Persecuted Christians In America!

[bleeding heart]

More shocking tales of Persecuted Christians in America, and more specifically Persecuted Christians in North Carolina. Despite their victory in amending their state constitution to ban gay marriage, it has been a tough month for Christians in North Carolina.

First, there was Pastor Sean Harris, who received all kinds of negative attention after telling his parishioners that they should beat their kids straight. "Crack that limp wrist!" Harris even gives his followers a "special dispensation" to do so. As I understand it, in church-talk that phrase means permission to disregard the law in serving the church. hmm. Anyway, despite a non-apology apology and some clarification, Pastor Harris has suffered mightily for speaking the Lord's truth. Pastor Harris has been, figuratively speaking, crucified for his comments by liberal secularoids who don't respect his religious views.

Then Pastor Ron Baity argued for the return of anti-sodomy laws and Pastor Tim Rabon came out with the same kind of "man on dog" type rhetoric that made Rick Santorum a household name. They escaped the kind of persecution that Pastor Harris has received, luckily for them everybody was still so shocked from what Harris said that their own comments went relatively unnoticed.

But that was just the preliminaries. The real persecution of Christians in North Carolina started when Pastor Chuck Worley spoke to his congregation about how he would approach the gay rights issue. His solution: a concentration camp.

The merciless persecution of Pastor Worley came swiftly. His church website has been taken down, his phones have been taken off the hook. He has been talked about and ridiculed on national TV and all over the internet. Even many Christians have attacked him. Here's a guy who has had a 1200 seat church in this community for decades, and here he is being pilloried for preaching the Bible. What's so wrong with a concentration camp for gays? In fact it shows that the Pastor has become much more compassionate towards gays than he was in 1978, when he said they should be lynched like in the good ole days. Where is the respect for this holy man's religious views?

Even his faithful congregation have not escaped the persecution. This week,

and crucified her as well. And by crucified, I mean he asked her softball questions and let her make a fool of herself.

A demonstration is planned, and Maiden NC is set to be invaded by a bunch of liberal secularoids who are going to wave signs and tell this poor pastor that he is wrong for preaching the Bible. Oh those poor North Carolina Christians. Take heart! After all, the Bible tells you that if you're not suffering for your beliefs, you're not doing it right.

-k

All those Christians who are criticizing them must have been indoctrinated by Hollywood and leftwing university campuses. 'Cause that's what's happened to society.

[kimmy]

More persecution!

Richard Land, leader of the Southern Baptist Convention's "Ethics and Religious Liberty Convention", has lost his radio show over race-baiting and plagiarism. I guess he was away the day his ethics class covered plagiarism. Regardless, all of us should be very concerned about this. Because first they will come for your radio shows... and then they will come for you!

Speaking of "they will come for you!", persecuted Christian Dennis Markuze has been released from rehab. Markuze is well known to members of this forum, of course, as a prolific poster. At least he was, until he was arrested for making death threats against a number of atheist writers.

Speaking of Christians being persecuted for speaking their beliefs, Pastor Curtis Knapp has joined Chuck Worley on that road, courageously speaking the Bible's truth even in the face of fierce criticism.

“They should be put to death,” Knapp told congregants. “That's what happened in Israel. That's why homosexuality wouldn't have grown in Israel. It tends to limit conversions. It tends to limit people coming out of the closet. Oh, so you're saying that we should go out and start killing them? No, I'm saying the government should. They won't, but they should.”

He continued: “I can't believe you, you're horrible. You're a backwards neanderthal of a person. Is that what you're calling scripture? Is God a neanderthal, backwards in his morality. Is this his word or not? If it's his word he commanded it; it's his idea, not mine. And I'm not ashamed of it.”

So you see, if you're saying it's barbaric to say homosexuals should be put to death, you're actually insulting Knapp's religion, calling his God a neanderthal. Liberals are so intolerant!

-k

[betsy]

What fear of Hell?

If you believe in God and the only way to be with God is to believe in Jesus what other way is acceptable to describe the fate of someone who doesn't believe in God?

If you don't believe in God you shouldn't fear Hell, so how is fear a factor in this?

Very well said.

[betsy]

deleted. double posting.

Edited June 2, 2012 by betsy

[betsy]

Riiiight. All the atheists here saying their way is the only true belief system, the belief that everyone must come to embrace, that only the weak and ignorant have need for a God/believe in God, as they make fun, are just meek and mild little darlings; rays of sunshine. Nothing at all aggressive about them when presenting their points of view.

Oh, the horror! Do you have Girl Scouts selling cookies showing up at your door unsolicited too?

They're busy in other areas - banning Christmas trees and Christmas carols etc. I see that as not so different.

Gay activists have made threats of violence. They aren't a group of saints any more than any other group.

It's a matter of selective tolerance and intolerance.

I know kimmy's thread is meant to be facetious against Americans/American politicians/Fox News, but there is validity to the idea that it's ok to bad mouth Christians. And it's not something that's felt just in the U.S., hence my example from Canada. In some instances, such as in the the UK according to an article I recently read, it goes further - aid was cut off to countries that discriminate against gays - while still going to countries that actually do persecute Christians.

I don't care to get caught up in this, but the idea that religious groups are the only ones who are guilty of any of the "bullying" behavior you refer to is ridiculous.

Furthermore, to hear tell, religion is all bad. Yet the fact is, religious groups have done wonders around the world, helping establish schools, medical centers, hospitals, orphanages, sponsorships - I've seen it first hand. I've heard the testimonies from those benefiting - I've heard the appreciation. Since you seem determined to compare, I have to wonder - how many gay organizations have done the same?

Finally. Something I agree with.

[bleeding heart]

Finally. Something I agree with.

????

You agree with AW's self-evidently assinine question about "how many gay organizations" have performed at charity/missionary levels comparable to organized religion?

Too bad.

[Guest American Woman]

????

You agree with AW's self-evidently assinine question about "how many gay organizations" have performed at charity/missionary levels comparable to organized religion?

Too bad.

What's too bad is that you obviously cannot grasp the question in the context of which it was asked, but your self-evidently asinine response doesn't surprise me in the least.

[bleeding heart]

What's too bad is that you obviously cannot grasp the question in the context of which it was asked, but your self-evidently asinine response doesn't surprise me in the least.

The question is preposterous in any context except one critical of the question itself; ie, if you were being ironic, and implying, "what a stupid question, eh?"...then that would be an ameliorating "context."

Edited June 4, 2012 by bleeding heart

[Guest American Woman]

The question is preposterous in any context except one critical of the question itself; ie, if you were being ironic, and implying, "what a stupid question, eh?"...then that would be an ameliorating "context."

Once again, your self-evidently asinine response doesn't surprise me in the least.

[cybercoma]

American Woman, how have your last two responses been any better than someone replying to one of your posts and telling you that you're a complete idiot?

Edited June 4, 2012 by cybercoma

[Guest American Woman]

American Woman, how have your last two responses been any better than someone replying to one of your posts and telling you that you're a complete idiot?

Ummmmm. My last two posts have virtually been quotes, which were directed at me, from the person I was responding to. That, in fact, was the purpose of my responses - to throw his words back at him. Did you really manage to miss that?? So no, my posts were no better than his - which was kinda the point.

[kimmy]

Finally. Something I agree with.

Of course you agree with it. It's the kind of false equivalency that you people just love.

-k

[kimmy]

Megachurch pastor John Hagee is feeling a little persecuted, and he's telling the world:

As the video shows, John is mad that the Ten Commandments have been removed from courthouses. And he's mad that the government has offended his god by recognizing "Satanism and witchcraft" (I think the word he's looking for is "Wicca") as official religions in the Armed Forces.

Like Rick Santorum's buddy

, John Hagee's advice is that if you're not a Christian, you should get the fuck out of America.

I would suggest to Mr Hagee that the reason the Ten Commandments have been removed from courthouses is that courthouses are not religious institutions. If Mr Hagee is upset with the fact that the government of the United States is secular and not religious, perhaps he is the one who should leave. If he wishes to live in a theocracy, he could find one somewhere in the middle east...

-k

[Guest American Woman]

Of course you agree with it. It's the kind of false equivalency that you people just love.

Whoosh! .... Right over the top of "you people's" heads.

[GostHacked]

Whoosh! .... Right over the top of "you people's" heads.

I would say it's because Kimmy seems like a 'grounded' person, without her head in the clouds looking for the ever elusive flying spaghetti monster.

[Guest American Woman]

I would say it's because Kimmy seems like a 'grounded' person, without her head in the clouds looking for the ever elusive flying spaghetti monster.

It's what I would expect you people to say and how I expect you people to react.

[bleeding heart]

Once the intrepid team of American Woman and Betsy, working in tandem, outsmart Kimmy...well, I'll be forced to alter my view and believe in Malevolent Design.

[GostHacked]

It's what I would expect you people to say and how I expect you people to react.

How else are logical people to respond to the illogical?

[Guest American Woman]

Once the intrepid team of American Woman and Betsy, working in tandem, outsmart Kimmy...well, I'll be forced to alter my view and believe in Malevolent Design.

See what I mean about the "whoosh?" Betsy and I are no more likely to be a "team," "intrepid" or otherwise ( again), than kimmy and I are. Ya'll are exactly the same - just different sides of the coin. But do keep making a point of saying how smrt everyone on your "team" - ie: who thinks just like you - is. I do enjoy a good laugh.

How else are logical people to respond to the illogical?

Yeah, you're just so logical and smart. You make fun of others who think their belief is the only true one - because you know yours really is.

Edited June 6, 2012 by American Woman

[bleeding heart]

See what I mean about the "whoosh?" Betsy and I are no more likely to be a "team," "intrepid" or otherwise ( again), than kimmy and I are. Ya'll are exactly the same - just different sides of the coin.

Whereas AW is simply too good for this fallen world...or at least for this website, chocked to the brim with her intellectual inferiors.

I do enjoy a good laugh.

Well, who doesn't? Common ground at last.

[Guest American Woman]

Whereas AW is simply too good for this fallen world...or at least for this website, chocked to the brim with her intellectual inferiors.

Hmmm. Perhaps you're more astute than I gave you credit for.

[bleeding heart]

Hmmm. Perhaps you're more astute than I gave you credit for.

Oh, there's no question about it.

[Guest American Woman]

Oh, there's no question about it.

But are you astute enough to figure out that that's not saying much considering how little credit I give you?

Seriously. "You people" are a riot. All thinking that your belief is The One Truth - while making fun of someone else for thinking that their belief is The One Truth. Like I said, ya'll are peas in a pod.

[GostHacked]

Yeah, you're just so logical and smart.

Yes thank you. We will all get along better once you start worshiping ME instead of this Jesus dude.

You make fun of others who think their belief is the only true one - because you know yours really is.

Well,the question remains unanswered by anyone in this thread. .. Is Christianity the only truth?

[bleeding heart]

But are you astute enough to figure out that that's not saying much considering how little credit I give you?

Oh, AW...are you astute enough to imagine people can follow the snarks that you enjoy implying? Because to imagine otherwise is not too astute.

Yes, i get it, in other words...since you need everything spelled out.

Seriously. "You people" are a riot.

Is there a reason for the scare quotes?

All thinking that your belief is The One Truth

Translation: they don't agree with AW, so they are arrogant.

- while making fun of someone else for thinking that their belief is The One Truth. Like I said, ya'll are peas in a pod.

As you said.

Yourself excepted. As you said.