tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post2859908856119488245..comments2024-03-15T01:11:32.832-07:00Comments on Bardiac: Slow ThinkingBardiachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11846065504793800266noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-12516907351335855782010-10-12T09:51:40.990-07:002010-10-12T09:51:40.990-07:00There *is* a population out there. Google "re...There *is* a population out there. Google "religious left." I could go on for ages about why I think I belong to it.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15606922510495018342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-65319642308961976302010-10-06T03:07:09.753-07:002010-10-06T03:07:09.753-07:00A previous poster suggested that part of the probl...A previous poster suggested that part of the problem is that Christians who aren't homophobic/greedy/manipulative don't criticize those who are. This is contrary to my experience, where mainstream Protestants and social justice Catholics work, speak, and pray against injustice all the time. (Which is not to say that other Christian groups don't do the same, only that I have less experience with them.) If one doesn't hear about these groups, it's not because they aren't there, it's because they don't make the news. <br /><br />An illustration: in my small (and deeply conservative) little town, the Catholic campus ministry owns a house where Catholic students and faculty meet for services and prayer groups. The priest has a strong ecumenical bent, and the building is also freely used by Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish students for their meetings, prayers, and get-togethers. This cooperation causes absolutely no controversy and makes no news at all. If the priest instead announced that he was going to hold a Quran burning, he'd be on the national news tomorrow and the whole nation would be shocked at how intolerant those Christians are.Dr. Ruralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11906528389110567059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-17807393253527697572010-10-05T13:28:04.119-07:002010-10-05T13:28:04.119-07:00i'm an athiest, raised in a mainstream denomin...i'm an athiest, raised in a mainstream denomination -- and a lot of my thoughts about decent human behavior began with what i learned in church. <br /><br />a lot of my friends are believers, and some are even ministers, but we share that idea of fairness, inclusion, and justice. hellfire and brimstone, condemning others for who they are or the situations in which they find themselves -- those do not sit well with us, and neither does the greedy evangalizing. i guess my point here is that there are different christian communities, and the loudest mouths absolutely do not represent the members i know. far as i can tell, they do not represent the main teachings of jesus at all.<br /><br />glad you are standing by your students.kathy a.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14479337952651746193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-10653899507727004292010-10-05T09:47:23.301-07:002010-10-05T09:47:23.301-07:00Thanks for your explanation, Anastasia. I know yo...Thanks for your explanation, Anastasia. I know you've thought these things through a lot.<br /><br />I get to a point though, with whatever explanation, of wondering how such behavior could be characterized as benevolent or worthy of worship.Bardiachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11846065504793800266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-51190153521264939902010-10-05T06:52:29.639-07:002010-10-05T06:52:29.639-07:00pontificated that should say.pontificated that should say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-42815056334580281932010-10-05T06:51:30.164-07:002010-10-05T06:51:30.164-07:00Others have already made this point, but if you li...Others have already made this point, but if you listen to the right Christians and preachers, they do make just as much of greed and envy and gluttony and injustice.<br /><br />I also wanted to add that the concept of original sin is too narrowly conceived here. In many Christian theologies, the "Fall" entails a fundamental corruption of nature--both human and non-human. And so, while the natural world and the animal kingdom have no culpability because they were not disobedient (as human beings were), they do suffer in a state of corruption. <br /><br />For these theologies, this is the significance of the biblical accounts of a peacable kingdom where the lion and lamb lie down together, the lion eats straw rather than tearing gazelles limb from limb, and the like. This is a redemption of nature. <br /><br />Paul argues directly for the redemption of nature in Romans 8:22-24. The incarnation, then, is about more than me and my personal sins. <br /><br />My point being, the idea that God somehow created diseases that harm animals is not a necessary part of the doctrine of original sin or of Christian theology.<br /><br />Now that I've pontification, I agree with your basic point. Even if a Christian holds that homosexuality is sinful, that same Christian ought to acknowledge that she is equally mired by sin. And basic human kindness and dignity trumps all such concerns. We're talking about human beings here and they are suffering and dying. They need help, compassion, love.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-91362305797980515362010-10-04T21:33:20.801-07:002010-10-04T21:33:20.801-07:00I'm not sure if you saw the speech about bully...I'm not sure if you saw the speech about bullying and the recent suicides that Ellen Degeneris did on her show or not, but it really touched me. Here's a youtube link, if you want to check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON-aLqr8u0o<br /><br />I was raised Christian, but I was always a little suspicious of the whole idea. I no longer claim to be a Christian. When people ask, I say I'm a secular humanist. And then when they ask why I celebrate Christmas, I say that I celebrate the birthdays of lots of very famous people in history -- like Shakespeare, for instance. We always have cake on Shakespeare's birthday. (But I digress) The biggest reason I "left the faith" was because of the hypocrisy I saw everywhere. When the Catholic church started blaming "gay priests" for the sex abuse scandal, I could no longer stand it. Adios Church. I actually feel better now that I've been away from it for a good while.Fie upon this quiet life!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12047096700049201873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-1716213224176770122010-10-04T21:04:03.188-07:002010-10-04T21:04:03.188-07:00As a Christian, let me say that I'm sorry abou...As a Christian, let me say that I'm sorry about the way that the church is so preoccupied with sexuality instead of focusing on justice, kindness, and peaceful relationships. The hatefulness towards homosexuals demonstrated by others of my religion saddens me. <br /><br />I'm glad you have this space to vent. I'm sure that you feel really isolated at times. Your students are lucky to have you there.Terminal Degreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16523014953046778630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-89762007222653252992010-10-04T18:53:58.301-07:002010-10-04T18:53:58.301-07:00Thanks for your comments, folks :)
I want to assu...Thanks for your comments, folks :)<br /><br />I want to assure you that I don't criticize Christianity in my work as a professor. I DO try to explain historical changes, arguments, and attitudes (we discussed different attitudes towards midwife baptism today, for example) in the context of discussing literature written during periods of conflict within Christianity. <br /><br />But thanks for the reminder. I do vent on the blog in ways I can't vent elsewhere, but I should probably make that clear. It's worth remembering that I live in a pretty overwhelmingly Christian and fairly conservative area.Bardiachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11846065504793800266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-18110779315677158632010-10-04T18:35:30.519-07:002010-10-04T18:35:30.519-07:00I'd urge you, Bardiac, in your mentoring role ...I'd urge you, Bardiac, in your mentoring role for young people on your campus, not to set up Christianity as a necessary polar opposite of acceptance of gay people, despite the fact that many televangelists embrace those polar positions. When people are coming out and figuring out their sexual identities, I think it's helpful not to have every part of their identity up for grabs at one time; that is, if one has grown up Christian and "straight," I think it would be helpful not to be forced into renegotiating both of those identities in one fell swoop when they need not be in any conflict with each other (says the lesbian Christian!).What Now?https://www.blogger.com/profile/04017629066466055668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-34412776737431968812010-10-04T17:28:33.815-07:002010-10-04T17:28:33.815-07:00Bravo.
First, let's grow up and accord civil ...Bravo.<br /><br />First, let's grow up and accord civil rights to an enormous segment of the population, which is at the moment prohibited from marrying in most places and adopting a child in some.<br /><br />Second, will some Christian ministers finally have the nerve to decry the wickedness of prosperity theologians, televised faith healers, and oily evangelists with their "prayer lines" (no doubt, connecting with high pressure solicitation flunkies)? Will they call on churches to abandon hate and devote their considerable abilities at generating money to humanitarian causes?<br /><br />Yes, many churches are tolerant of homosexuality and welcome GLBT members. Yes, the vast majority are not dedicated to fundraising for lavish lifestyles. But sometimes it's not enough just to be decent. You have to oppose what's wrong.Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-65052728221818045602010-10-04T17:24:47.550-07:002010-10-04T17:24:47.550-07:00Bardiac, as a Christian, I totally agree with you....Bardiac, as a Christian, I totally agree with you. Jesus spends far more time in the gospels on issues relating to money than those relating to sex.<br /><br />I have to constantly remind my students that modern Christian obsession with sexuality is not always the obsession of the church.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09716705206734059708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-415404051717081302010-10-04T16:46:53.353-07:002010-10-04T16:46:53.353-07:00and glutton too. Not that glutton's the worst...and glutton too. Not that glutton's the worst sin ever - but have you noticed how many of the types of preachers who are preaching against sin are of a certain body type??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com