[Vision2020] Christ Church's Intolerance

[Garrett Clevenger]

On November 22, 2003, Christ Church placed an ad in the Daily News.  Similar 
ads appeared in other local newspapers.  The ads were incredibly offensive.  
Here are a few quotes:

"Christ Church...has been constant and gladly controversial in making the 
case that modern secularism is boring, hypocritical, and ugly."

"Christ Church has a long published history of revealing the ugliness and 
hypocrisies of the right and left, conservatives and progressives, racists 
and egalitarians, religious fundamentalists and secular fundamentalists.  
All these groups despise the good life and deserve one another.  We want no 
part of their family infighting."

"Secularism can only fake tolerance, diversity and inclusion... secularism 
undermines rationality and knowledge... secularism guts beauty, play, the 
arts, and laughter."

I would assume Christ Churchers have read Jesus's words regarding treating 
your neighbors as you would yourself.  I also assume they understand you 
reap what you sow.

Everybody is entitled to free speech.  Perhaps they regret placing this 
offensive ad for all to see how they feel about pretty much everybody but 
themselves.  If not, it should not come as a surprise that they are not 
welcome by the people they despise in the core of downtown via New St. 
Andrews College.  If they don't respect their neighbors, they will not get 
respect in return.  Jesus preached such logic.

I'm torn by the NSA zoning issue because I want to be tolerant.  But how can 
I support them being downtown knowing they have no respect for me and are 
willing to pay to advertise that, without really knowing who I am?

I could understand giving leeway to groups that desire to build community.  
But why should the city council make an exception to such an antagonistic 
group?

I'll be the first to admit I regret things I've done and said.  I'll I can 
ask is for forgiveness.  But this is a good lesson for all of us to ponder: 
self-righteousness eventually destroys.

Garrett Clevenger

http://www.icehouse.net/garrett

"What are we doing to our Hearts?!:("