Fair game

Just freaking typical..

So.. Steve goes over to the nutjobs blog and asks (in a nice way) for some info on why the crazy guy thinks only his group gets to go to heaven. The priest obfuscates very nicely by saying essentially what he said before. We're all going to hell, unless we belong to their cult. But.. he says it so nicely..

Hey, Steve, I certainly don't mind question or challenges. It's just that guy Tom was a bit over the top in his tone.

You ask some valid questions. In the Gospels, Jesus makes some pretty clear claims about his role in salvation. He describes himself as "the way" and "the gate." His death and resurrection open the way to those who follow him.

I do not claim to know everything about God or his ways. As a Christian, I understand and believe that my belief in Jesus Christ guarantees entry into eternal life. Because of this, I don't fear death, although I'm in no hurry to die.

Before I became a Christian, I didn't know whether I would go to heaven. I feared death, because the thought of my conscious essence fading to oblivion was a frightening prospect.

When I really understood the Gospel for the first time, it was a liberating experience for me. There was hope. There was a demonstration of a God who loved me for who I am. There was a sacrifice made by God himself, a complete demonstration of his loving outreach.

In my faith, I don't have to earn God's approval, but merely accept his grace through faith.

I am no better person than you or that guy Tom. I don't claim to be holier than thou or perfect, in fact, I'm far from it, but I do rejoice in knowing that I am forgiven for my shortcomings.

The witness of Jesus Christ is that God is merciful, loving and benevolent. If all that it takes for me to enter heaven is to get to know and believe in his Son Jesus Christ, then sign me on!

Personally, I have never heard of any promise in any other religion that gives the guarantee of salvation on so simple a response to God.

Those who are not Christians get no judgment from me, but I am happy to share with anybody what I have experienced in my own journey to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Non-Christians may be pleased to hear Bishop Schori say that Jesus is not the only way to heaven, but for Schori to be the leader of a Christian denomination and contradict the teachings of Christ is offensive to those who are under her pastoral oversight. If she truly believes that the Christian faith is just a philosophical system and nothing more, then she should be honest and become a Universalist Unitarian or something rather than the primate of the Anglican Church in the United States who speaks for me and others.

Another word for contradiction is paradox. There are several paradoxes in the Christian faith, but there is an element of mystery to God that we accept and live into.

Let me make this first point really really clear, and hopefully everyone can understand why I am "angry" and not particularly nice to these people.

It's just that guy Tom was a bit over the top in his tone.

The good reverend writes that the vast majority of the people in this world are going to hell. When you think about the worst possible thing that could ever happen to a person, going to hell would have to be it, right?

He decries MY tone after he just gets done saying we're all going to hell? What the fuck is that? Why can't rational people understand what the fuck is going on here, because his point of view is becoming the dominant one in this country?

The moral of that point is a frequent topic here at the Infidel Express (I'm kinda liking that name now). What matters in a world of stupid people is not what you say, it's how you say it. I could say I'm going to mass murder an entire family, which is less evil than condemning most of the world to hell, and if I could fluff it up the way the preacher does, people would nod and smile and say yes, that family does need to die in a fire.. (which is what DIAF stands for by the way). That mechanic is how Muslim preachers get their followers to strap on bomb belts. It's the language of evil, and this preacher man is getting pretty good at it.

So, in many contexts of life, I get the reputation of being the mean angry guy, but that's only because I'm frustrated at how stupid people are. The truth of the matter means nothing. That truism explains this Krugman column that ya'll should read. When you wonder how the most horrific lies become conventional wisdom, you merely have to look at how the lie is told.

But, in the end, I know nothing I write will change that mechanic of perception, and I'm not out to change the world - just point out the hypocrisy and evil in it as it comes along. I'm not sure if I could shift my language to the professional bullshit style of this "priest", even if I tried.

When I really understood the Gospel for the first time, it was a liberating experience for me. There was hope. There was a demonstration of a God who loved me for who I am.

That made me laugh. He takes his new found demonstration of a God who loves him for who he is, and uses it to hurl hatred at gays.. who apparently God does NOT love for who they are.

Is there any more rank hypocrisy than that? I'm sure if you asked him about it, he'd say it isn't HE who is hurling hatred on gays, but it is God's will, as revealed through the bible, that says we should hate the gays. That, once again, absolves him of his evil by putting the onus on God.

Fucker... and I mean that in the most charitable sense.

Before I became a Christian, I didn't know whether I would go to heaven. I feared death, because the thought of my conscious essence fading to oblivion was a frightening prospect.

Oh.. see.. he wasn't originally a Christian, and he converted. I'd be willing to wager my bank account that he's gay, and somebody fucked his head when he was a kid with all this moral bullshit.

I like his reasons for getting all up in Jayzus.. fear. That's it in a nutshell. He's afraid. For many other people, the increase in isolation causes them to turn to religion, as merely a social tool. It has nothing to do with God - they are just selling a social service, and people are willing to buy. It does help that they can rally around a common enemy - and today it's Muslims and homosexuals.

Oh.. and he wrote a post on science, claiming it's completely compatible with religion. He said he believe in "faith healing", so in his comments I asked him what happens when science and religion diametrically collide. I posted a link to the Scientific American study that showed that there is no such thing as faith healing, and often those "prayers" are counter productive as it only convinces the patient that they are in really bad shape, bringing down their own will to survive.

What do you think his response was? Well, there was none because he refused to approve my comment. Is that surprising? I said nothing rude, merely proved him wrong, and as is typical with right wing authoritarian crazy ass cultures, censorship works best.

Those who are not Christians get no judgment from me

Fucking liar... why be nice to him?

And, at the end of the day, and the conclusion of the analysis, my ultimate point remains. I have no problem with anyone who wants to be delusional. I don't really care if this asshole condemns me for worshipping Gorak and being gay. I could fucking care less that he lives his twisted existence. The problem is that these people control our government and armed forces, and we're seeing the net result of their rule. They are causing problems for the rest of us, and people need to open their eyes to see past the "aw shucks" bullshit Mr. Niceguy routine they put on, and look at the real ramifications of their delusions.

Unfortunately for most people, they can't, as Clinton used to say, "feel your pain". You actually have to be in pain before you give a shit.. apparently.

In my faith, I don't have to earn God's approval, but merely accept his grace through faith.

Translation; I can be a twisted evil fuck, but if I flog myself for Jayzus, I gets to go to heaven and you don't.. neener neener neener..