Hal Lindsay, author of The Late, Great Planet Earth whose TV program is broadcast by TBN to over 5,000 stations around the world, has issued an ultimatum to the adherents of Islam entitled "Friendly Advice to Peaceful Muslims."
I wonder what kind of reception the same ultimatum, with a few pertinent changes, would receive if it had been written by an internationally prominent Fundamentalist Muslim and addressed as "Friendly advice to peaceful Christians"?
Would moderate and progressive Christians suddenly find themselves empowered to stand up to theocratic fundamentalists and Dominionist Christians or would the letter actually serve to undermine any efforts that mainstream Christians were making?
8 comments:
I'm at least "half" with you here. As a conservative evangelical, I would be the first to condemn the physical abuse and mistreatment of homosexuals, and would would be the most active juror in seeking the death penalty for those who bomb abortion clinics. These types of activities aren't Christian, they are the work of cowards.
However, I think I know where you are going here Bruce (and please correct me if I'm wrong). Comparing someone like me, who wants to overturn "Roe V. Wade" with someone who crashes airplanes full of innocent civilians into tall buildings isn't exactly comparing "apples with apples" is it?
Joel,
You've lost me. There's nothing about Row V. Wade in this post.
It's about Muslims and theocrats.
Glad to see the comments back, I'm sorry for getting sucked into the name calling. I promised to keep my temper.
Why would anyone listen to Hal Lindsey? It's obvious he missed the Rapture that happened according to his book in 1988.
Sorry for posting twice the last time. Not sure what happened there.
Bruce, I too, am lost now. Over the past several weeks, you have used the terms "theocrat" "theocracy", etc. to the extent that I'm not sure what you mean by the term. Sorry if I wrongly assumed that my pro-life postion, or my opposition to gay marriage or civil unions were something you equate with being "theocratic." Would you mind giving some "real-life" examples of theocratic approaches, and how exactly it is that they compare with radical Islamists who seek to kill those who don't agree with them?
Again, the Christian Right might not be your cup of tea (and I'm not always in their camp either, although their core beliefs are largely reflective of my own), but they aren't the one's out to kill people in God's name. Some comparisons here would be helpful, and appreciated.
Also, don't misread any of my comments as an apologia for Hal Lindsey, or the "pop-eschatology" he seeks to peddle.
Mr. Rainey,
I don't know if this is what you are asking for but in our local paper yesterday there was an article about the sentencing of Eric Rudolph. He was sentenced to two life sentences for the bombing of an abortion clinic. He is expected to be sentenced next month for two additional clinic bombings and the 1996 Olympic bombing. I don't look at him any differently than I would a radical Muslim terrorist. They both justify their use violence in the name of their "god." Just because there were not as many "victims" of Rudolph's terrorism, does not make is any more palatable. The desire the wreak havoc was there, and if it had turned out to be a more catastrophic event, I think Rudolf would be just as unrepentant as he is today.
God Bless,
TammyJo58
I certainly don't intend to "hog" this area, and recognize it's not my blog. My apologies to everyone.
Tammy, I am in wholeharted agreement with you! I am abreast of the Rudolph case, and if he is guilty, he deserves the most severe punishment. Regardless of the reason, those who perpetuate violence on the innocent should face infexible justice (which by the way, is one of the reasons I am opposed to "hate crime" legislation. It shouldn't matter why someone was violent. It matters that they hurt someone else.)
My point here is the Dr. Prescot has identified many different types of people as "theocrats," and unless I misunderstand him, I would probably be among them. This is where I believe the inconsistency lies. If he is in fact identifying Bush, Al Mohler, etc. as a "theocrat" and then comparing theocrats with Islamic extremists...well, you know if A equals B and B equals C..... I'd just like some more clarity here. It seems he is painting with a rather broad brush. But thanks for your contribution, and know that I agree totally!
Joel, ask the Missionaries who lost their jobs because in good conscience they could not sign a scrap of paper repudiating centuries of Baptist belief,ask Russell Dilday to name only one prominent man of God who had his name slandered and reputation ruined by end justifies the means theocrats, the list of God's called who have had their reputations and economic live's destroyed by lies, half-truths, innuendo or by simply not marching in lock step with the mindless rabble that now control the SBC. You ask what that has to do with the political situation? The same players who raped and pillaged the SBC are using the same players that now control the Republican Party, control the Presidency, most of Congress, and could soon control our Courts.
The theocrats that took over the SBC used the buzz word of inerrancy to destroy the cornerstone of Baptist belief: Priesthood of the Believer. Since Bush has been President he has used the war on terror to destroy the cornerstone of our Democracy: Habeus Corpus. Withour Habeus Corpus our Constitution and Bill of Rights become meaningless. What good are they to Jose Padilla. Arrested four years ago and held in jail without charge or legal council on suspicion of being a terrorist, but most likely still there because our fearless leaders won't or can't admit that they made a mistake and arrested an innocent man. If they had proof of his guilt they would have tried him by now. Innocent or not the American Patriot Act did more to kill our freedoms that any terrorist would have accomplished in their wildest dreams. And it was all done by God's Warrior or so the video distributed to my church and played to the congregation before the 2004 election. Invading a country which had not attacked us, Abu Gharib, Guantonimo prison, sanctioned assasinations are these the actions of a man of character, or just Bismark's Realpolik.
Patrick M. Prescott
Joel,
Obviously, you've identified yourself with what I call theocrats.
My remarks are specific to each post. Please comment on the topic of the blog and I'll be glad to respond to your questions.
On this blog, "theocrats" are those who think and/or act like America can become a "Christian nation" by legislation, adjudication, or public school indoctrination.
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