In an op-ed column Rev. Harry Lehotsky of the Winnipeg Sun asks "What's so scary about Christians? "
Quite simply, they wish to apply their beliefs to the country regardless of the beliefs of others without compromise. For example:
- outlaw abortion
- deny homosexual marriage
- remove evolution from science class
- make Christianity the religion of government (more in the States than Canada)
- ignore conservation efforts since the world was meant to be used by man as dictated by God
In each of these cases, their adgenda strikes from within their community to the communities of others. Its forceful and offensive to those that disagree with their views. And what's ultimately "scary" is that most evangelical Christians can't see this.
And yet so much of our system of laws is derived from Christian values.
ReplyDeleteIt cuts both ways.
To address the points raised:
"outlaw abortion"
- Better than out status quo of unrestricted abortion.
"deny homosexual marriage"
- What is the Federal gov't doing in the marriage business anyways. Marriage should be seperate from gov't - this one is a wash.
"remove evolution from science class"
- Well that's just plain stupid.
"make Christianity the religion of government (more in the States than Canada)"
- Have you read the Canadian constitution/charter, by chance? Note: Christianity *IS* the religion of our gov't.
"ignore conservation efforts since the world was meant to be used by man as dictated by God"
- You're quoting a particularly wingnut view of Christianity there. There are others who think we should preserve it in the natural state that God gave it to us in. This is a wash.
Christians aren't scarey. Period. Full stop.
>>Christians aren't scarey. Period. Full stop.
ReplyDelete"Normal" Christians, that is. You know, the normal type who run for office, attend normal churches, but still take their faith seriously.
Hate to break it to you, normal evangelical Christians support all those things I listed. They talk about them in their sermons, magazines, and private schools.
ReplyDelete"'outlaw abortion'
- Better than out status quo of unrestricted abortion. "
Debatable.
"deny homosexual marriage
- What is the Federal gov't doing in the marriage business anyways. Marriage should be seperate from gov't - this one is a wash."
I agree, marriage should not be a government function.
"make Christianity the religion of government (more in the States than Canada)
- Have you read the Canadian constitution/charter, by chance? Note: Christianity *IS* the religion of our gov't."
Perhaps I wasn't clear: to make Christianity the sole religion of the country. Again, this is happening more in the states in bits and pieces than in Canada.
"ignore conservation efforts since the world was meant to be used by man as dictated by God
- You're quoting a particularly wingnut view of Christianity there. There are others who think we should preserve it in the natural state that God gave it to us in. This is a wash."
Disagree. This is a basic belief held by the majority of the Evangelical Christians.
"Have you read the Canadian constitution/charter, by chance? Note: Christianity *IS* the religion of our gov't"
ReplyDeleteWhat?
Our government has no religion, and yes, I have read the constitution.
If you are refering to the Charter preamble, it does not assign legally make 'God' any part of our government. It's a preamble. Preambles are window dressing which have no legal force. That preamble simply places God at an even keel with the rule of law, and proclaims that after considering those two, that 'poof' we have discerned 33 sections of the Charter.
Which means that the God in the Charter believes in SSM, by the way.
Not that that statement has any pegal force.
"Outlaw abortion: If you accept that human life begins at conception, it follows that abortion is the taking of a human life. If you do not accept that view, then abortion is a mere medical procedure intended to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. The debate is far from settled, and is only scary to those who need to apply a derisive label to people holding a divergent opinion."
ReplyDeleteI agree there is a frame of context disagreement between the two sides. But it remains that the Pro-Choice side would not force abortions on those that disagree while Pro-Life side would prevent access to abortions for those that disagree with them.
"-make Christianity the religion of government. Okay, now this is tinfoil hat territory and is a pretty laughable assertion. Anyone who believes that this is the case really needs psychological help."
You pay, I'll go. ;)
Re: conservation:
"'Disagree. This is a basic belief held by the majority of the Evangelical Christians.'
Oh really? That would be news to the majority evangelical Christians everywhere. Do you have any evidence to back this up? I suspect not."
I do in fact. I have spoken with respected members of an Evangelical church that my inlaws are a part of. They spoke of how leaving a portion of a wilderness area untouched was not right because God gave man stewardship over the earth and man should therefore make use of all of it. Leaving anything untouched was irresponsible and shirking responsibility. This is what leaders of the church believe (and its not a wingnut church).
I realize it is andecdotal evidence, but combined with other things I have read in Christian literature it makes me nervous.
***
I want to make a point here: The original column asked why people in general think 'Christians' are scary and I gave a very simple explanation why. Whether or not those reasons hold enough water to cause the fear they inspire is up for a lot of debate.
I personally feel that Evangelical Christians have the right to participate in the political process in Canada without compromising their values/morals/views and I think that those that disagree with those views can still work with them to create the best acceptable solutions for Canada. I believe that this is what the Conservative party is trying to do and not cause for concern that it includes them in the party.