Let’s Pretend! (another rant about the US)
October 2, 2007 by Mark Pogue
Just to ease the pain of most Americans let’s pretend that George W. Bush is a peacemaker. Most other countries fear him more than Ahmadinejad. Why is that? Are all of these opinions wrong? Can we proceed with impeachment hearings…just for fun?
Let’s pretend global warming is not happening or how humans have not attributed to this hot issue. Will it simply “go away” by ignoring facts presented by a couple thousand scientists?
Let’s pretend there are WMD in Iraq. If there are none to be found in 2002 or 2003, we can always pretend.
Let’s pretend Ted Haggard is a heterosexual. I wonder what costume he wears when aroused? Some people pretend there is a cure for homosexuality. There’s a cure for that, but none for cancer or AIDS?
Let’s pretend that most countries are wrong when they do not join us in a devious and unnecessary invasion of Iraq. Maybe some “superpower” should invade the United States and liberate us of our multi-signing-of-statements dictator.
Let’s pretend that the Earth is only 6000 years old like the Creationists ignorantly believe.
Let’s pretend that not all Islamists want to take over the world. You will notice that most extremists of any religion pledge to do so. Where are the voices of the moderates that love the human race and their god? For the Christians that proclaim that the US is a Christian nation…what happened to “love thy neighbor as thyself” or “thou shalt not kill”? I hardly doubt that Jesus Christ would approve of corporate greed, capital punishment, “walling off” our neighbors, and torture. Is their any shame anymore of being/using instruments of death rather than disciples of peace. Yet, many criticize Islamists for their death threats.
I am a Christian, but I agree with you that America is not a Christian nation. I hate to see my fellow Christians trying to impose their morality on others or trying to gain political power to rule over people instead of SERVING people. I can’t stand when Christians spout pro-war, pro-rich, pro-donominance propaganda without any acknowledgement of Jesus’ message of peace, sacrifice, and love.
I just wanted you to know that there are Christians out there that don’t ascribe to those things and who are willing to love those who don’t agree with us, who are willing to fight for the rights of people who reject our faith, because we want to do unto others as we would have them to do us.
I hope you seek the truth until you find Jesus for yourself. Don’t let the arrogant extremists of our faith rob you from finding the transforming freedom that comes from knowing the Lord.
Peace
[Reply]
Tia Lynn…
You said… “I hope you seek the truth until you find Jesus for yourself. Don’t let the arrogant extremists of our faith rob you from finding the transforming freedom that comes from knowing the Lord.”
And you assume that all need Jesus? That’s arrogant to assume all others don’t count! What about the Jews? Muslims?
No wonder why they call Americans. “Infidels”.
It is not rational to reach out for an invisible person/being. Some feel the need…I don’t/can’t
There is no truth in virgin births, walking on water, resurrection from the dead, and ascension into the sky.
Take FULL responsibility for your own actions, pat yourself on your back once in a while, and hope for a full life.
I hope Jesus DOES come back and gather his lost children. They make life miserable for the rest of us.
[Reply]
“Let’s pretend that not all Islamists want to take over the world. You will notice that most extremists of any religion pledge to do so. Where are the voices of the moderates that love the human race and their god? ”
Just for the sake of argument, do you speak Arabic or Persian Farsi?
Actions speak louder than words, true. But the words in question are unnaturally quiet due to the language barrier between the average American Christian and the average Muslim. When the moderates are silent, only the radical opinions can be heard.
The rhetoric we hear from Islamic Radicals is little different from the rhetoric of Christian (or even Atheist) radicals - we’ve just become desensitized to domestic brands of lunacy.
Counterpointedly,
Rival
[Reply]
I didn’t mean to offend you or to imply that muslims, jews, or anyone else for that matter “doesn’t count.” I am not the judge, i do not pretend to know who gets into heaven and who does not. I believe in Jesus and what he did on the cross, but also believe that God is bigger than my limited understanding and reaches ALL kinds of people in different ways. All I was trying to say was that if ALL that is holding you back is other Christians, then try to get past it. If it is more than that holding you back, then that is between you and God and I fully respect your opinions and beliefs and believe YOU COUNT deeply as a unique and valuable human being. I just wanted to present to you another side of Christianity, on that does not wish to force you into a belief, but one that will love you, value you, and respect you, no matter what you end up believing in.
[Reply]
Tia Lynn, all the while you’re implying that we’re trying to find this Jesus or your god. ‘It is between you and God’ is just as ignorant as every other Christian I’ve met. Only when you can truly understand that there are people who do not want to find your god, who do not care to find Jesus, who simply, can you truly say that you are not as ignorant as the rest.
It is not Christians holding atheists back from a belief. It’s the fact that the bible is full of atrocities, that religion indoctrinates, separates, threatens, promises rewards… and that there is, according to theists, a big old man sitting in a place called heaven who watches our every move, who apparently loves us more than anything, but at the same time is vengeful, jealous etc. Well, you’re a Christian… you should know your god better than me.
I appreciate that you feel that Christians should not try to force the rest of the nation into believing… and that church and state should be separated. But as long as people still feel that we secretly all want to find Jesus and God, this will not happen.
How does that guy say: Only when you really understand why you dismiss other gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.
Peace!
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