Converting U.S. Christians to Christianity Is Key to Iraq, Not Evangelizing Iraqis

[RedEarth]

I've been reading a book on non-violence and thought this article tied in very well.

Robert Parham
12-29-06
Converting Muslims to Christianity is not the key to stability in Iraq, converting American Christians to Christianity is. Before Christmas, the blogosphere drew attention to a Republican congressman who said that converting Iraqi Muslims to Christianity was the key to ending the violent chaos in that country.

The offline Concord Standard and Mount Pleasant Times quoted Congressman Robin Hayes (R-N.C.), who told the local Rotary Club that Iraqi stability depended on "spreading the message of Jesus Christ, the message of peace on earth, good will towards men."

Noting that the war had to be won, he said, "Everything depends on everyone learning about the birth of the Savior." Hayes mixed evangelical missionary zeal with U.S. military policy, voicing a softer version of the crusader vision from the trash-mouthed Ann Coulter, who said, "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity."

........

The problem with this view is American Christians themselves. In America everyone knows about the birth of Jesus Christ and the accompanying message of peace on Earth. That knowledge is escapable, especially at Christmas. But that knowledge hasn't changed the bloodlust of the Christian Right, who see America as the Christian nation that it is not and violence as a missionary strategy that it isn't.

The knowledge of Jesus Christ hasn't turned fundamentalists, evangelicals, Catholics, mainline Protestants and quasi-church attendees from their self-righteous commitment to holy war.

Robert Parham is executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics.

http://ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=8344

[Critters2]

1. Mainline Protestants are committed to Holy War?

Damn! Another memo I didn't get.


I smell flamebait.

[okasha]

2. Same memo

the Pope didn't get either, it would seem.