A challenge: Throughout history, members of almost every belief system have been persecuted for their beliefs. For that matter, NON-believers have been persecuted for their non-beliefs as well. I acknowledge that persecution of Christians occurred in the early days of that movement at the hands of the Roman empire. Today, there are asian and african countries where Christians are STILL persecuted. It is unjust and should not occur.
Having said that, the word 'persecution' MEANS severe mistreatment, denial of rights, physical harm, and similar things. It doesn't include simply having people DISAGREE with you, it doesn't include having someone state a belief that is counter to your beliefs, and it DOES NOT include the fact that the rest of society will not play along with you FORCING your belief on them no matter what you believe the 'Great Commission' requires of you.
There is a subset of members here, almost ALL of whom profess to be Christian, who use the words 'attack' & 'persecute' at the drop of a hat when an objective evaluation of the associated incidents would reveal that they simply didn't get to be the only one to express a view, where they MISUNDERSTOOD someone else's comment and jumped RIGHT to mapping it to their martyr complex, etc. IMO, that type of victim-mentality is NOT appropriate, and from a Christian history perspective it also, IMO, belittles the sacrifices of those who HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH.
One such incident happened last evening. Someone had asked for guidance from any fellow Christians here about some scripture because she was being 'persecuted' by someone who didn't believe the same as her. I didn't attempt to address her theological concerns, as i have nothing to offer her there, but i did give her some advice about dealing with the bozo and standing by her beliefs. She considered it acceptable and thanked me. Someone ELSE, also not strictly a Christian, basically told her a similar message.
One of the Christians who was trying to help her interpret the scriptures, as she had asked someone Christian to do, misread the other person's post, and followed up with a sarcastic reply, and yet another charge that there's too much *hate* here, etc. etc. I advised him that i didn't see that the other person's comment was directed at him. He rethought it, agreed, and retracted the complaint. I appreciate and respect that he was man enough to admit the error and retract the comments, but for ME this incident is part of an ONGOING larger trend here that i would like to challenge my Christian brothers and sisters here to examine for themselves and decide if this is how they wish to be viewed by those of us who are NOT Christian.
I've been accused of 'attacking people' here, and i'm tired of that insult. If i get frustrated with the people who do it, there may come a time where i will respond to the "YOu are going to hell" type comments with my OWN wish for them. At least i'd be reacting to an ACTUAL insult instead of a PERCEIVED one. In EVERY case i've asked my accuser to show me where i ATTACKED anyone, and not one of them has been able to do so, yet they also don't withdraw the insult.IMO, that shows a lack of integrity and spiritual maturity, yet those very same people wonder why *i'm* not impressed with the fruits of their faith. I'm tired of this crap, and i'm tired of being told i cant RESPOND to public posts or being accused of having some personal vendetta against Christians when my criticism is specifically focused on their UNJUST criticism of ME or their statements of THEIR beliefs as if they are universally applicable to ALL of us (to which we have EVERY right to object), and it is ONLY Christians doing that. For those who think that i have some personal 'crusade' against Christians, note that my WIFE is a Christian and she has both my love and respect. The thing is, she doesn't use her faith as an excuse to be a self-righteous, arrogant, whiny, victim-mentality ass.
Disagreement is neither an attack, nor is it hate. It's simply DISAGREEMENT. Those of you among our Christian members who HONESTLY believe that there's only one spiritual path, and i DO know that this is a BASIC tenet of some peoples's version of Christianity, are NEVER going to be totally comfortable with the ULC doctrine that this idea is NOT UNIVERSALLY TRUE for all people. So as long as you insist on being a member of the ULC, which is ALSO your right, you will meet with people who don't share your view EVERY day, and you need to get past your thinly veiled belief that we are all just waiting for YOU to straighten us out and lead us back to 'your savior'. MANY of the people here are those who have been VICTIMS of abusive Christian denominations, and i can assure you that THEY are not going to allow YOUR view of what Christianity is outweigh their own experiences. If you can't deal with those who don't agree, there ARE places on the web where you won't have to encounter it. This is NOT one of them.
The next time one of you decides you've been 'attacked', or 'pesecuted', i challenge you to stop for a minute and REREAD the post that you feel was an attack, and SHOW evidence that there were personal comments against you, or an ACTUAL denial of your right to believe as you do. Just because somebody doesn't believe as you do, and expresses their own opinion, that is NOT the equivalent of them *ATTACKING* you.
