“My ‘ism’ is Worse Than Your ‘ism’”

It is true that claiming the worst "ism" or the more horrific disability disconnects us from each other, and opens the door to ideological thought. And yet . . . isn't it human nature to organize our thoughts and our actions around some unifying idea? Speak with an ecologist and ecology is the organizing thought; speak with the pastor and perhaps the hard work of forgiveness becomes the mainstay of a Sabbath service. If we say, "Yes, it is all true" we may lose the blessing of coherence. Not long ago I shared a weekend with cancer survivors and encountered their ferocious struggles with hospital bills and insurance companies, and couldn't help but give concerted attention to their lives, and turn story into "cause." The key, it seems to me, is to be "owned" by life . . . and then do something with it. If we are fortunate, we can do so within the boundaries of a loving community . . . perhaps a church, perhaps a family, or, who knows, perhaps an institution.

Christianity is as segregationist as any other discriminatory Faith. The pleasantries only apply to Christians. This is the reason for the growing hate of secular government, non-believers, or people who dare to question religion. This discrimination is just as ugly a trait as those found in Extremist Islam or any other Fundamentalist religious sect. When people bring up the ugly verses of the Bible many Christians say that Jesus negated those verses. Well, He never said that the covenants or orders from God in the Old Testament were negated. This is one reason why religion can become de-reformed or unreformed. We in the modern civilization are lucky that Christians have misinterpreted or ignore sections of the Bible in most denominations or sects of Christianity. Matthew 5:17, John 5:45-47, Luke 24:44, John 6:19-23, and Hebrews 11:23-29 are all direct references to Moses and the Law of the Old Testament, yet they ignore many covenants of the Old Test. Many Christians Feel that Jesus would absolve them or not enforce Old Test. Law like the unethical verses held within Deuteronomy, Leviticus, or any other Book that outline the punishments to be carried out for breaking God’s Laws. A few examples are Deuteronomy verses 30:17-18/13:6-18/17:2-6 & 22:13-24, Leviticus verses 27:29/24:10-15 & 6:25, or Matthew 5:25. Non-believers are lucky that Christians have not been interpreting the Bible the way it could be interpreted. Jesus could have been claiming that one who felt that he or she had no sin could throw that first stone and there are those in our society who feel that they are absolved of sin due to their belief in Jesus. They believe that His death cleansed them of original sin; thus they feel that, if they live without sin they are now righteous through their belief in Jesus. As well, if they repent or confess their sin they are now without sin. It is these self-righteous people that scare me, because they would throw that first stone. As well, if you feel that belief in Jesus as a Son of God is absolute, than the laws of Moses, as punishment for sin no longer applies to those free of sin due to Jesus. This is the root of separatism and the elevation of themselves away from the rest of society. This exclusionary attitude is what drives the culture war. They feel that they are right while others are wrong because a book said so. They have the right to believe that but I have the right to say that is not based on logic, reason, or fact, rather it is based only on faith. The trick is in the details of the absolutist aspect of, believe or else. You were excused from the treatment under Deuteronomy, Leviticus, and other Biblical Books only if you were a believer in Jesus as God. But if you do not the punishments described applied directly to you, thus Mat. 5:17 is not a pass from Moses Law rather it is the pathway to avoid being stoned to death only if you follow Jesus as God. Now I do not claim any religion or faith. I do worry about any push towards using Biblical Law within Government. Because one can interpret the Bible to suit any means to any end that one can dream up. Most people think that Jesus was all about peace and love. This belief is only true if you believe that He was a God or a Son of God. Jesus would only bring peace and love for those who agree with Him as He states in Matthew 10:34-39 or John 8:24. All other non-believers fall under the code of Moses and the treatment of non-believers mentioned through out the Bible. Modern absolutist or literalist fundamentalism has interpreted the Bible to include the non-belief in Jesus as a sin or blasphemy. There are many who claim that Christianity is some how more advanced, superior, moral, or gentle version of religion than Islamic Fundamentalists. I would argue that Evangelical Fundamentalist Extremists are just as dangerous or potentially threatening to a free society as Islamic Fundamentalist Extremists. I would also argue that all the main three religions are all capable of 7th or 15th century treatment of those whom they view as different or non-believers. Any good that has come from religion is negated by all the religious war, hate, terrorism, discrimination, or violence that permeate the history of human existence. We are lucky to live in a secular nation, where the government is not governed by religion nor is religion governed by the state. Our only protection from reverting to witch hunts, crusades, forced conversions, and other religious injustice is our secular government. The potential for abuse of mankind is written within the pages of the Bible because it treats those who do not believe as subhuman soulless 2nd class citizens and there is nothing that can eliminate that effect within society of Biblical Theology.

Almost entirely the latter Bgone. Goldwater was even less of a racist than you are.

I hate to call on Jesus to rebut you so soon but your premise defeats, "love thy enemies" that clearly tells us to get ourselves some enemies so we can have somebody to love.

Let me agree with you otherwise. Your ism, baptism is acres worse than my ism, capitalism.

Baptism is the first step towards hell, http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul while capitalism is the first step towards prosperity.

Ultra conservative, the late senator Barry Goldwater lovingly known as AuH2O said, "Americanism is the only ism for me." He lost the election of course. Had something to do with race-ism so I understand to say nothing of visions of "mushroom shaped clouds on the horizon."

Can't help but notice it's the same people this time around with the same issues that defeated Goldwater, even race-ism. Unless Hillary makes a dramatic comeback we can leave sex-ism out of the big one. It's already done it's duty?

Amen! Very well said. Those who succeed do not dwell on the particular "-ism" that the world applies to them but beat it back through cheerful hard work. The result is a beneficial "chicken and the egg" loop that destroys the "-ism" by experience. Let's be honest, bigotry is best destroyed by positive experiences with the target, and not by policy whether of the church or government flavor. If churches have any role at all in this it is to continue the anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-whateverist theology that is a natural part of the vast majority of religions and to provide an environment where all types of people can share in a mutual positive spiritual experience.