Friday, September 09, 2005
The Weekend and Religious Rantings
Will it be a weekend of work or a weekend of pleasure? I'm not really sure.
Tomorrow I still have to finish two and a half hours of work for my job. I also have to two Spanish summaries (but that shouldn't take long). I also need to read some stuff for English.
Other than that, I'm not sure if I'll be relaxing or just working on other kinds of work. Tomorrow night (well, technically tonight since it's past 1 AM) I think I'm going to go see The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy at the Campus Cinema. Then, who knows, maybe I'll come back and watch another movie. My plans so far for things not related to school are:
1) Get paid today. My first paycheck. It's only for my first week (which wasn't even a full week), so I'm guessing it'll only be around $30. Isn't that great?
2) Sleep. A lot.
3) Watch movies.
4) Force myself to write at least one full-length review.
5) Work on script.
6) Maybe go buy things I need (like Pop Tarts and water).
7) Do research on airline tickets to see how much it would cost to go to Washington at the end of September/beginning of October. As in, after I've been paid again.
All I know is, I'll be much happier when I've finished all my job-related work for this week. I'll have to space out my time better next week.
Other than work, today the only real thing of interest I did was go to the Intervarsity large group meeting. It was pretty cool. All of the Christian organizations I've visited have their own cool ways of doing things. Campus Crusade is more into evangelizing - because of that, I don't think I'll be attending their meetings often. Not that I think evangelizing is a bad thing, I just don't want to go through the whole "would-you-like-to-accept-Christ" routine every week. The Intervarsity meeting was good, I think I'll probably go again. We'll see. The message was great; the guy talked about what it means to be a true Christian, using the passage in Matthew when Jesus talks about separating the sheep from the goats. It reminded me that in the end, the most important thing we can do as Christians is just to be with others and help them out. That's something I tend to forget, being the introverted person that I am.
Another thing happened today that I feel like ranting about, because it frustrates me. I was talking to another MK, who shall go unnamed, about the Katrina situation and Bush's response. Somewhere along the line, this person said they thought New Orleans needed to be destroyed. This person is extremely conservative, so in many ways I wasn't surprised, but it still caught me off guard.
Personally, that kind of attitude makes me sick.
The person basically argued, "Well New Orleans is a very sinful place, second probably only to Las Vegas. For example, there's tons of casinos. I think it needed to be destroyed - it's God's way of showing that He's still in control."
Pardon me, but did I hear that right? Did someone just claim that the deaths of ten thousand people was needed because they lived in a sinful place?
It reminded me of the time after 9/11 when Jerry Falwell allegedly claimed that the terrorist attack was God's way of getting revenge on homosexuals. What the @*$! kind of logic is that? So, in other words, it doesn't matter that those people died. They were sinners. Better to just let them die and go to hell. They deserve it.
What right do we have to say someone should die because they're sinners when we Christians used to be sinners as well? I seem to recall Christ saying something about loving your neighbor. Or wait, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe He said, "If your neighbor's a sinner, hate him and wish he'd die."
How hypocritical can you get? These are the same people who argue that abortion is wrong because it's killing a potential human being. Oh, so it's bad to kill an innocent wad of cells, but once it's an adult, if it sins it deserves to be left to starve for days on a rooftop? So, human life is only valuable if the person is a Christian?
Also, what right do we have to assume natural disasters or terrorist attacks are God's wrath on a group of sinners? Who are we to say what God's motives are in allowing something like that to happen? We can't even come close to fathoming the greatness and wisdom that is God. Yet why is it as soon as there's a chance to condemn sinners, Christians put themselves on the same level as the Creator of the Universe?
Really. Is it any wonder that the world hates Christians and sees them as ignorant, hateful and close-minded hypocriticals? A lot of times, it's true! It amazes me how Christians are able to hate and condemn their fellow man, and then wonder why people hate them in return. Then they assume it's because they're being good Christians, and suffering persecution in the name of Christ. Hello?! Wake up, religious right! Has it ever crossed your minds that in some cases the world can be on the right track and religion can be in the wrong? Has it ever crossed your mind that refusing to love your fellow man, regardless of whether or not they gamble or lie or steal or are homosexual, is more similar to the attitude of the Pharisees rather than Christ?
I was watching Bill Maher's HBO political talk show the other day, in which he discusses and debates various issues with three guests. On this particular episode, one or two of the guests started bashing the conservative, Republican, Christian right. The other guest (who was extremely smart, and a Democrat) spoke up and said, "Hey! I'm an ordained Baptist minister! I know a lot of Christians who aren't like that at all!" This led to a discussion about how the media portrays Christians, and how Christians themselves act. Basically, these conclusions were made:
1) Not all Christians are close-minded hypocritical bigots who go around waving signs that say "I Hate Fags."
2) However, a whole lot are. And these are the ones that the media likes to present to the public. Why? Because it's "sexy."
As a result, Christians have been stereotyped. Our image and reputation are being ruined by Christians who can't seem to realize that being a Christian actually involved being Christ-like. These people can't seem to understand that idea of a democracy. They think we live, or should live, in a Christian theocracy, and that that gives them the right to basically tell anyone who doesn't believe what they believe to go die in a hurricane. It's extremely sad, not to mention frustrating.
So, I guess I'll conclude with these statements:
1) God didn't destroy New Orleans because the people like to gamble. And even if He did, it's not our job to act like we have any clue what His motives are.
2) Christians really can be just as bad as the media makes them out to be. Stereotypes only become stereotypes if they're somewhat true.
3) The conservative, people-hating Christian right sucks. I'm not saying I hate them. I wouldn't be that hypocritical. I understand that they're just doing what they think is right. But man, oh man, is it annoying...
I mean really. We're all sinners. According to the logic I heard today, God should just blow up the entire planet to teach us a lesson.
There's this thing called "tolerance" that lots of Christians seem to be afraid of. It's like they think that by being tolerant, they'll be compromising with sin. Well, here's what the dictionary has to say about tolerance:
"The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others."
Well, what do you know. Sounds like something Christ would do. I find it telling that in the Bible, when Jesus met a "sinner", he didn't respond like many Christians do today. He didn't go, "You evil person! You're not equal to me! I hope you die in a hurricane!" He would often say that he didn't agree with what they were doing, and try to convince them to change their ways, yes. But he never implied they were somehow inferior or anything less than magnificent creations of God whom He loved. When Jesus interacted with the common sinner, he treated them with kindness and love - he healed them. Some came to have faith in Him, others didn't. But I don't recall Christ ever telling the ones that didn't to go starve to death on a rooftop. I have no reason to believe Christ didn't love even those who spit on Him, cursed His name, and crucified Him.
Actually, it seems to me that the only people he actually yells at (other than Satan) and doesn't seem to have much respect for are the the religious authorities. Go figure.
Tomorrow I still have to finish two and a half hours of work for my job. I also have to two Spanish summaries (but that shouldn't take long). I also need to read some stuff for English.
Other than that, I'm not sure if I'll be relaxing or just working on other kinds of work. Tomorrow night (well, technically tonight since it's past 1 AM) I think I'm going to go see The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy at the Campus Cinema. Then, who knows, maybe I'll come back and watch another movie. My plans so far for things not related to school are:
1) Get paid today. My first paycheck. It's only for my first week (which wasn't even a full week), so I'm guessing it'll only be around $30. Isn't that great?
2) Sleep. A lot.
3) Watch movies.
4) Force myself to write at least one full-length review.
5) Work on script.
6) Maybe go buy things I need (like Pop Tarts and water).
7) Do research on airline tickets to see how much it would cost to go to Washington at the end of September/beginning of October. As in, after I've been paid again.
All I know is, I'll be much happier when I've finished all my job-related work for this week. I'll have to space out my time better next week.
Other than work, today the only real thing of interest I did was go to the Intervarsity large group meeting. It was pretty cool. All of the Christian organizations I've visited have their own cool ways of doing things. Campus Crusade is more into evangelizing - because of that, I don't think I'll be attending their meetings often. Not that I think evangelizing is a bad thing, I just don't want to go through the whole "would-you-like-to-accept-Christ" routine every week. The Intervarsity meeting was good, I think I'll probably go again. We'll see. The message was great; the guy talked about what it means to be a true Christian, using the passage in Matthew when Jesus talks about separating the sheep from the goats. It reminded me that in the end, the most important thing we can do as Christians is just to be with others and help them out. That's something I tend to forget, being the introverted person that I am.
Another thing happened today that I feel like ranting about, because it frustrates me. I was talking to another MK, who shall go unnamed, about the Katrina situation and Bush's response. Somewhere along the line, this person said they thought New Orleans needed to be destroyed. This person is extremely conservative, so in many ways I wasn't surprised, but it still caught me off guard.
Personally, that kind of attitude makes me sick.
The person basically argued, "Well New Orleans is a very sinful place, second probably only to Las Vegas. For example, there's tons of casinos. I think it needed to be destroyed - it's God's way of showing that He's still in control."
Pardon me, but did I hear that right? Did someone just claim that the deaths of ten thousand people was needed because they lived in a sinful place?
It reminded me of the time after 9/11 when Jerry Falwell allegedly claimed that the terrorist attack was God's way of getting revenge on homosexuals. What the @*$! kind of logic is that? So, in other words, it doesn't matter that those people died. They were sinners. Better to just let them die and go to hell. They deserve it.
What right do we have to say someone should die because they're sinners when we Christians used to be sinners as well? I seem to recall Christ saying something about loving your neighbor. Or wait, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe He said, "If your neighbor's a sinner, hate him and wish he'd die."
How hypocritical can you get? These are the same people who argue that abortion is wrong because it's killing a potential human being. Oh, so it's bad to kill an innocent wad of cells, but once it's an adult, if it sins it deserves to be left to starve for days on a rooftop? So, human life is only valuable if the person is a Christian?
Also, what right do we have to assume natural disasters or terrorist attacks are God's wrath on a group of sinners? Who are we to say what God's motives are in allowing something like that to happen? We can't even come close to fathoming the greatness and wisdom that is God. Yet why is it as soon as there's a chance to condemn sinners, Christians put themselves on the same level as the Creator of the Universe?
Really. Is it any wonder that the world hates Christians and sees them as ignorant, hateful and close-minded hypocriticals? A lot of times, it's true! It amazes me how Christians are able to hate and condemn their fellow man, and then wonder why people hate them in return. Then they assume it's because they're being good Christians, and suffering persecution in the name of Christ. Hello?! Wake up, religious right! Has it ever crossed your minds that in some cases the world can be on the right track and religion can be in the wrong? Has it ever crossed your mind that refusing to love your fellow man, regardless of whether or not they gamble or lie or steal or are homosexual, is more similar to the attitude of the Pharisees rather than Christ?
I was watching Bill Maher's HBO political talk show the other day, in which he discusses and debates various issues with three guests. On this particular episode, one or two of the guests started bashing the conservative, Republican, Christian right. The other guest (who was extremely smart, and a Democrat) spoke up and said, "Hey! I'm an ordained Baptist minister! I know a lot of Christians who aren't like that at all!" This led to a discussion about how the media portrays Christians, and how Christians themselves act. Basically, these conclusions were made:
1) Not all Christians are close-minded hypocritical bigots who go around waving signs that say "I Hate Fags."
2) However, a whole lot are. And these are the ones that the media likes to present to the public. Why? Because it's "sexy."
As a result, Christians have been stereotyped. Our image and reputation are being ruined by Christians who can't seem to realize that being a Christian actually involved being Christ-like. These people can't seem to understand that idea of a democracy. They think we live, or should live, in a Christian theocracy, and that that gives them the right to basically tell anyone who doesn't believe what they believe to go die in a hurricane. It's extremely sad, not to mention frustrating.
So, I guess I'll conclude with these statements:
1) God didn't destroy New Orleans because the people like to gamble. And even if He did, it's not our job to act like we have any clue what His motives are.
2) Christians really can be just as bad as the media makes them out to be. Stereotypes only become stereotypes if they're somewhat true.
3) The conservative, people-hating Christian right sucks. I'm not saying I hate them. I wouldn't be that hypocritical. I understand that they're just doing what they think is right. But man, oh man, is it annoying...
I mean really. We're all sinners. According to the logic I heard today, God should just blow up the entire planet to teach us a lesson.
There's this thing called "tolerance" that lots of Christians seem to be afraid of. It's like they think that by being tolerant, they'll be compromising with sin. Well, here's what the dictionary has to say about tolerance:
"The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others."
Well, what do you know. Sounds like something Christ would do. I find it telling that in the Bible, when Jesus met a "sinner", he didn't respond like many Christians do today. He didn't go, "You evil person! You're not equal to me! I hope you die in a hurricane!" He would often say that he didn't agree with what they were doing, and try to convince them to change their ways, yes. But he never implied they were somehow inferior or anything less than magnificent creations of God whom He loved. When Jesus interacted with the common sinner, he treated them with kindness and love - he healed them. Some came to have faith in Him, others didn't. But I don't recall Christ ever telling the ones that didn't to go starve to death on a rooftop. I have no reason to believe Christ didn't love even those who spit on Him, cursed His name, and crucified Him.
Actually, it seems to me that the only people he actually yells at (other than Satan) and doesn't seem to have much respect for are the the religious authorities. Go figure.
# posted by Andrew Johnson : 9/09/2005 01:11:00 AM 
