"Fundies" and Blech
Today is Tuesday, 7 September 2010.
One of the more interesting, and instructive, aspects of Glenn Blech’s recent political rally was the number of theologically-“conservative” Christians positively swooning every time he said the word, “God”.
While such Christians exist in many flavours, they usually share common ground in believing that knowledge of God and salvation come only through being “born again” in Jesus Christ. They Alone Know The Truth - No Others Need Apply – All Others Go to Hell. This means that Jews, Catholics and many other flavours of Christian, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Mormons, etc. are idol worshippers to be opposed, shunned, and when the Good Lord allows, Taken Care Of. Blech is a Mormon and therefore an Unbeliever.
Now, the so-called “Pilgrims” would have known what to do with such as Blech. They didn’t, of course, call themselves Pilgrims. Sometimes they called themselves Separatists, Believers, or simply, “Christians”, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were the only ones who deserved that title. They didn’t come to the “New World” for religious freedom.
The Pilgrims came because the apostates in England and Holland refused to recognize that only the “Pilgrims” had The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth, and therefore all must submit to Pilgrim rule. So, they moved to what would become Massachusetts and, after murdering enough Native Americans to make themselves comfortable, turned on one another.
Yes, the Pilgrims would have known what to do with Blech, and they had the rope to do it. So it’s passing strange that their theological descendants make common cause with a man whose core values they profess to believe are a straight and narrow road to eternal damnation, and who, by their lights, is a denier of Christ and hater of God.
One can only conclude that, in this case at least, their common extreme-right, nativist nationalist politics is more important than their religious differences. Odd behaviour for people who pride, nay, preen themselves on their exclusive holiness.
Once upon a time, the watchword of such Christians was found in II Corinthians 6.17: “Come out from among them, and be separate…”
It raises the question: who, or what, is truly their God?
One of the more interesting, and instructive, aspects of Glenn Blech’s recent political rally was the number of theologically-“conservative” Christians positively swooning every time he said the word, “God”.
While such Christians exist in many flavours, they usually share common ground in believing that knowledge of God and salvation come only through being “born again” in Jesus Christ. They Alone Know The Truth - No Others Need Apply – All Others Go to Hell. This means that Jews, Catholics and many other flavours of Christian, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Mormons, etc. are idol worshippers to be opposed, shunned, and when the Good Lord allows, Taken Care Of. Blech is a Mormon and therefore an Unbeliever.
Now, the so-called “Pilgrims” would have known what to do with such as Blech. They didn’t, of course, call themselves Pilgrims. Sometimes they called themselves Separatists, Believers, or simply, “Christians”, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were the only ones who deserved that title. They didn’t come to the “New World” for religious freedom.
The Pilgrims came because the apostates in England and Holland refused to recognize that only the “Pilgrims” had The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth, and therefore all must submit to Pilgrim rule. So, they moved to what would become Massachusetts and, after murdering enough Native Americans to make themselves comfortable, turned on one another.
Yes, the Pilgrims would have known what to do with Blech, and they had the rope to do it. So it’s passing strange that their theological descendants make common cause with a man whose core values they profess to believe are a straight and narrow road to eternal damnation, and who, by their lights, is a denier of Christ and hater of God.
One can only conclude that, in this case at least, their common extreme-right, nativist nationalist politics is more important than their religious differences. Odd behaviour for people who pride, nay, preen themselves on their exclusive holiness.
Once upon a time, the watchword of such Christians was found in II Corinthians 6.17: “Come out from among them, and be separate…”
It raises the question: who, or what, is truly their God?
posted by HH at 1:34 PM
2 Comments:
God is within them...
A truly revolutionary theological concept that if not exclusive to Christian theology, was nonetheless elevated into a primary element of faith among Christians.
This idea of the God within is a powerful construct. Like all power, the God/Devil is with the usage. (That with the greatest power for good also has the greatest power for evil - a bit of perverse yin/yang).
Without humility (a continual recognition that everything I know, is wrong - crediting the Firesigns), my affirmation after I have meditated/prayed that my beliefs are sound empowers me to impose my morality and belief system on all who may otherwise create danger for me and my family...
and that is where the skydiver hits the pavement.
Nativist? - you betcha.
Empowered? - how can I go wrong if God is guiding me.
Am I a Christian? - Not if admitting it makes me a member of the club with a club.
What is "Fundies?"
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