The Church of Universal COEXISTence

Gates of Vienna ^ | 28 Mar, 2016 | Baron Bodissey

[MtnClimber]

A woman named Dawn sent us the following disturbing information about a church she used to attend. She’s asked that her anonymity be preserved, so I’ve edited out anything that might indicate where she lives and which church is referred to.

This sort of “educational” material can only gain traction where there is widespread ignorance about the history and doctrines of Islam. Disinformation flourishes among well-meaning but ill-informed people. This is why websites such as Gates of Vienna, Vlad Tepes, Tundra Tabloids, The Religion of Peace, Politically Incorrect, Snaphanen, Jihad Watch, and Pamela Geller exist — to provide an education about Islam that is otherwise sorely lacking.

Here’s what Dawn had to say:

For the past four years, a mainline church I used to attend has been opening their hall to Muslims to gather for Friday prayers. Since most of the congregation are elderly, no one has complained. The imam who leads the Friday prayers has run a few Q&A sessions for people interested in Islam, also in the church hall, and has left booklets there explaining an airbrushed version of Islam.

This same imam has podcasts that used to be online (but seem to have disappeared) where he preaches to fellow Muslims in a very different tone, frequently calling his fellow non-Muslim citizens “racists” and “bigots.” When I finally spoke up and suggested that this is our opportunity to open their hearts and minds to the teachings of Christianity, I was met with expressions of shock and indignation.

[MtnClimber]

Why are we being conditioned to be ashamed of Christianity and to feel criticizing islam is somehow racist?

[SubMareener]

Revelation 3
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write this:
“’The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this:
15 “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot.
16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
17 For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.
20 “’”Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.
21 I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.
22”’”Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

* [3:14-22] The letter to Laodicea reprimands the community for being lukewarm (Rev 3:15-16), but no particular faults are singled out. Their material prosperity is contrasted with their spiritual poverty, the violet tunics that were the source of their wealth with the white robe of baptism, and their famous eye ointment with true spiritual perception (Rev 3:17-18). But Christ’s chastisement is inspired by love and a desire to be allowed to share the messianic banquet with his followers in the heavenly kingdom (Rev 3:19-21).

http://www.usccb.org/bible/revelation/3

[dp0622]

because the crusades. or something.

[allendale]

Gullible, delusional people were once on the margin in America. However it should never be forgotten that Obama was elected and reelected by a majority the American people.

[nathanbedford]

Why are we being conditioned to be ashamed of Christianity and to feel criticizing islam is somehow racist?

Because both the left and Islam have a common goal which is the destruction of Western civilization and the imposition of their worldview which in each instance is essentially authoritarian.

The Frankfurt School promulgated the so-called "critical theory" which has evolved into a reflex to discredit every value of our epistemology, our culture, our faith and, by extension, those atomic building blocks upon which a civil society is constructed. In other words, if you tear down the church, the family, the role of the father in the family, patriotism, the military which supports the nation, the educational system etc. you can so demoralize society and render it so insecure that you can then impose your world view.

Nathan Bedford's first Maxim of American politics, all politics in America is not local but ultimately racial, speaks to the idea that race is used not just to win elections or silence opponents but to render the whole country illegitimate.

So if we can't trust our religion, and we are damned as racists we are rendered utterly insecure and vulnerable and either Islam or the left will eagerly fill the vacuum and we will not like their methods. Ultimately these two competing worldviews must struggle until one or the other is exterminated but right now their interests are parallel.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Bookmark

[dr_lew]

Well, how about this? ( From Wikipedia )

These statements, however, were contradicted by Union survivors, as well as the letter of a Confederate soldier who graphically recounted a massacre. Achilles Clark, a soldier with the 20th Tennessee cavalry, wrote to his sister immediately after the battle:

The slaughter was awful. Words cannot describe the scene. The poor, deluded, negroes would run up to our men, fall upon their knees, and with uplifted hands scream for mercy, but they were ordered to their feet and then shot down. I, with several others, tried to stop the butchery, and at one time had partially succeeded, but General Forrest ordered them shot down like dogs and the carnage continued. Finally our men became sick of blood and the firing ceased.

[boatbums]

Those coexist bumper stickers we see on cars these days show just how clueless some really are. The emblem for Islam is the first of the bunch followed by a cross, star of David, etc. If they only realized that Islam believes it is justified in eliminating every other religion even to the point of murder of those who refuse to convert, then it just might dawn on them that there can BE NO coexistence with Islam. That moon and star emblem would gobble up all the others given the chance.

Souls are won to Christianity through love and the drawing of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He said His sheep would hear His voice and follow Him and He gives to them eternal life and they shall never perish.

[nathanbedford]

This anecdotal account does not depart factually from my conclusions as set forth in the about page except where the soldier, Achilles Clark, alleges that Forrest ordered them shot. Was this letter writer one of the Confederate troops under Forest's command or was he one of the Confederate deserters who might well have been shot? I have concluded that Forrest was remiss in not controlling his men but I had no evidence that he actually ordered murders.

My summation is as follows:

It does not appear that Forrest himself personally participated in the murders nor is it clear that he ordered any of the murders but it does seem, again by the weight of the evidence, that he was derelict in his duty to control his men who clearly went into a frenzy at the apparition of colored troops.

There have been more than one evidentiary hearing conducted and, as I said, they have concluded both ways. You do not supply any citation for this Wikipedia account which does say "these statements, however, were contradicted by…" What are the statements that were contradicted?

[dr_lew]

Well, if one admits that troops under his command committed these atrocities, it’ all the same to me. I’m not one to judge, in all sincerity.

Still, I wonder how such a figure as Nathan Bedford, with avowedly racist doctrines and belief, could be held up as an exemplar, as you seem to be doing. That’s a lot to swallow.

[nathanbedford]

Have you read the whole of the about page which presents the argument for using the name and avatar?

[dr_lew]

Well, I hadn’t read the “about page”, but now I have. It seems to me a very ambiguous justification of his memory, which no doubt includes many positive qualities.

I can only think that it is a measure of the moment of those events that they should weigh on us so heavily after 150 years.

[nathanbedford]

I suppose this observation is rather curious coming from someone who has a great deal of difficulty supporting Trump in the primaries (although I have committed to do so if it comes to that in the general) to wit: many Trump supporters justify their man's statements which so many find offensive as a healthy antidote to political correctness which is a virus killing our discourse.

I confess to a small amount of that sentiment concerning the avatar and name of Nathan Bedford Forrest. I am puckish enough to like the idea that it pisses off liberals. And I further like the idea that free speech is a bit like muscles, they both must be exercised to avoid atrophy.

I have taken care to try to avoid defending Forrest as a matter of relativism, I think I have succeeded but only with mixed results. At the end of the argument I come to the conclusion that we simply cannot let liberals choose our heroes anymore then we can let them write our dictionaries.

Thank you for taking the time to consider the about page.

[Bryanw92]

>>Why are we being conditioned to be ashamed of Christianity and to feel criticizing islam is somehow racist?

I expect the secular world to tell us that. I left the United Methodist Church because it is taught there.

[Old Yeller]

As long as Islam is included in the equation, co-existence is impossible.