Okay, I know I've gotten on my high-horse on this board about how much I dislike the Christian Right. I've taken a holier-than-thou attitude, and now I know, I should be a little more tolerant of my non-secular brethren.

Here're a couple of interesting links:

It's the Christianity, Stupid.

Reaching to the Choir

Consider me repentant for my throw-'em-to-the-lions attitude.

So, now they might help you politically, the faithful aren't so bad after all. What's that? Do I hear Church Lady? "How Conveeeenient."

Bellham
~Arguing principle from convenience is no principle at all.~

"So, now they might help you politically, the faithful aren't so bad after all..."

There's that.

Then there's the realization that maybe I'd been duped by the Christian Right, and my own experience and prejudice, into believing that all evangelicals were as mean-spirited and hypocritical as the likes of Jerry Falwell and his ilk.

I will say this, I haven't met many of these evangelicals that I would trust, but as i think about it, there're one or two. But mostly, my personal experience has been negative.

And for example, in the article It's the Christianity, Stupid, the point that most of our(mine) values come from Christian values and philosophy, that hit home. That made me think. And re-think.

True Dat, even among the many Christians I've known, folks like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson give Christianity a bad name for many.

But just as those guys selectively draw on Christian traditions and values to puff up their own self-righteousness (as opposed to say, noting all the warning against self-righteousness) I've seen a lot of nonreligious folk wax just as self-righteous in their own sense of superiority over the faithful.

The best of Western secular culture has indeed grown out of traditional Christian virtues. The thing is, those same virtues (not doctrines, but virtues) are generally found in almost all religions that are successful enough to become known to the rest of the world.

Seems like that'd offer a lesson in humility to both the religious and the secular elements in our culture these days. But that pesky human nature....

Bellham
~Arguing principle from convenience is no principle at all.~

Sounds pretty fair and balanced to me...

...then again

Lions and christians are two great tastes that go great together.

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You spilt Christian soup in my lion stew!

You got lion stew in my Christian soup!

Hmmm. MMMmmm. Ruh Roh, we've reopened the cannibal thread.

Bellham
~Arguing principle from convenience is no principle at all.~

"But just as those guys selectively draw on Christian traditions and values to puff up their own self-righteousness (as opposed to say, noting all the warning against self-righteousness) I've seen a lot of nonreligious folk wax just as self-righteous in their own sense of superiority over the faithful. "

Exactly what I'm feeling guilty about. And, I've actually been on both sides.

Thing is, I don't go around proselytizing Atheism. I could have more respect for some religious people if they'd show some respect in turn, and show that respect by not trying to "save" me or convince me to come to their church on Sunday. But I guess that's the essence of evangelism.

But there have been times when I've politely asked them to stop and they did.

My point is that I feel shame for having painted all the devout with a broad brush. But, as you say JB, human nature, generalization is normal, and sometimes even helpful, even so, sometimes it's good to get a reality check and realize that though generalizations may be good as shorthand, they don't hold true for individuals.

Okay, enough flagellation, I said I was sorry. I ain't a saint, ya know.

quote:

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we've reopened the cannibal thread.

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Well, you know, there were rumors about the early christians...This is My Body...

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Bart: What religion are you?
Homer: You know, the one with all the well meaning rules that don’t work out in real life, uh..., Christianity!.