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Turning the Tables: Why Conservative Christianity Bears the Burden of Proof — [D]mergent

December 29, 2012 by

Repost Comment w signatureTurning the Tables: Why Conservative Christianity Bears the Burden of Proof — [D]mergent.

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  1. etomczyk says:
    January 2, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    Thanks Val. You’ve read my blog long enough to know that I agree with the blog you linked to 100%! It is my raison d’etre. Thanks for bringing this blog to our attention. Maybe one day we’ll outnumber the haters.

  2. aFrankAngle says:
    December 30, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    Kind of on topic. Our pastor’s sermon today mentioned a study of what nonChristians think of Christians …. I bet these characteristics fit the link that I haven’t read … judgmental, anti-gay, and hypocritical.

    • Valentine Logar says:
      December 30, 2012 at 11:07 pm

      I think the anti-gay only fits some denominations and not all. But judgmental and hypocritical tends to be across the board. I had an interesting ‘discussion’ with one of my in-laws when we were back in the Bahamas this month, all of them are members of a very strict Pentecostal Christian Church, my husband was raised in the denomination and he and I sometimes cross swords. Anyhoo….

      One of my husbands cousins had gotten a tattoo on her calve she is one of the younger ones (twenties) and she was wearing shorts so it showed. He, being one of the uncles and on the elder end of the family (my age) noticed it and started in on her, of course quoting the OT. Finally, after she began to cry I got pissed. My husband saw the look on my face and left the room, he knew what was coming.

      I asked him – what are you wearing.
      What? What do you mean?
      What are you wearing? You are wearing, a nylon Nike Jacket and a polyester shirt and blue jeans, you are wearing Nike shoes and you are wearing what appears to be a plastic Belt.
      Also, when was the last time you got a hair cut and when did you shave last?
      You do eat Conch and Crayfish don’t you?

      to all this he started sputtering and the family got real quiet.
      He asked me what I was talking about and I explained to him. You cannot demand that any person live by single laws of the OT if you do not live by all 613. You don’t get to pick the laws you like and reject the rest of them. Either all apply or none apply. Either Jesus set you free of the Laws or as stated in Matthew 5:17 he did not abolish any of the Laws or the Prophets but came as a fulfillment of them.

      He then sputtered some more and said to me, I accepted Jesus as my savior, those Laws aren’t true anymore.

      Then leave the girl alone. You can’t have it both ways, you can’t demand others live by laws you won’t apply to yourself.

      By the way I have 13 tattoos. I love them all and they all mean something to me.

      At which point 90% of my in-laws called for my husband to ask if he knew about my tattoos 🙂

      The young girl mouthed thank you (I was her new hero).

      Most of my in-laws think I am Lilith. They know I am not a Christian in the manner they think of Christianity. They also know I have read the Bible more than once, something they cannot lay claim to despite their claim of Christianity.

  3. frigginloon says:
    December 30, 2012 at 7:45 pm

    I have long held those views. I don’t need to belong to a church for my God to hear me. I don’t have to give a beggar money but my conscience says otherwise. I don’t need anyone to make my decisions for me and I sure as hell don’t give a rat’s arse about race, color, sexual orientation or wealth. My Church is my family , my friends and my cat and I thank my God everyday for them. Tada!!!

    Have a smashing New Year Valentine and if that includes a chair , so be it. 🙂

    • Valentine Logar says:
      December 30, 2012 at 7:52 pm

      I suspect there are many who hold these positions, that Church is not the keeper of faith or the flame of belief. Especially as women today, faith and belief are within us more than within the walls of any religious edifice.

      Have a marvelous New Year.

  4. My Inner Chick says:
    December 30, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    Excellent Post.
    thank you, Val. xx

  5. aFrankAngle says:
    December 30, 2012 at 5:33 am

    Do I have to read something that will remind me of the boneheads that think they represent all of Christianity, but don’t realize they are in the minority?

  6. WordsFallFromMyEyes says:
    December 30, 2012 at 4:27 am

    Valentine:

    ¸.•*¨*•. ♪♫♫♪Happy New Year .♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸
    ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜” & wishing for you, what you wish this year.♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸

    I love this little flutter of pretty which someone left on my page, but I’ve personalised. I sincerely wish you a good year. 🙂 N.

  7. valeriedavies says:
    December 29, 2012 at 8:58 pm

    . Wonderful piece, wonderful responses, and wonderful to know that so many of us just don’t buy into religion, the masculine power construct of centuries.
    The most enlightening and useful thing I ever read was that anything which is Not unconditional love, is a cry for unconditional love. Which puts the actions of most people in a different light, even those who want power, money or prestige are simply going in the wrong direction to fill up their emptiness.
    They deny the poor etc, because they have no trust in a God of abundance. Their indifference to the misery of others is all fear based, including fear of there not being enough, no matter how much they have.
    Remembering this makes it easier for me to remember to ‘ love our enemies’ in Christ’s words, instead of judging them.
    I’m still hanging out for peace on earth -especially between politicians!!!!

    • Valentine Logar says:
      December 30, 2012 at 12:21 am

      Valarie – I agree, it isn’t the following faith but the following of Religion.

    • WordsFallFromMyEyes says:
      December 30, 2012 at 4:26 am

      Very good comment, Valerie. Valentine, I can’t say it better than this!

      Loving your enemies though, I think I could only love Hitler if he stayed a baby…

      • Valentine Logar says:
        December 30, 2012 at 6:12 am

        I think Noleen, the right response is to not hate our enemies even while hating their acts and actions. To not hold hate in our hearts is truly what we are supposed to do, not even for the worst of humanity.

  8. OneHotMess says:
    December 29, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    I am a Christian, and I will say again what I have said before—we give ourselves a bad name. Love the Lord and love everyone else. It is as simple as that. We do not get to choose who to love—everyone is everyone. I went Democrat this year that these reasons. The Lord tells us to help the poor, to visit prisons, and to have mercy on those who are disenfranchised. Yes, Lord, I will do that. I will obey you!

    • Valentine Logar says:
      December 29, 2012 at 6:54 pm

      I think this is why this post resonated with me. The lack of compassion so many show today seems to be in complete denial of what the ministry of Christ was about. I don’t know how this is reconciled. I left organized religion many years ago when a Priest told me I had to return to the husband who was beating me and ‘obey’ him.

  9. Running from Hell with El says:
    December 29, 2012 at 12:32 pm

    Yep. For sure, the right wing has misinterpreted the words of God over and over again.

  10. Elyse says:
    December 29, 2012 at 10:25 am

    Wow, Val. He says it all so well and so clearly. Thanks for reblogging this one.

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