[Vision2020] boycotting & religion

[Joe Campbell]

Paul,

You are incorrectly describing Keely’s position and talking past her.

First, where does Keely say anything about boycotting Christ Church 
businesses? She is merely talking about her personal choice of where to 
shop, which you note is her business.

Second, I don't know of anyone who is critical of Christ Church affiliated 
people merely because of their religious beliefs. Keely made this point below 
but you ignore it.

Third, how can you call the belief that slavery was OK a religious belief? How 
can you call the belief that Islam is a religion of hate a religious belief? I could go on.

Fourth, please tell us what you think about some of the recent political actions 
of members of Christ Church -- the sign suggesting that three candidates are 
bigots, and Dale Courtney's involvement with an anti-levy ad, where he used 
the name of a dead man instead of his own name. In light of these and other 
actions, how can you continue to think that Christ Church is merely a church?

Best, Joe

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:07:50 -0800
From: Paul Rumelhart <godshatter at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] boycotting & religion
To: keely emerinemix <kjajmix1 at msn.com>

Keely,

I don't like the idea of boycotting people based on their religious 
choices.  You think that Doug Wilson is arrogant and evasive.  I can see 
that.  They believe that he is helping them to interpret the Bible and 
their religion in a way that they believe is true.  Boycotting people 
who believe this and tithe to the church *is* boycotting for religious 
reasons.  The fact that you find this particular religion more odious 
than most is beside the point.  I could care less about the 10% that 
they give to the church.  Why deny them the 90% you otherwise would have 
given to them? 

You've made a choice to not give money to people who give a small amount 
of it to Doug Wilson, and that's fine.  Why urge others to do so en 
masse?  Let people make their own choices.  My choice, for example, is 
not to care what religion the people I do business with follow, nor what 
the character of the people are that they give some of their money to.

I don't like the divide that is growing ever larger between the people 
of this church and others in the community.  I don't think it's healthy 
for Moscow.  I disagree with both the boycotting of Christ Church-owned 
businesses and the practice that I've heard mentioned of Christ Church 
members being urged to patronize only those same businesses.

I disagree with their theology as much as or possibly even more than you 
do.  When it comes down to it, they are just a bunch of everyday Joes 
trying to make a living.  I propose going out of our way to welcome them 
into the community, while holding an extremely firm line on forbidding 
them to change any of our laws to favor the ideals of their church.  I 
propose this, actually, for people of all religions - not just Christ 
Church members.

Paul

keely emerinemix wrote:
>
> I've been reading some of the Daily News letters to the editor and 
> comments from my letter regarding Francis Foucachon's objection to 
> boycotts "based on religion."  He is horrified by the Christ Church 
> congregant-owned list, and it appears a lot of folks are angry about 
> my publicly stating that I won't patronize businesses owned by Doug 
> Wilson's followers.  They call is "religious bigotry."  It isn't.
>
> I would remind people that I am a Trinitarian, evangelical Christian 
> with a high and conservative view of Scripture, so it certainly, in 
> this case, isn't about Christ Church's religion.  I care absolutely 
> not at all about the religious beliefs, or lack thereof, of those who 
> own businesses in our town.  I care about their behavior, and it is 
> properly called "behavior" to follow and support financially a man who 
> has, in the name of the religion he and I both share, elevated 
> arrogance and evasion, not to mention prejudice, to an art form.  My 
> behavior in response to the behavior of following such a man?  I'll 
> act in a way that ensures that not a dime of my money goes to support him.
>
> It really is that simple. 
>
> keely