[Vision2020] Christ Church and freedom of religion

[Bill London]

P-
The Christ Church leadership has a political agenda, a goal of remaking
Moscow into a sanctuary for people who share their particular flavor of
Christianity.  The placement of NSA downtown, the authoritarian hierarchy,
the pastor-for-life hegemony of Doug Wilson, the creation of a parallel
social/educational/economic structure all reveal that agenda.

Of course, churches manifesting a political agenda are not new (see the
Inquisition for example).   What is important now is to clearly define the
issues.  I support efforts to reveal that agenda, warn others of its worst
manifestations (the rigid anti-gay, anti-women, and pro-neoconfederate
plans, for example), and support the victims of the ugly discipline program
within the church membership.
BL


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Rumelhart" <godshatter at yahoo.com>
To: "Vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 11:00 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Christ Church and freedom of religion


> I am new here, so forgive my questions.  I've read a bit on this list of
> the back-and-forth postings concerning this one church and it's left me
> confused.  I've read the article in the Blot about the church, as well.
> I should also mention that one of my closest friends is a member of the
> church, even though we rarely if ever agree on theology.
>
> What it all boils down to for me is this one simple question:  Does the
> leadership of Christ Church respect freedom of religion?  Are they
> pushing some kind of agenda to make over Moscow into a Christian-only
area?
>
> The rest of the discussions don't interest me, for the most part.  My
> theological views are pretty much orthogonal to those of Christ Church
> members as I understand them, so it's pointless for me to debate about
> them.  I could care less if they serve alcohol at Trinity Fest, I'll
> leave that to the people whose job it is to make those decisions.  The
> submission of women topic doesn't bother me because the women of that
> church don't seem to have any problems with it.  I don't even really
> care about the whole Sitler thing because there are so many
> inconsistencies between both versions of events that I'll probably never
> know what really happened or who should have done what when.
>
> If we freedom-loving people of Moscow practice what we preach, then why
> be up in arms about their views?  Why worry if they are successful?
> More power to them.
>
> However, if they are truly trying to stifle freedom of religion in
> others here in the community then I will be worried.
>
> Members of Christ Church: Do you wish to rework Moscow into a Christ
> Church-derived paradise?  Or do you believe fully in Free Will?
>
> Opponents of Christ Church: Do you believe that Freedom of Religion
> trumps your own personal views of their theology?  Are you willing to
> live and let live if they truly wish not to push their views on others?
>
> Paul
>
> If I'm being presumptious here, I'm sorry.  I came here hoping for
> reasoned debate and see mostly mud-slinging and name-calling by both
sides.
>
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