Friday, May 06, 2005

Blessed are the Intolerant

I have no intention of making every post about religion. But as long as they're going to keep serving up the fat pitch, I'm gonna keep on hitting it out of the park. The windup... the pitch... [scroll down]

Religion and Politics Clash
Religion and politics clash over a local church's declaration that Democrats are not welcome.

East Waynesville Baptist asked nine members to leave. Now 40 more have left the church in protest. Former members say Pastor Chan Chandler gave them the ultimatum, saying if they didn't support George Bush, they should resign or repent. The minister declined an interview with News 13. But he did say "the actions were not politically motivated." There are questions about whether the bi-laws were followed when the members were thrown out.
Before you get too upset, I understand that one man doesn't necessarily represent everyone of his faith. But at least in this case, can anyone defend this sort of behavior? Would Christ defend it? I can think of one man who could.

3 comments:

Brad said...
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Brad said...

You are selectively hopping back and forth on the line of "tolerance".

"Tolerance" doesn't mean an absence (or even change) of conviction. Further, these people have the religious freedom to do whatever they want within their religious institution and your anti-religious bigotry is intrusive, anti-constitutional, and counterproductive.

At the end of the day, you're not doing anything that will actually change these people; you're just a wanker with a free soapbox.

If you wanted to be "different than them" by engaging in the world in a way that effects change, that would be one thing. But since you're just as rediculously bull-headed as they are, just as convinced that you have the "gospel"...the one and only "absolute truth", and just as resistant to recognizing the other side's strengths and your weaknesses (let alone the utter failure to even recognize that both exist)---I'm going to have to do something more productive with my time than this place.

Ciao, guys.

lifeintheG said...

What do you think a blog is if not a soapbox? By all means, go elsewhere on this great wide web of ours, but Jesus - how might I affect change talking to you and a few hundred of your compatriots?

Of course the church is free to do whatever they want, but is it what Jesus would do with people who disagree with Him? Kick them out of the sermon? I'm only pointing out the hypocrisy in this action.

And if your compatriots think that He would kick them out for voting for Kerry, therein lies the problem. And there's no convincing those people in the first place.