVE the crucifixtion? Torture, they’ll take it anyway they can get it.
Glad to know other people are having trouble “fellowshipping” with their evangelical relatives.
I am so glad that someone that has figured this stuff out has finally posted a comment like this. What ever happened to separation of church and state? The leaders of churches should be concerned more with the spirituality of the individual rather then politics. That’s why I go to Unity.
Thank you for your wonderful words!
Sounds like you belong to the wrong church. ( Check out UCC). Also, why not stand up for your conscience and rock the boat. Boycotting won’t accomplish anything.
Sounds like you belong to the wrong church. ( Check out UCC). Also, why not stand up for your conscience and rock the boat. Boycotting won’t accomplish anything.
Comment by Lynn
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Lynn:
Sister, My Bible reads thus:
“They shall put you out of the synsgouges: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
John 16:2……
My conscience tells me that what’s being peddled as “christian” theology, is newfangled pagan-heathen, new-age deception…..
Take heed that no man deceive you…
I’m sorry you’ve had such a bad experience with church. I count myself lucky that all the other Catholics I go to church with agree with me how immoral this war is. None of us are perfect, but all we can do is that which we know in our hearts is right.
You write: “My morality is offended”
I ask: What is the source of your morality?
Gianni -
On a guess? The same as the rest of us: from his humanity; from his reason; from his empathy.
If faith is a part of that, so be it.
We have to believed in god exist. Everyday in our life god gave us air to breath, water to live, food to eat and will not stop until the DOOMSDAY that will sure be come. Why we only pray once a week ? And not everyday cause god gave us everything in our life’s every second,minute,hours and continuously everyday. Just think about it.
I’m not sure church would do this guy much good, anyway. Where was his morality when Saddam was shoving thousands into mass graves. Was he in church singing happy hymns then? Where is his morality as Islamic terrorists blow up their peaceful neighbors. How could he have ever gone to church in the first place after hearing of Hiroshima? War isn’t pretty; it isn’t an exact science, and isn’t always the wrong thing to do. There are millions of dead Jews who might have wished we’d been a little more agressive back in the 30’s. Now that his country is involved in offering the chance for freedom to some 37 million; the freedom to choose to boycott their church, if they like, he’s decided he can’t go to church. Perhaps he shouldn’t. Church is for those who believe they are “my brother’s keeper”. Actually, I don’t go to church so his argument is lost on me anyway.
Yes, we know how well revenge and honor killings have worked to civilize the middle east. Let us by all means sanctify and emulate this “morality.” It’s so much more satisfying to have a tantrum, rather than follow Christ’s example – which was, when faced with childish oppression and brutality, to choose to be the responsible grown-up and teach by example.
An unethical act is an unethical act. Regardless of what moralistic justification you might torture from some text or glean from a right-wing evangelist hate-monger.
Responding to an unethical act unethically simply compounds the chaos. That, aside from being unethical and arguably immoral is just plain stupid.
Oh, and trying to justify it in hindsight, considering the obvious fruits of such folly is annoyingly whiny. The fact that reality has not worked out the way you believe it should have is your problem, sir; it is not mine.
War is never the “right” thing to do; by definition, under the best possible circumstance (and I’m mentally referring to Sun Tsu, not Ghandi) – it’s the least worst response.
Cheer-leading for even a necessary war from a pulpit is an abomination, a disgusting spectacle and an abuse of position.
Finally – and you may not understand why I refer to this, you may think it irrelevant. But those who have ears, let them hear.
When news of General Lee’s surrender reached Lincoln, his immediate response was to instruct the band to play “Dixie.”