Originally Posted By DAR Of course it's shameful. But I just fear that the atheist crowd is also using this as an excuse to say religion is bad.
Originally Posted By Mr X Why would that be an "excuse" to say religion is bad. Isn't it actually EVIDENCE that religion is bad, in such cases?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>But I just fear that the atheist crowd is also using this as an excuse to say religion is bad.<< I think it's more important for Christians to speak out against this sort of thing, rather than worry about how atheists have to say about it. It's about walking the walk and in this case, it's a horrendous, hateful thing these people are doing. I do not believe they are ignorant of what they're praying for. They may say they're praying for "just one term" but that's a lie. They want Obama out of office by any means, and especially when you read what follows. Considering this nation's history, it's a terrible, ominous thing to wish for. I think the right thing for Christians to do is to hold people spreading this stuff accountable -- call them out on it, speak out against it in churches, at mass, in sermons.
Originally Posted By Mr X So, how's that going so far K2M? Have you heard about Christians speaking out against this en masse?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan No, I have not. That's what I'm hoping for, though. It could be because this isn't especially widespread at this point or that some believe by calling attention to it gives it more of a spotlight. I don't know. But I hope that it is dealt with at every church and amongst Christians everywhere. If extremists are allowed to distort a faith, it only gets harder to tamp that stuff down.
Originally Posted By utahjosh I hadn't heard of this until this thread. And I denounced it immediately. Of course, plenty of people don't think I'm a Christian, so...
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 What concerns me, is that at first glance, the slogan actually looks harmless, and of good intentions. I'm sure that's the goal. It's only when you actually read the passage they mention that it's very unsettling. This is a way to fly under the radar, because people who see it on the back of your car don't have the Bible (well, most don't) in their car to look up the passage. It's pretty low for Christian standards, and I do wish more Christians would distance themselves from this kind of activity and be vocal about condemning it.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Of course it's shameful. But I just fear that the atheist crowd is also using this as an excuse to say religion is bad.<< Why do you "fear" that? Aren't atheists allowed to speak their minds? Or only if they agree with you....
Originally Posted By utahjosh I also feel it's tongue-in-cheek. A sick joke. Sure, there are some real extremists praying for the death of Obama, but I don't think the majority of those who have this sticker actually do wish for no mercy on his children. Still a bad idea, and not very funny.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin I think all reasonable people..Christian or not should be outraged at this.
Originally Posted By utahjosh Outraged? Only if I thought many people were actually praying for Obama's death and no mercy to be shown to his children. Otherwise, it's more of the usual from the fringe crazies. Even if more than the fringe crazies are putting this on their bumper - I think they treat it as a joke. A dumb, insentivite, hard to understand joke that doesn't deserve my outrage.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>A dumb, insentivite, hard to understand joke that doesn't deserve my outrage.<< I would think that distorting and misusing Bible passages for political reasons would deserve your outrage. The reason the "fringe crazies" continue to be the loudest, most visible faction of Christianity these days is because good people let it happen. I think that's a shame. >>Only if I thought many people were actually praying for Obama's death<< It doesn't have to be "many." It should be any.
Originally Posted By ecdc 2oony's hit on a real problem here. Too many decent Christians would rather go after reasonable atheists (as DAR's comment shows) than go after extremist Christians. Rather than get their own house in order, they focus on those that have nothing in common with them. It's a shame.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Okay, then you've got a pass if you think that. Let's not turn this into another thread about the LDS, okay? For the rest of the Christians out there, speak up!
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Being Catholic and attending Mass on Sunday's I can say that I've not come across this particular Psalm in any of the readings. Nor in my years of Catholic grade and high school.>> My understanding is that the lectionary covers the entire Bible over a 3 year period. This of course includes daily Mass, which few people attend.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin The 'people' who have these stickers need to learn what hate speach is and why it's wrong.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<But I would like to see more Christians speaking out against this stuff in the same way I would like to see more Muslims speaking out against extremist stuff that misuse their religion.>> FWIW, this thread intoduced me to these nasty bumper stickers.
