[Vision2020] Oversimplifying A Tool of Control

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 07:14:20 EST

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Forum Members:

The line between Christ Church and the progressive agnostic or atheist 
liberals is an easy one to draw in some respects.  But what continues to amaze is 
that the Christ Church intelligencia conveniently and often leave out of the 
"controversy" in Moscow numerous people of Christian faith who disagree with 
them, who are not agnostic or atheist and hold many fundamental Biblical values in 
common with Christ Church. 

In fact I estimate unscientifically, but making an educated guess, that most 
of those who feel some unease at aspects of the Christ Church agenda are 
people who themselves believe in the Christian faith, just not the exact 
interpretation of this faith that Christ Church follows.

I rarely if ever hear a Christ Church spokesperson target other Christians in 
the area who promote women's or gay rights.  Usually they aim their comments 
at what they call progressives or humanists or relativists, or followers of 
the Enlightenment, but NOT other Christians.  How would they aim comments at 
these believers:  "Those false Christians who think thus and thus...?"

It seems there is an assumption that there is a debate on certain aspects of 
human rights and tolerance between those who believe in the one true view of 
Christianity and those who don't.  But there are agnostics and atheists who 
subjugate women, persecute gays and wink at slavery, that many Christians and 
atheists alike would commonly resist.  And there are Christians who want equal 
treatment of women, gays and all, though no doubt some at Christ Church would 
say these people of faith are not "real" Christians.

Oversimplifying complex moral and/or religious issues is great for passionate 
us vs. them debate and activism.  It is also a tool often used by politicians 
to control people using intense emotion and demagoguery rather than using 
calm analysis of all the facets of an issue.

It is instructive to observe how often politicians use the same tactics to 
control their "flock" as religious leaders use to control theirs.  

Ted

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 Forum Members:
 
 The line between Christ Church and the progressive agnostic or atheist l=
iberals is an easy one to draw in some respects. &nbsp;But what continues to=
 amaze is that the Christ Church intelligencia conveniently and often leave=20=
out of the "controversy" in Moscow numerous people of Christian faith who di=
sagree with them, who are not agnostic or atheist and hold many fundamental=20=
Biblical values in common with Christ Church.=20
 
 In fact I estimate unscientifically, but making an educated guess, that=20=
most of those who feel some unease at aspects of the Christ Church agenda ar=
e people who themselves believe in the Christian faith, just not the exact i=
nterpretation of this faith that Christ Church follows.
 
 I rarely if ever hear a Christ Church spokesperson target other Christia=
ns in the area who promote women's or gay rights. &nbsp;Usually they aim the=
ir comments at what they call progressives or humanists or relativists, or f=
ollowers of the Enlightenment, but NOT other Christians. &nbsp;How would the=
y aim comments at these believers: &nbsp;"Those false Christians who think t=
hus and thus...?"
 
 It seems there is an assumption that there is a debate on certain aspect=
s of human rights and tolerance between those who believe in the one true vi=
ew of Christianity and those who don't. &nbsp;But there are agnostics and at=
heists who subjugate women, persecute gays and wink at slavery, that many Ch=
ristians and atheists alike would commonly resist. &nbsp;And there are Chris=
tians who want equal treatment of women, gays and all, though no doubt some=20=
at Christ Church would say these people of faith are not "real" Christians.
 
 Oversimplifying complex moral and/or religious issues is great for passi=
onate us vs. them debate and activism. &nbsp;It is also a tool often used by=
 politicians to control people using intense emotion and demagoguery rather=20=
than using calm analysis of all the facets of an issue.
 
 It is instructive to observe how often politicians use the same tactics=20=
to control their "flock" as religious leaders use to control theirs. &nbsp;
 
 Ted
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