america's secret christians

the next voice you don't hear

Wonder why it is that you never hear about it when these Christians - representing millions of members - speak out?   The National Council of Churches is circulating a petition for the Fourth of July that protests the war in Iraq as an immoral act:

This year our nation is at war as we observe the 4th of July... day by day the cost of this war for the United States, for Iraq, for peace grows clearer. No weapons of mass destruction have been found; no link to the attacks on September 11, 2001 has been shown.  It has become clear that the rationale for invasion was at best a tragic mistake, at worst a clever deception.

As people of faith, we believe in the transcendent sovereignty and love of God for creation, and that the responsibility of human beings is thus to pursue justice and peace for all. we also believe that, as the biblical prophets of old ... we too are to speak to a land and people we love. as religious leaders we invite others who share our affections and dismay to recognize the time has come to speak out.

The time has come to say:

- NO to leaders who have sent many honorable sons and daughters to fight a dishonorable war;
- NO to the violence that has cost over seventeen hundred American lives, left thousands grievously injured, and killed untold numbers of Iraqis whose deaths we are unwilling to acknowledge or count;
- NO to the abuse of prisoners that has shamed our nation and damaged our reputation throughout the world;
- NO to the price tag for this war that has rendered our federal budget incapable of adequately caring for the poorest of our own citizens; and,
- NO to theologies that demonize other nations and religions while arrogantly claiming righteousness for ourselves as if we share no complicity in human evil.

Bush's church is part of the NCC - so is Frist's. A lot of Baptist churches are in there, too. Feel free to read the entire petition - and sign it if you wish - here.

We're always hearing about how the voices of Christians are being suppressed in this country, while being subjected to the endless hate-filled shrieks of Falwell, Robertson, and the other American Taliban.

Still, maybe that "suppression" charge is true -- it's just that they're silencing the wrong Christians.

Comments

[Shakespeare's Sister]

Bush's church is part of the NCC - so is Frist's.

LOL! Wah wah wahhhhhhhh.

[Kate S.]

- NO to theologies that demonize other nations and religions while arrogantly claiming righteousness for ourselves as if we share no complicity in human evil.
***
That's the part that pisses me off the most - this arrogant, "Fuck YOU!" attitude towards anyone that doesn't belong to the Southern Baptist Council that elected the Bush's and several other presidents besides.

When Fallwell and Robertson said (after they had been emboldened by Bush's "political capitol,") that they didn't have to be polite anymore to methodists and episcopaleans or any other representatives of the 'anti-christ,' I kind of figured that was going to ruffle some feathers in the religious community -- especially the CHRISTIAN community -- and ignite the flames of those back burners under a few cauldrons of oil.

Hey, I'm up for a good lynchin'. I'll help and I'll bring some friends.

[RJ Eskow]

The only flaw in your scenario, Kate, is that "good Christians" don't lynch. Otherwise history might've been different. Yet, somehow ... not

[Dudley]

I've been a part of the NCC for years, and I'm telling you, this is the best example of the polarization and extremism that exists in our country. The moderate voice is never heard. Mainline Christian Churches make up 24 percent of this country (that's other than the Evangelical Community). Perhaps no one hears about us because we don't believe in in-your-face, hate filled, self-righteous evangelism tactics, but rather in sharing our faith through relationships and well, love. You know, that thing Jesus talked about.

[bria]

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"CHRISTIANS ARE BEING PERSECUTED"

Ever hear the phrase, "You can dish it out, but you can't take it"? That's what's happening when Fundamentalists use this statement. They have been on the attack for years now, trying to deny rights to homosexuals, trying to outlaw abortions, trying to keep women from obtaining equal rights, and trying to impose their own morals - many of them non-biblical - on the rest of society. Non-Fundamentalists are finally fighting back by speaking out against their campaigns, their media onslaughts, and their mistaken notions of truth, and the Fundamentalists don't like it very much. They can dish it out, but they can't take it. So when people of good conscience stand up for their rights, Fundamentalists cry foul - they claim they are being persecuted.

Fundamentalists see this "persecution" as biblical proof of being on God's side. It's not. Their so-called persecution is merely the rest of society defending itself from their attacks. Their so-called persecution is merely being called to the carpet for their actions. Their so-called persecution comes in the form of editorials that don't paint them in a glowing light or legislation that goes against their made-truths. If they can't get their schools to allow them to pray to their God during class time, they claim they are being attacked. What would happen if Buddhists and Muslims tried to get the same special rights? Fundamentalists would be beside themselves in anger.

This is not the persecution mentioned in the Bible. The leaders of the Christian Coalition are not being hung on crosses (Philippians 2:8). The leaders of the Family Research Council are not being stoned to death (Acts 7:59). The leaders of Focus on the Family are not being thrown to the lions (Daniel 6:16). And yet these people have the gall to claim they are being persecuted in God's name. They are not. All they have to worry about is someone calling them bad names and denying them their request for favoritism.
Not to mention the real persecution of native americans. whiner.

[bria]

aww fuck it. Ill be honest, i dont like any christians or muslims. Why? no matter how liberal they claim to be, they all have the mentality that they are the chosen ones. Its irritating. Not to mention extremly arrogant.