"Anti-Christian bias" - the five stages of religious persecution

Homiletic and Pastoral Review | June 2004 | Rev. Joseph M. Esper

[Polycarp IV]

The following is a brief excerpt from the book reviews secition of the June 2004 Homiletic and Pastoral Review, page 73.

The article is titled

Anti-Christian Bias
PERSECUTION: HOW LIBERALS ARE WAGING WAR AGAINST CHRISTIANITY. By David Limbaugh

Excerpt from review:

Persecution might have made an even stronger and more compelling case had it compared the state of present day American society with other historical instances of a Christian nation entering a period of religious repression (e.g., Russia at the time of the Communist revolution), thereby drawing lessons that might be applicable to our own situation.

For instance, many experts describe the unfolding of a religious persecution as having five stages:

stigmatizing the targeted group,
marginalizing its role in society,
vilifying it for alleged crimes or misconduct,
criminalizing it,
and finally, persecuting it outright.

Some commentators see U.S. society as currently moving from the third stage of this process to the fourth; it would have been interesting to read Mr. Limbaugh's perspective on this trend.

Nevertheless, Persecution presents a timely and vitally important message for American Christians today, and is must reading for anyone concerned about the preservation of our religios liberties.

[Polycarp IV]

Here is another explanation of the phases of Religious persecution:

"The PERSECUTION of CHRISTIANS TODAY" An Introduction and Strategic Analysis

Literally hundreds of thousands of people today are being killed, brutalized, sold as slaves, imprisoned, tortured, threatened, discriminated against and arrested solely because they are Christians. They are being subjected to persecution and suffering, the extent of which we can hardly begin to comprehend, because of their faith. They ask us to shatter the silence and use our voices to express their cries. This plea is directed at us, wherever we are, today.

Persecution seems to pass through three phases. The first is disinformation. Disinformation begins more often than not in the media. Through printed articles, radio, television and other means, Christians are robbed of their good reputation and their right to answer the accusations made against them.

The public opinion that easily results from being constantly fed such disinformation will not protect Christians from the second step, which is discrimination. Discrimination relegates Christians to a 'second-class' citizenship with inferior legal, social, political and economic standing than the majority in the country.

The third stage is persecution. Once the first two steps have been taken, persecution can be practiced without normal protective measures taking place. Persecution can arise from the state, the police or military, extreme organisations, mobs, paramilitary groups, or representatives of other religions.

[Polycarp IV]

A sobering review. Take a minute to think about the implications for our country, politics, and especially the upcoming elections.

Ping. (As usual, if you would like to be added to or removed from my "conservative Catholics" ping list, please send me a FReepmail. Please note that this is occasionally a high volume ping list and some of my ping posts are long.)

[Polycarp IV]

ping...think the author might take these comments into consideration for his next edition/ next printing?

[Polycarp IV]

Here you go.

[drstevej]

***ping...think the author might take these comments into consideration for his next edition/ next printing?***

Here is his website, you might email him.

http://davidlimbaugh.com/contacts.htm

BTW, they are expecting their fifth child this Fall.

[Polycarp IV]

Thanks, I just sent him a note.

[drstevej]

Mention that you know me from FR.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Excellent post. Thanks.

[AuntB]

Bump!

[mlmr]

I read the book. Very good. So are his columns.

[drstevej]

He's a great guy and an excellent writer.

[ELS]

Hmm, oddly enough, the Church flourishes when persecuted. On the bright side, persecution will rid the Church of Christians-in-name-only. ;-)

[qam1]

Talk about Hypocrisy....

stigmatizing the targeted group,

Oh you mean like these,

Atheism is Stupid, The Irrational Atheist, The Blind Atheist; Darwinism: Silly Science

marginalizing its role in society,

What has atheism done for us lately?, Colo. Governor Refuses to Welcome Atheist Group

vilifying it for alleged crimes or misconduct,

Hedonists R Us:Darwinism and Morality, The blood-stained ‘century of evolution’

criminalizing it,

Man told he must get rid of "ATHEIST" license plate

and finally, persecuting it outright.

No comment necessary on this one, And that's just what I found on quick search on Freerepublic

Looks to me like you are adopting the Liberal tactics of

1) Accusing your opponent of doing what you are doing

and

2) Attacking your opponent then crying foul when they attack back.

[Camber-G]

That's totally UNFAIR ! Read the NEWS !

Atheists always get the courts to decide in their favor ! Christians NEVER DO ! (see the ten commandments stuff !)

The media loves ATHIESTS ! and HATE CHRISTIANS ! (see all the TV shows !)

I can't even get to say that GOD is against HOMOs without someone trying to argue with me ! (and its in the BIBLE !)

I and every other TRUE CHRISTIAN in this country are persecuted and suffer every day ! And you know why ? Just because we are CHRISTIANS !

And its getting worse EVERY DAY !

[Polycarp IV]

Oops, you fogot my favorite one: ATHEISM KILLS.

Here's why atheism is always eventually demonic in its fury against its own ctizens:

The atheist is the consummate iconoclast.

iconoclast.

Main Entry: icon·o·clast
Pronunciation: -"klast
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin iconoclastes, from Middle Greek eikonoklastEs, literally, image destroyer, from Greek eikono- + klan to break -- more at CLAST
1 : one who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration
2 : one who attacks settled beliefs or institutions
- icon·o·clas·tic /(")I-"kä-n&-'klas-tik/ adjective
- icon·o·clas·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb

When Atheism becomes the driving force in government, it starts by marginalizing religion and religious, and seeks to remove images of God from the public.

After its iconoclasm has eliminated all images of God, it goes after all mention of God in the culture, till religion as become only a private affair, never mentioned outside the chapel, church, or synagogue.

Eventually, the iconoclasm of the atheistically driven culture and/or government will no longer even tolerate the presence the chapel, church, or synagogue, destroying them or converting them to serve state purposes.

The remaining faithful are driven underground, only to be persecuted, arrested, tortured, murdered.

Unfortunately, after the iconoclasm of atheism has rid the culture of all public and private images of God and vestiges of belief, atheism realizes that millions of images of God still exist:

in the eyes of the innocent the image of the Creator is still visible.

At which point atheism, with demonic fury, reveals itself for what it truly is: Demonic. And the atheism kills with demonic fury:

Atheism always kills the innocent eventually. Its the only way for atheism to destroy all images of God on earth.

The proof is in the numbers...atheistic regimes have killed hundreds of millions of innocents over the last hundred years. Men are far safer in Christian, Jewish, and even Muslim cultures than in any atheistic culture known to history.

That's right: Atheism is far more dangerous than any theocracy.

[satchmodog9]

bump

[Polycarp IV]

I started another thread, so you could add it to your list: Atheism Kills

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[NYer]

Persecution can arise from the state, the police or military, extreme organisations, mobs, paramilitary groups, or representatives of other religions.

Last Saturday, the Maronite Church Saint's Calendar recognized the martyrdom of the July 10 - Feast Day of The Three Massabki Brothers - Martyrs at Damascus . When I brought this to the attention of some Lebanese parishioners, they simply shrugged their shoulders. One pulled me aside and 'brought me up to date'. He told me of the daily persecution and murder of christians who live in those countries now occupied by Muslims. "Three martyrs?", he said, is nothing compared to the dozens who sacrifice their lives daily in those parts of the world, defending Christ.

Please remember and pray for those who are persecuted for their faith, not only in the Middle East, but also in Africa and the Orient. We are still fortunate to live in a country that recognizes religous tolerance. It is only a matter of time before that gate is closed. May God have mercy on all our souls!.

[qam1]

Thank you for demonstrating my points #1 and #2 and the hypocrisy of this article so well

Gee, Such vicious and hate filled attacks against other groups and you wonder why people are hostile towards Christianity and are leaving it in droves.

But I'm sorry your arguments are flawed.

1) The only reason Stalin was able to kill more people than say a Calvin or Constantine was because a) He had more people to kill and b) he had better weapons (You can mow dozens down at a time with a machine gun but you can only burn so many people a day on the stake). Give Calvin, Constantine, Cromwell, Luther the same technology and population that Stalin had the results would have been the same if not worse. Give any of those guys nuclear weapons and none of us would be here right now.

2) If you want to play the numbers game, According to this very Christian site the number of people killed in the name of Christianity was around 17 million. Well Saddam's bath party only killed 1-2 million, So I guess using your logic we can conclude that Christianity since it killed more people is more evil than the Baath party.

3) If Atheism leads to murder why is the murder rate in the Atheist European countries less than the very Catholic South American countries?  Why is the murder rate by Atheist European leaders of today less than the Christian European of the Dark ages 

4) From 1991 to 2001, The Number of the non-religious doubled in number while at the same time the number calling themselves Christians declined by 10%, this decline in Christianity is especially seen in young people. If Atheism lead to murder like you say why has the violent crime rate declined and the juvenile murder rate fall by 70%  during this period? According to you as Christianity fades the murder rate should go up, but not only is the murder rate not going up in fact the opposite is happening.