Mainstream Christians must stand up to the Religious Right

[SecularMotion]

In August, fundamentalist preacher Dr. Michael Brown organized a regimen of red shirted Bible-thumpers to infiltrate Charlotte’s gay pride event. Hundreds of zealots confronted and harassed festival attendees with their arrogant slogan “God Has A Better Way.”

The hatred and religious bigotry was appalling, but not surprising. What truly bothers me, however, was the lack of mainstream Christians standing up and speaking out against such fanatical behavior. Virtually every time I write about the Religious Right I’m reminded by the faithful that “not all Christians are like that.”

Of course, this is true and some of the most dedicated activists I have worked with are people of faith. Last week, in fact, I teamed up with Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church to host a week of educational seminars designed to counter an “ex-gay” conference in Houston.

Still, the number of mainstream Christians fighting the hate campaigns of the Religious Right is disappointing. With thousands of churches, millions of members and a vested interest in fighting back against religious extremism, they have consistently underachieved and failed to reach their potential.

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/09/mainstream-christians-must-stand-up-to-the-religious-right/

[gratuitous]

1. We do

In hundreds, nay thousands of ways that never quite make it on to the evening news. Perhaps tolerance and acceptance need more cheap thrills to get the attention that bigotry waving a cross or a Bible does.

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. Perhaps tolerance and acceptance of bigots isn't working

Maybe you peeps need to stand up and be counted instead of hiding like sheep.

[LanternWaste]

7. In other words, force our opinions down someone's throat.

In other words, force our opinions down someone's throat. Which seems to be a dramatic criticism otherwise. :shrug:

[bighughdiehl]

2. But these days....

The Mainstream Christians ARE
the religious right.

[mitchtv]

3. Fat chance

While there are a few who have or will stand up, the mainstream Xians long ago abdicated the pulpit and meekly sat in the back while the nut balls took over their religion.Religion is a danger to democracy.

[Ragrum]

5. This is the hypocrisy organized Christian religion:

This is the hypocrisy organized Christian religion: when confronted with other Christians behaving badly they turn to forgiveness because they know in their heart they do not follow the teachings of Christ. This is the sad failing of a great movement…They could end war the next Sunday if they looked themselves in the mirror.

[Odin2005]

6. "Mainstream Christians" are too busy bashing Atheists.

[pintobean]

8. Uh-huh

:eyes:

[LanternWaste]

9. I also enjoy cooking puppies in corn oil, and washing it down with the blood of heathens.

I also enjoy cooking live puppies in corn oil, and washing it down with the bile milked from foreign heathens. I imagine we often like to pretend what other people do...

[Goblinmonger]

10. Google "New Atheist" and see the hysterics

Plenty of cases of the vapors by mainstream Christians at the boldness of the "new atheists."

[HappyMe]

11. Huh. I mistakenly thought that this

thread was going to be an actual discussion....




Imagine my surprise!

[Nye Bevan]

12. 230 million Christians in the USA.

About 400 red-shirted nutters at the demo.

I guess most Christians are not like that.

[dembotoz]

13. collection plate envy

mainstream churchs feel under attack for memebers from the fundies.

lots of the mega churchs seem to be fundie

pastors tone down their actions to fit what they think will sell

and right now it seems that batshit crazy christianty sells.

[Bragi]

14. This isn't a doctrinal dispute

The hatred of American Xians for others isn't a doctrinal dispute with other Xians, it's a social-political problem for everyone.

[noel711]

15. The comments here are the issue I have with DU

Its far too easy to blame 'mainstream' Christians for the
bigotry of the fundamentalists,
and consider all 'mainstream' folks as athiest bashers.

I didn't get the memo.. from all of you,
asking me if I endorsed the fundies,
nor did you call and ask me if I beat up athiests.

I'm a bit too busy educating my people about
what it means to care for others,
and helping to feed the hungry.

Stop painting with a broad brush.
Its obvious from your comments that you don't know too
many progressive Christians,
I haven't seen you sitting in the pews of my congregation
recently, nor have you requested copies of my sermons...

YOu don't know what we do; take a look at the real
world; we know the media loves the nastiness of
the fundies, but there's more going on out there,
and most of us don't care for publicity.

[ThomWV]

16. I thought the Religious Right were mainstream Christians.

When right wing bullshit is being preached in the churches, where jingoism replaces religiosity, then how is it anything other than mainstream christianity?

[kctim]

17. Sorry

But it has less to do with being Christian and more to do with the fact that the majority of people simply don't give a damn if gays can marry, have a parade, marriage rights etc... or not.
People aren't going to speak out against something if they don't care what the results end up being.

[Fire Walk With Me]

18. Promote the peace and love and charity aspects. Republicans hate that.