I received a question from a reader of my blog today, asking why I spell ‘c’hristian this way…and here is my answer…
I find the behavior, intolerance and beliefs of the extreme evangelicals to be contrary to Christianity. The teachings are antithetical
to those of love, inclusion and compassion. The Dominionist Movement insults mainstream Christians the way the “new” Republican Party insults Republicans of just two decades ago.
Therefore, I cannot bring myself to reference them as Christians, but rather ‘c’hristians. For that matter, I should be consistent and reference today’s republicans as ‘r’epublicans out of deference to those that are embarrassed and ashamed of what has happened to their Party.
I am not anti-Christian, I am anti-’c'hristian. There is a huge difference!
The ‘c’hristian extremists, those I have been identifying under the umbrella term Dominionists, make numerous claims – not the least of which is a devout belief in the “inerrant” interpretation of the Bible. In other words, that each and every word in the Bible is without error, the Word of God. They go on to criticize and attack others, including mainstream clergy, who view the Bible as a teaching resource about the love of God, and who critically interpret the Bible in search of the greater message of kindness and inclusion – rather than punishment, fear and control.
While shouting down any opponent to their version of ‘c’hristianity and proclaiming their “inerrant” biblical beliefs, the Bible they use is the New International Version, or NIV. This re-write of the Bible was first published by Zondervan Christian Publishing in 1978. It was recently announced that the Council of Biblical Translators have approved yet another version to be released in 2011.
Question? How can they reconcile an error-free version of the Bible, yet continously re-invent their own interpretation of God’s Word?
I will be writing more on this…
I blame mainstream Christianity for not repudiating these suckers as heretics long ago, thus allowing them to continue to masquerade as Christians and suck more believers into their cesspool of fear and hate.
And I love the way they say the Bible must be taken literally, then go on to interpret Revelations in all sorts of weird and horrible ways. Seriously, none of them believe a beast with four heads is actually going to rise from the sea; they all take it as given that it represents their latest evil du jour, whether it's the Russians or the Arabs or their black president. So much for taking every word literally!
Possible Answer: The same way they reconcile an ierror-free version of the Constitution of this Nation while continuously reinventing their interpretation thereof?!?
Just a thought.
Nah… they don't believe in the Constitution. To them, their theocracy trumps all existing governments, and they NEED to set aside the Constitution to work their masterplan, because it stands *firmly in the way*.
Throughout the article, you spell Dominionists with an upper-case D.
Why not simply make a distinction between Christians who do follow the teachings of "love, inclusion and compassion" and Dominionists who don't?
That way, you'll be clear that you are making a specific distinction, rather than a simple typographic error.
It is similar to the distinction between a "teabagger" and a "Teabagger"….
I completely agree with Leah's statements and look forward to her future comments. I'd like to add a few of my own irritations.
1. insisting on reading the Bible as literal, except when the text is obviously figurative. Who gets to decide that? I'd say our current level of knowledge in biology, geology, astronomy, and physics makes for a figurative reading of the first chapter of Genesis, yet they refuse to allow knowledge and reason to prevail over literalism.
2. cherrypicking the Bible to justify laissez-faire capitalism, homophobia, racism, & feminism.
3. believing that sinning is not really sinning when you're one of the 'chosen.'
correction to above – meant anti-feminism
They not only misinterpret and cherry pick the bible, they make things up.
I was talking with a very knowledgeable friend yesterday about this. She's studied all the major religions, her father was a Baptist minister, and she was raised knowing the scriptures backward & forward. She's one who escaped. She visited our local mega church with some evangelical acquaintances recently out of curiousity. She said they had all the bells & whistles – band, flashing lights, mega screen etc. After the pastor gave a prayer, he announced a very special guest. Some guy who's supposedly big in the evangelical circles (she couldn't remember his name) who got up to wild applause & delivered "the message." He ranted & raved & misquoted the scriptures frequently through out and finished with a standing ovation. My friend sat there stunned, unable to believe what she had just heard. After the service her friends were raving about the man. She said, "but he continually misquoted the scriptures and even made some passages up" and asked where he had gotten his divinity degree. They immediately shut down & the wife said defiantly "You DON'T need to know the gospel to preach! Totally blind and dumber than dirt and they are highly educated people. OMG just continues to boggle the mind!
Thanks Leah!
"reference today’s republicans as ‘r’epublicans out of deference to those that are embarrassed and ashamed of what has happened to their Party."
My father-in-law, a long-time Republican, may still describe himself as such, but he's so angry at the party, that he no longer makes contributions. The last time he made a donation to the party, they came back and named him the "New York State Chairman of the Republican Party Fundraising Effort," a title they obviously gave to anyone who coughed up more than $1. He is so pissed off at GWBush's lies and Cheney's shenanigans that he's now (almost) a Democrat.
That writing has been revised since the very beginning. What is so surprising now? Nothing new here.
I've taken to the term Xian. They cross all social and political boundaries to enforce standards they don't practice; they cross off anyone who disagrees with their interpretation of the bible — or knows the actual scripture they are mangling; and they cross off any responsibility for self-examination or anti-social treatment of anyone who is "other".
In fifty years, I've never been cheated or abused by anyone who wasn't a hard-line, righteous Xian. In the last ten years, I've learned to back slowly away from anyone who professes themself a good Xian — and been far better for being wary around such people.
Hey cat – I'm glad you brought this up. I've heard many a fundie go off on a diatribe about Xian and Xmas because it takes "Christ" out of the equation. Seems to me that dominionists do a good job of this all by themselves. Where is the Christian message in today's RR, or right wing Republican party? Spelling out Christian is necessary, but behaving it isn't?
Presumably their 'error free' bible just omits the bits they don't like – such as love they neighbour, forgive those who trespass against you, blessed are the meek – and leaves in all the old testamnet genocide, hatred and prejudices? Still it will be quite short – the first few books of the old testament, daniel, Jeremiah's lamentations, the anti women/ anti gay bits from St Paul and Revelations. Good reading eh?
I think Richard nailed it!
One of the most violent books ever written! The Old Testament. Hands down. But you are correct. Their cherry-picking is primarily from the Old Testament giving them not only permission, but a mandate to HATE. As for the New Testament?. Very slim pickings from there by the Dominionists…WAY to much love, compassion and tolerance there! And Paul had some mommy issues. He and Freud would have been great pals.
I think they should be called "Biblicans", but they truly don't believe the Bible, or even want to know about it, except for the sections that allow them to hate others.
If the Bible is the inerrant word of a god, and that god promises to heal his followers, why does any follower have a doctor? Indeed, why on earth would any follower become a doctor? Likely for the same reason they don't stone their Applebee's waitress to death after brunch on the Sabbath. They are unabashed hypocrites.
Sorry it took me a bit to respond…but you are spot on! Hypocrisy is the base line for these 'c'hristians, and that is indeed why I will not call them Christians. Biblicans is VERY descriptive and the urban definition of this is "those who fail to see the true meaning of Jesus Christ". …and "Biblican members of the Right Wing"…
Thank you for pointing that out and I think we should use that phrase in our ongoing discussion here…as well as post a quick blog adding that to our growing Lexicon. And – yes – I am all for teaching evolution in Sunday School…
Wow, christmas is really just around the bend! Thanks for the reminder and have Happy Holiday! Awesome Post BTW!
Thank you….