Fundamentalists Losing Favor with Public <barf alert>

The Data Lounge ^ | Friday, 6 December 2002 | -- C. Barillas, Editor

[doc30]

Fundamentalists Losing Favor with Public
Friday, 6 December 2002

WASHINGTON -- The American Family Association, a far right lobbying group in Washington, released results from a recent survey that shows mainstream Americans see evangelical Christians as one of the least likeable groups in the country.

Small wonder

Researchers from the Barna survey asked respondents how they felt about evangelicals, born-again Christians, ministers, and other groups of people in society. According to the survey, evangelicals came in tenth out of eleven, narrowly beating out prostitutes.

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Below lawyers and just above prostitutes.

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Fellow evangelical George Barna, president of the Barna Research Group, said religious conservatives "have a lot of work to do" in combating the general public's negative views.

Speaking to distressed members of the AFA, he said, "We may not be 'evil' people, we may not be 'bad' people -- we may be completely loving and wonderful. But somehow we are being perceived by non-Christians in America as a group of people who are not particularly loving [and] not particularly generous, kind, or understanding."

Particularly galling to the AFA constituency was the country's more open embrace of gay men and lesbians. Gay people, a group conservatives frequently slander and oppose politically, ranked significantly higher in the survey than evangelicals.

"Whether that's because the media portray evangelicals in a negative light or because [religious conservatives have] earned that 'badge of dishonor,' if you will, we've got to figure that out," said Barna, "we have to address that."

Affirming results from other studies, the Barna survey also found the more highly educated non-evangelicals are, the less likely they are to have a positive view of fundamentalist Christians.

-- C. Barillas, Editor

[Phantom Lord]

There is nothing wrong with strong christian beliefs. But when your beliefs including empowering the government to put people to death for engaging in oral sex, forcing unmarried people who have sex to marry, and putting people to death for speaking ill of Jesus you have gone beyond having strong christian beliefs and entered the world of the Taliban and its thinking.

[CatoRenasci]

The problem of a negative public perception of evangelicals, or fundamentalists if you will, goes back much further than the past 50 years of liberalism.

Educated opinion has been hostile to fundamentalism since the mid-19th century in the US, at the earliest. Indeed, many would say since the Englightenment in the 18th century. Both Roman Catholicism and many Protestant denominations in the 19th century were hostile to science and burgeoning biblical scholarship (the 'higher criticism') and biblical archeology. Hence, Andrew Dickson White, the first president of Cornell University, could write A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology at the end of the 19th century. (a classic)

By the end of the first third of the 20th century, fundamentalism reached its nadir in public esteem -- with the spectacle of William Jennings Bryan flayed by Clarence Darrow at the Scopes "Monkey" Trial and such revivalists and 'new evangalists' as Aimee Semple McPherson, with popular writers giving us the likes of Elmer Gantry.

No, the problem is ongoing, and simple public relations won't solve it.

[drjimmy]

From the article: "Speaking to distressed members of the AFA, he said, "We may not be 'evil' people, we may not be 'bad' people -- we may be completely loving and wonderful. But somehow we are being perceived by non-Christians in America as a group of people who are not particularly loving [and] not particularly generous, kind, or understanding."

From Quix: "GIVEN 8 YEARS OF DILLDO AND SHIRLLERY..."

If this is how you "call Jesus Lord and submit to His priorities," it shouln't be any surprise that evangelicals are not viewed very positively.

[Jael]

Luke 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23  Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

[xzins]

Conservative Christians are continually attacked in the media. They are one of the few groups that it is OK to attack in this "tolerant" culture we call home. It's also still OK to make fun of the elderly and fat people....although fat people are taking a stand and will probably see toleration turned their way also. (Especially if the MacDonald's fat suit wins.)

The reason it is impossible for the "tolerant" CULTURE to tolerate conservative christians is because we teach and preach an exclusivistic message. In other words, we believe that it's silly to "tolerate" everything under the sun. We call some things right, some things wrong, and some things "sin."

But you will never hear that explained on the evening news or on the latest comedy sitcom. Therefore, people are fed a continual diet of contempt for conservative christians.

And, rightfully, real Christians consider the culture to be corrupt and sinful.

[boop]

Wow! On what planet to Christians want to "put people to death" for having oral sex? Are you really this ignorant, or do you ever disagree with the media caricature of Christians?

[E Rocc]

The American Family Association, a far right lobbying group in Washington, released results from a recent survey that shows mainstream Americans see evangelical Christians as one of the least likeable groups in the country.

Perhaps it would help if their organization wasn't led by a walking parody like Donald "Mighty Mouse is doing coke" Wildmon, who sometimes seems to crib his ideas from the Landover Bapist site.

-Eric

[philosofy123]

Evangalist on TV typically look like pimps and hookers. They need to fire their hair stylists and robe consultants. Their scream preaching is retarded! No wonder they rate one notch above hookers?

[artios]

Brookhaven - you said it perfectly and Corinthians fits the situation like a hand fits in a glove.

I would only add the following regarding what unveliers think of Christians - for that matter what the gentile/arab world thinks of the US and Israel for their historical association with the Messiah.

Psalm 2:

1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

They see the freedom in Christ as bondage. They see the perfect law of liberty is restraining them - and in this sense they are right - the Word of God restrains man and government from doing evil.

[general_re]

On what planet to Christians want to "put people to death" for having oral sex?

Slow down. PL was speaking about one particular person here, not all Christians. And yes, that one particular person does advocate exactly that....

[RAT Patrol]

There is nothing wrong with strong christian beliefs. But when your beliefs including empowering the government to put people to death for engaging in oral sex, forcing unmarried people who have sex to marry, and putting people to death for speaking ill of Jesus

I've never heard him say all of that.

[logos]

But when your beliefs including empowering the government to put people to death for engaging in oral sex, forcing unmarried people who have sex to marry, and putting people to death for speaking ill of Jesus you have gone beyond having strong christian beliefs and entered the world of the Taliban and its thinking.

Those are mighty strong words of accusation. In fact, they're so strong that if they are in any way untrue they amount to slander.

Prove your words, Phantom Lord, or shut up.

[Salvation]

Amazing

[maeng]

Uh, where in America has this EVER happened??? And what Christian person in America, right, left or in between has ever espoused this belief of putting people to death for not believing as they do????? I fear you on on the wrong Continent. It is the left that is preaching intolerence! They slam anyone who does not agree with them on homosexuality, marxism, socialism, abortion, etc. with any kind of hatred they can.

[glory]

Yeah, I'm going to believe a website whose latest survey has poll participants who nearly 70% think that discussion of gay and lesbian headed households should begin below 4th grade--32% thinking it should be introduced in PRESCHOOL. No bias on that site eh?
I'm curious of the rundown of this list though. How many other groups were presented to "mainstream American's" to rank? How about overtly homosexual males, pedophiles, Muslims, athiests, liberal blacks, illegal Mexicans...were any of those groups singled out to be ranked? Or was that too politically incorrect for them?

[ksen]

But when your beliefs including empowering the government to put people to death for engaging in oral sex, forcing unmarried people who have sex to marry, and putting people to death for speaking ill of Jesus you have gone beyond having strong christian beliefs and entered the world of the Taliban and its thinking.

I'm sure you would have no trouble documenting where such ideas are being promoted by born again Christians.

[RAT Patrol]

Okay, LOL, on TV evangelists you have a point. (Not all of them, but too many of them.)

[maeng]

Agreed!! But in American it is the LEFT and their spread of hatred and intolerence of anyone who does not agree with them; i.e., abortion, homosexuality, socialism, etc.

[Phantom Lord]

Wow! On what planet to Christians want to "put people to death" for having oral sex? Are you really this ignorant, or do you ever disagree with the media caricature of Christians?

Go read FF578's posts. He makes it abundently clear that is what he believes and what he wants to empower the government to do. All under the guise of his christians beliefs. Oh, speak ill of Jesus and you should be put to death too.

[RAT Patrol]

I've never heard him say it. Are you sure that's what he meant?