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  The Christian Problem (Op-Ed)

By Filidh
Sun Mar 25th, 2001 at 12:13:19 AM EST

Freedom

For some of the world's population, Christianity is an answer to their problems. For other people, though, it's a nuisance and open condemnation of their beliefs and practices. Something should be done, and I think I've come up with some good ideas.

 


Christians claim that their religion is open to all, so long as you're not gay or anything else they object to. While some of them claim that they're not here to judge, some of them are and bring considerable harm to society at large as has been clearly shown recently. Worse yet, they expect to "save" people by converting them to their ways and expect them to live up to a "moral code" that not everyone is prepared to live up to.

Who hasn't seen one of those offensive cartoon books with their messages of eternal damnation for people who don't convert? Who hasn't had a book thrust in their face with the threat "you will burn in hell, sinner" just because they act, dress, or have a different sexual orientation than a "Christian"?

I say it's time to do something about it.

Christians are the worst sort of intolerant people. They don't want us to have same-sex parters. Some of their churches won't let women preach because they claim they're not allowed. And some of them think that men should be the head of the household--just because their book tells them to do so! And what proof do they offer that their book is telling the truth? Faith! They sit in churches in pews and classrooms reading their books, scouring them with more things to skewer the "unfaithful" with.

Friends, it's time to put a stop to it.

If they can't learn to be tolerant of our beliefs because their "faith" stands in the way, then they, friends, stand in our way. They want to buy space on billboards to put their signs up. Can we take legal action? Maybe in some countries, but not in the U.S., not without a good lawyer. We can remove the signs that say "In God We Trust", "Jesus Loves You," and whatnot from public property, but not private property, not legally. We just have to put up with such intolerant behavior.

Or do we?

Dealing With Objects of Hate

Friends, I'm sure you're familiar with such tools as spraycans and pickaxes. Has someone placed a condemning image on a billboard? Climb up onto the billboard and spraypaint it. There's no reason you should put up with such ignorant intolerance. Has a church placed an offending message on their sign? If you've ever worked at a Taco Bell, you know how to change the lettering! Put up a more appropriate, inoffensive message ("Your God Is Dead" is a good example.) Has someone put something into stone on private property? Smash it! We must smash such messages of hate!

Dealing With The Christians

I propose that groups of people be formed to help stamp out messages of ignorance and hate. Depending on where you live, this may be perfectly legal and may be your only recourse in stamping out the problem. If people are handing out new testaments, steal them, by force if necessary. If people are trying to spread their message door to door, throw jackrocks in their path. If they want to, say, stage a civilized protest in front of an abortion clinic, meet their prejudice with extreme prejudice. You know what I mean.

So there you have it. If we take action now, we can stamp out Christian intolerance in our lifetime.

< A question about copyright... (34 comments)

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Poll
Christians?
I hate them
They hate me because I'm gay
I hate the hater
I don't hate them; I just wish they'd go away
I don't hate them; I just wish they'd STFU
Christians should leave abortion clinics alone
Christians are ignorant; they don't have proof their religion is true
Ein reich, ein volk, ein Fuhrer!

Votes: 12
Results | Other Polls

Related Links
o Kuro5hin
o has been clearly shown recently
o jackrocks
o More on Freedom
o Also by Filidh

Moderation Stats
Current score:-21
Total votes: 45

The following lists show who voted which way on this story. Select a name and click the "User Info" button next to the list for more information about a particular user. "(FP)" denotes a vote for the Front Page.


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The Christian Problem | 8 comments (2 topical, 6 editorial, 0 pending) | Post A Comment
Perhaps you should iron out some contradictions (none / 0) (#8)
by scheme on Sun Mar 25th, 2001 at 12:49:36 AM EST

This article is pretty much on the level of flamebait or a troll. There are several major contradictions present that undermine your argument.

First of all you propose to prevent a perceived intolerance on the part of one group by presenting the same intolerance towards that group.
So there you have it. If we take action now, we can stamp out Christian intolerance in our lifetime.

In addition, you advocate responding to a "civilized protest" by one group with violence.

Second, you lump together all Christians together and take the views of the minority to represent the majority. Many Christian churches are supportive and accepting of people within the lesbian/gay/bisexual community. Similarly, female preachers and non-patriachal families are encouraged by many Christian communities. In any case, why single out Christians? Fringe movements within every religion have done similar things. Muslims have destroyed artifacts and used sharia to institute very harsh laws, warring Buddhist sects have massacred villages, Hindus have persecuted and killed others based on religion, even atheists have commited atrocities in other to get others to believe in their faith. Incidently atheism can be considered a religion since a priori , you can't prove or disprove the existence of god(s) without taking something on faith.

Finally, suppose your articles catches on and creates a group called the Movementarians. One could take your article, replace Christians with Movementarians, and make a case for destroying your group that is just as strong as your case for ending Christianity.


"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity." --Albert Einstein
[ Reply to This | ]
 
On prejudice and stereotypes (none / 0) (#7)
by gregstoll on Sun Mar 25th, 2001 at 12:47:12 AM EST

I'm not going to point out every instance of stereotyping here, because they all are. I'm Roman Catholic, and I don't believe most of the things you wrote here. I don't try to force my religion on others. I'm not anti-gay (neither is the Roman Catholic church, really). I am against abortion, but I certainly don't believe in violence against abortion clinics in any form. I've been teased for believing what I believe, and I've never told (or believed) that anyone's going to hell, that's not for me to decide. Everyone's a sinner, including myself and all Christians and non-Christians. Most of the Christians that I know (given, I'm in college, so they're probably not of the most fundamentalist type) share most of these views. So why must you encourage more hate in the world? There's plenty of hate out there anyway, and hate is beneficial to no one.

[ Reply to This | ]
 
Editorial: -1 Troll (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by Pseudonym on Sun Mar 25th, 2001 at 12:40:08 AM EST

This op-ed does not contribute anything useful and does not back up any claims, so I'm voting it down.

I'd consider voting for it if it was under "Rants" instead.
sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
[ Reply to This | ]
 
Editorial: Why I voted down (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by jesterzog on Sun Mar 25th, 2001 at 12:38:46 AM EST
(k5zog@nospam.jester.net.nz)

I voted this down because you're inaccurate and you're overgeneralising. There are between hundreds and thousands of different types of christian, and your grouping all of them them as the minority that's getting in your way. If it's satire, it's really not funny.

IMHO you should check out somewhere like http://www.religioustolerance.org before writing seriously about any type of religion.


- jesterzog was here
[ Reply to This | ]
 
Editorial: Prejudice (the sequel) (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by slakhead on Sun Mar 25th, 2001 at 12:33:14 AM EST
(slakhead[at]codeburner[dot]com)

I don't agree with the practices of missionaries who are bent on converting people but that is no reason to denounce a religion as a whole. This seems like tinder for a war we don't need to fight.

[ Reply to This | ]
 
Editorial: Benefit of the doubt (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Miniluv on Sun Mar 25th, 2001 at 12:28:16 AM EST
(miniluv@miniluv.com) http://www.miniluv.com

I'm guessing this was an attempt at satire. It didn't work. I'm not asking you to wink, because that ruins good satire. Instead you have to be witty and over the top for the humor to carry through. This reads like a fairly typical K5 response to anything concerning religion.

A conscience is that voice that reminds you someone might be watching. Robert Heinlein, To Sail Beyond The Sunset
[ Reply to This | ]
Editorial: -1: Prejudice (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by cezarg on Sun Mar 25th, 2001 at 12:21:24 AM EST
(cezar_at_mailandnews_dot_com)

Christian fanatics aren't the only fanatics out there. Your anti christian view of the world doesn't allow you to see the forest for the trees. Problems caused by some fundamentalist muslims are just as severe if not worse (remember the Budda statues in Afghanistan?).

[ Reply to This | ]
 
The Christian Problem | 8 comments (2 topical, 6 editorial, 0 pending) | Post A Comment
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