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

[AndrewC]

Conservative Christians are continually attacked in the media.

It comes with the territory. It is nothing new and shows that the job is being done. And it has been this way for around 2000 years.

Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Mat 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

[Jael]

What does he want to impose?

[billbears]

This poll is interesting because it is the exact opposite of what is happening when people are choosing a church. The "nicer" moderate churches are losing members, and closing churches. OTOH, the "mean" conservative churches are growing. In fact, the more conservative a church is, the faster it seems to grow

I would agree with that. I've seen some larger more 'inclusive' churches in my area (that BTW have stagnant if not shrinking membership), but after discussing with some of the attendees what they believed I can't see that it's anything more than a Sunday morning brunch. They rarely quote from the Bible and instead tend to use arguments from the religion of PC

[glory]

Their considered "mainstream Americans" even in some FR posters minds. Course it's rare that our resident variety of athiests and libertarians have such scathing reviews of their cousin leftists when it comes to their hateful views of religious folks. Philisophical views with man as the center are much more radical and dangerous than some misguided soul on the corner giving the radical gays a bit of their own hateful speech back.

[steve50]

The fundies have a bad habit of confusing sin with crime,imo. I don't remember Christ running to the Pharisee's demanding everything/everybody who didn't agree with him be declared a criminal.

[Jael]

Amen, good post.

[glory]

Any chance you'd want to post that on their forum on the article to set the record straight?

[xzins]

Excellent post, Andrew. Thanks.

[RAT Patrol]

I will check it out later, PL. Or if you find it will you flag me? I'll be back later. Thanks.

[billbears]

I attack his ideas, thoughts, and the government he wants to impose on America.

You mean the majority of the moral positions held by the men that wrote the document upon which this nation is based? Good grief, we can't have that now can we?!? We just need the document to condone our positions to do whatever the heck we want, we don't need the positions behind the document!!

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

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

By born again Christians is not what he is talking about. He is referring to a few cornballs who claim to be born again Christians and speaking idiocy.

And, yes, I have seen these types of sentiments espoused on this website.

And he does have a point. Just a few morons like that can provide fodder for those who wish to disparage all born again Christians.

[glory]

BTW, did you notice how they replaced the word non-Christians with mainstream Americans? Someone needs to take this person to task for their manipulation of results and who was polled.

[RAT Patrol]

Wow! Great verses.

[general_re]

Are you sure that's what he meant?

It's kind of hard to read this any other way...

[Jael]

There is just that small little matter of 'Thou shall not...." to consider.

[glory]

Which in today's world means to not practice your Christian faith at all if it means it may actually come into play in your political views. In other words, Christians are to have no voice in this country. That's the kind of respect people expect. Voice for all unless of course if you happen to be Christian than keep your big yap shut so you don't offend anyone else.

[xzins]

There is no iteration of conservative christianity that has been acceptable. If you go to those who don't involve themselves in politics, they are pilloried. If you go to those who do, they are pilloried.

It is a deeper spiritual fear that drives the culture to despise conservative christians. It has nothing to do with their involvement or lack thereof.

We remind them of a "heaven to gain and a hell to avoid."

[RAT Patrol]

The fundies have a bad habit of confusing sin with crime,imo. I don't remember Christ running to the Pharisee's demanding everything/everybody who didn't agree with him be declared a criminal. Actually, Christ stopped the stoning of a woman for adultery. You know, "He who is without sin cast the first stone.."

[Zack Nguyen]

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.

Do we have work to do? What if the hatred of the world is due to the faithfulness of our witness? If the world hates us because we are jerks, there is no honor in that. But if the world hates us because we are faithful in proclaiming the truth, then bring it on.

[glory]

Oh give me a break, there are plenty of control freaks on the left, and with the help of people like you, they are winning because you buy their idea of "freedom" and what they are willing to put people to the point of a gun for.