Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Another Pat on the back for Muslims (and anyone else he doesn't like)

Pat Robertson strikes again. Yet again, a man who prclaims to be a minister of Christ twists news and commentary into hatred. According to Robertson, radical Muslims are evil, satanists. This is in regard to the cartoon dissent and violence, and the idea that Muslims want to take over and/or destroy the world. In his position, Robertson COULD have criticized the violence and could have promoted more peaceful resolutions, but instead, he throws out just as much hatred, thoughtless gasoline on the fire by judging an entire group of people by the actions of a few (compare the number of violent protestors to the number of Muslims world-wide).

Though I am a bit distant from my Sunday school days and beleifs, I have a warm feeling about something the pastor said during one of those children's sermons.

He said, "God is love. He loves us, and he wants us to love everyone, including people we don't get along with. It's okay to love people who aren't Lutheran or even Christian. We are all God's children in his eyes, made in his image." Then, the congregation sang the song, "They will know we are Christians by our love."

This sounds really cheesy, I know, but this message has really stuck with me. Though I no longer attend church and tend to have my own version of spirituality (other than organized religion), I have respected many, many Christians (like many people in the Christian Peacemakers Teams who go to Iraq, etc) for their ACTIONS. This kind of Christian need not proselytize or threaten people with hell and damnation if they don't convert. Some of these Christians are even OKAY with not converting those they work with or help. This is because they get the idea that we are all people here, we are all loved by God, AND we need to work together and love each other. They do NOT betray Christianity or even organized religion; in fact, they step above the political finger pointing and damnation agenda manuvers, and they get to the heart of the idea that God IS LOVE. They ACT like it.

Pat, do some more thinking, critical thinking, before you blab this kind of hate. Hire someone to clamp a hand over your mouth so we don't have to hear this kind of talk or see your actions for what they are. Get past the old testament fire and brimstone, tough God stuff. Move into the new, "love one another" testament. If you really want to call yourself a Christian, ACT LIKE IT and show the world some love.