I don't know whether it's an actual persecution complex, but many Christians in the United States are embarrassingly insensitive about their own privileged status. Maybe Christians feel persecuted because they can no longer persecute others so easily. Some Christians may even feel persecuted just when they're forced to recognize that non-Christians exist.
Yes, minorities are gaining more power these days so it's harder to have your 10 commandments posted at the county courthouse. Traditional Christian ideas about sex and marriage are no longer imposed by law. You can't teach Bible stories in the public schools. Some people even suggest removing "In God we Trust" from the money, or "under God" from the flag pledge. Of course it's still very hard for an openly non-Christian person to win an election to political office, but maybe that's changing too!
If Christians would just love their neighbors as themselves, there would be no problem.
no that is just a rumor started by those pesky atheists who are out to get me. I mean us. (I am not paranoid either--that's another rumor they started)
Interesting that no commenter who accuses Christians of having a persecution complex ever seems to question his idea that a "privileged status" is somehow a bad thing.
There might actually be great social utility to allowing a privileged status to Christianity.
If studies were to show that an overtly Christian society was a healthier one, would you still be opposed to giving Christianity a privileged status? I'm not saying there are such studies - this is just a thought experiment. So for the sake of argument, assume that such studies exist. How would you answer?
Are you saying that it's the government that's granting Christianity a "privileged status"? The same government that legalized abortion, said people who believe marriage is between a man and a woman are bigots, which is forcing The Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their consciences as regards birth control, which threw Kim Davis into jail, and is now telling women they must allow men into their bathrooms... that government - is granting Christianity a "privileged status"?
Whoa, man. I have got to get some of what you are smoking!
Are you saying that it's the government that's granting Christianity a "privileged status"? The same government that legalized abortion, said people who believe marriage is between a man and a woman are bigots, which is forcing The Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their consciences as regards birth control, which threw Kim Davis into jail, and is now telling women they must allow men into their bathrooms... that government - is granting Christianity a "privileged status"? Laundry list of paranoia. only one case in that list where there's any real unfair coercion going on/ Almost all the examples you gave are about the world changing in ways you don't relate to. you talk about it like they forcing you to send children to state camps to become wards of the party,
You're reading it backwards, Joe. My point was not to claim persecution, but rather to show there is no "privileged status" being granted Christianity.
Now read the list again, and you should see what I mean.
Not studies, but reality, has shown that nations fare better when Christianity has a privileged position in society. Witness the rise of totalitarian regimes all over Europe in the last century once the monarchies (which were basically a form of State Christianity) were tossed out. Witness the plummeting birthrates amounting to a form of continental suicide in Europe today, now that the people bask in the self proclaimed glories of "Post Christianity". The ongoing Islamic invasion (a.k.a. "refugee crisis") is a direct result of Christianity losing its privileged position in Europe. The skyrocketing suicide rates in Scandinavian countries can be directly correlated to a falloff of religious observance in those states. Witness the plunge into abortion, pornography, and broken families in the USA which has accompanied the judicial successes of radical secularists.
You're reading it backwards, Joe. My point was not to claim persecution, but rather to show there is no "privileged status" being granted Christianity.
Now read the list again, and you should see what I mean.
. Prokop said... I'll jump in on the thought experiment.
Not studies, but reality, has shown that nations fare better when Christianity has a privileged position in society. Witness the rise of totalitarian regimes all over Europe in the last century once the monarchies (which were basically a form of State Christianity) were tossed out. Witness the plummeting birthrates amounting to a form of continental suicide in Europe today, now that the people bask in the self proclaimed glories of "Post Christianity". The ongoing Islamic invasion (a.k.
An atheist sociologist named Phil Zuckerman argues the opposite. He sites modern Scandinavia to show atheist countries do better. that study has been used on message boards all over the net for years by atheists saying atheism makes society7 good and Christianity makes it bad. In Fairness to Zuckerman he is not arguing that atheism causes better social conditions just that atheism o\wont case society to collapse.
I wrote an essay answering him (really answering the atheists who use his work)I argue that Christians were part of the coalition that built the progressive society atheism sis not cause it was largely a Christian thing, The sad part is the Christians dropped out, Why? Because fundamentalists came in and said big government is evil and secular society is of the devil and social programs are of g the devil and they withdrew and the people turned against them. Christianity becaume irrelevant as the seculkar society moved on.
11 comments:
I don't know whether it's an actual persecution complex, but many Christians in the United States are embarrassingly insensitive about their own privileged status. Maybe Christians feel persecuted because they can no longer persecute others so easily. Some Christians may even feel persecuted just when they're forced to recognize that non-Christians exist.
Yes, minorities are gaining more power these days so it's harder to have your 10 commandments posted at the county courthouse. Traditional Christian ideas about sex and marriage are no longer imposed by law. You can't teach Bible stories in the public schools. Some people even suggest removing "In God we Trust" from the money, or "under God" from the flag pledge. Of course it's still very hard for an openly non-Christian person to win an election to political office, but maybe that's changing too!
If Christians would just love their neighbors as themselves, there would be no problem.
no that is just a rumor started by those pesky atheists who are out to get me. I mean us. (I am not paranoid either--that's another rumor they started)
Interesting that no commenter who accuses Christians of having a persecution complex ever seems to question his idea that a "privileged status" is somehow a bad thing.
There might actually be great social utility to allowing a privileged status to Christianity.
If studies were to show that an overtly Christian society was a healthier one, would you still be opposed to giving Christianity a privileged status? I'm not saying there are such studies - this is just a thought experiment. So for the sake of argument, assume that such studies exist. How would you answer?
I want to know when am I going to start reaping all those benefits of a privileged status? Where is my piece of the pie?
Hal,
Are you saying that it's the government that's granting Christianity a "privileged status"? The same government that legalized abortion, said people who believe marriage is between a man and a woman are bigots, which is forcing The Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their consciences as regards birth control, which threw Kim Davis into jail, and is now telling women they must allow men into their bathrooms... that government - is granting Christianity a "privileged status"?
Whoa, man. I have got to get some of what you are smoking!
No. I said it is not supposed to.
OK, then go back and read my thought experiment. Did I even mention government?
Are you saying that it's the government that's granting Christianity a "privileged status"? The same government that legalized abortion, said people who believe marriage is between a man and a woman are bigots, which is forcing The Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their consciences as regards birth control, which threw Kim Davis into jail, and is now telling women they must allow men into their bathrooms... that government - is granting Christianity a "privileged status"?
Laundry list of paranoia. only one case in that list where there's any real unfair coercion going on/ Almost all the examples you gave are about the world changing in ways you don't relate to. you talk about it like they forcing you to send children to state camps to become wards of the party,
Laundry list of paranoia.
You're reading it backwards, Joe. My point was not to claim persecution, but rather to show there is no "privileged status" being granted Christianity.
Now read the list again, and you should see what I mean.
I'll jump in on the thought experiment.
Not studies, but reality, has shown that nations fare better when Christianity has a privileged position in society. Witness the rise of totalitarian regimes all over Europe in the last century once the monarchies (which were basically a form of State Christianity) were tossed out. Witness the plummeting birthrates amounting to a form of continental suicide in Europe today, now that the people bask in the self proclaimed glories of "Post Christianity". The ongoing Islamic invasion (a.k.a. "refugee crisis") is a direct result of Christianity losing its privileged position in Europe. The skyrocketing suicide rates in Scandinavian countries can be directly correlated to a falloff of religious observance in those states. Witness the plunge into abortion, pornography, and broken families in the USA which has accompanied the judicial successes of radical secularists.
I think the jury has spoken.
Jezu ufam tobie!
Laundry list of paranoia.
You're reading it backwards, Joe. My point was not to claim persecution, but rather to show there is no "privileged status" being granted Christianity.
Now read the list again, and you should see what I mean.
Never mind ;-)
. Prokop said...
I'll jump in on the thought experiment.
Not studies, but reality, has shown that nations fare better when Christianity has a privileged position in society. Witness the rise of totalitarian regimes all over Europe in the last century once the monarchies (which were basically a form of State Christianity) were tossed out. Witness the plummeting birthrates amounting to a form of continental suicide in Europe today, now that the people bask in the self proclaimed glories of "Post Christianity". The ongoing Islamic invasion (a.k.
An atheist sociologist named Phil Zuckerman argues the opposite. He sites modern Scandinavia to show atheist countries do better. that study has been used on message boards all over the net for years by atheists saying atheism makes society7 good and Christianity makes it bad. In Fairness to Zuckerman he is not arguing that atheism causes better social conditions just that atheism o\wont case society to collapse.
I wrote an essay answering him (really answering the atheists who use his work)I argue that Christians were part of the coalition that built the progressive society atheism sis not cause it was largely a Christian thing, The sad part is the Christians dropped out, Why? Because fundamentalists came in and said big government is evil and secular society is of the devil and social programs are of g the devil and they withdrew and the people turned against them. Christianity becaume irrelevant as the seculkar society moved on.
Post a Comment