The "Religious Right"

[rwarn17588]

<Conan wrote:

Where it gets especially nauseating for me is when you have an RR candidate like Anna Falling, who ran for county commissioner, that was spouting off about being pro-life and against same-sex marriage. That was trying to buy votes with an "endorsement from God" and were totally irrelevant views in relation to the job she was running for and did nothing to help me determine how she would perform her duties if elected.

<end clip>

Thank you, Conan. You've coalesced what I've been trying to say for years.

It seems there are are endless candidates who harp about how they are Christians. I'm happy they have found a religion they're comfortable with, but I don't see how it is relevant to how they're going to do their jobs. It's akin to hiring a Christian to fix your broken water pipes instead of a professionally trained plumber.

There's another thing that rankles me: these Shepherd's Guides phone books that supposedly list Christian businesses. If I want someone to install a new water heater in my home, whether he's a Christian is immaterial. It's whether he can do the job properly. Shepherd's Guides don't help in figuring this out.

[iplaw]

quote:There's another thing that rankles me: these Shepherd's Guides phone books that supposedly list Christian businesses.

[}:)]  My wife and I laughed when we saw this a month or two ago.  I have one in my home so I know who not to call...

I've been tempted to start The Jihadist Guide for those discriminating Muslims in the community who want their sinks fixed by a guy who wears a suicide belt instead of a tool belt.

Jesus was a carpenter though, so I may rethink the next time I need new cabinets.

[cannon_fodder]

Children are not, by definition, capable of making life choices.  They are not FREE to do many of the things we take for granted.  So I dont think the child molestation example fits in to the conversation (as you hinted at).

I am a bit put back that you fail to see a difference between:
1) Forced imposition of a view
and 2) Refusal to allow imposition.

One is requiring or forbidding a group to act and the other imposes nothing on non-actors.  To me, there is a world of difference.  The difference is as bold as "Women must cover their faces" and "you must allow women to cover their face."

It may be my version of morality, but as I stated above, the imposition therein does not prohibit your actions unless such actions interfere with the rights of another.  That's my entire basic philosophy - do whatever the hell you want do as long as it isn't interfering with the rights of anyone else.

bah gotta run...

[Conan71]

RW, Tulsa historically votes for Republican candidates for the Senate, HOR, and President, so I like to have say all the way through the primary process, otherwise Independent would be a reasonible option for me.  I identify with a lot of Republican ideals, however, I don't care for the far right CCR faction.  IMO, it's made things like the Foley "scandal" much larger than it was.  Notice there have never been any charges brought after over seven months of "investigation."?  I think the far CCR over-estimates how many of us moderate Republicans really care if they are Christian or not.

I have been thoroughly hosed by some businesses advertised as Christian-owned.  I've never called one advertised as athiest-owned so I don't know how they conduct business. []

The tired old saying of "If you have to tell someone, likely you aren't" applies.  The Shepherd's guide is just someone else profiteering off God, IMO.

IP- hysterical as always! []

[dbacks fan]

Have you heard about the Atheist prayer line?




You call and no one answers.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

There's another thing that rankles me: these Shepherd's Guides phone books that supposedly list Christian businesses. If I want someone to install a new water heater in my home, whether he's a Christian is immaterial. It's whether he can do the job properly. Shepherd's Guides don't help in figuring this out.

Some people only buy from christian businesses which is also the only place they put the books.

I don't use it, you don't have to either.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

There's another thing that rankles me: these Shepherd's Guides phone books that supposedly list Christian businesses. If I want someone to install a new water heater in my home, whether he's a Christian is immaterial. It's whether he can do the job properly. Shepherd's Guides don't help in figuring this out.

Some people only buy from christian businesses which is also the only place they put the books.

I don't use it, you don't have to either.

In my days living in the Tulsa area and just as I was starting out in the Cosmetology game, I once knew this very attractive woman, truly a sight for any man to behold, she looked that good. She had this beautiful mane of long, frizzed blonde hair, and if you were a stylist, you'd give your eye teeth to service her.

And so one day, marvelling over her 'do, I asked who was responsible for maintaining it, and she said that a Christian hairstylist kept it up for her. And since it was clear that I probably wasn't going to get the job of servicing her, I referred her to my lady. She asked if she was Christian, I couldn't answer since we never talked religion while cutting my hair. She said that she would only go to a Christian hairstylist.

I had to scratch my head over that one, even now. Is this to say that a Christian hairstylist may have some creative edge over, say, an atheist hairstylist? Any ideas?

[cannon_fodder]

I suppose one can assume a Christian hair stylist wont instill the seed of Satan into ones head?  Not sure.

Basically, I view such things as an extension of the "I'm right, you're wrong... I don't even want to associate with you" mentality.  I could care less what they publish or who she choses to give her business to, I just think its narrow minded and refuse to participate.  Its as if they are doing something wrong by not being Christian.

I also dont support any institution because it caters to a particular race (ie. I wont give to the Black Scholarship Fund, the Jewish Rights Fund, or the Womens Equality Society).  I chose to support organizations that care more about merit than a particular belief, skin color, or background.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

In my days living in the Tulsa area and just as I was starting out in the Cosmetology game, I once knew this very attractive woman, truly a sight for any man to behold, she looked that good. She had this beautiful mane of long, frizzed blonde hair, and if you were a stylist, you'd give your eye teeth to service her.

Sounds like any man would have liked to ser....

Ah, nevermind, this is a wholesome thread.

[iplaw]

quote:
Basically, I view such things as an extension of the "I'm right, you're wrong... I don't even want to associate with you" mentality.  I could care less what they publish or who she choses to give her business to, I just think its narrow minded and refuse to participate.  Its as if they are doing something wrong by not being Christian.

It's not that at all.  It's roughly like hiring a fellow frat brother's company to do business with your's.  It's shallow, but no real nefarious motives.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw

quote:
Basically, I view such things as an extension of the "I'm right, you're wrong... I don't even want to associate with you" mentality.  I could care less what they publish or who she choses to give her business to, I just think its narrow minded and refuse to participate.  Its as if they are doing something wrong by not being Christian.

It's not that at all.  It's roughly like hiring a fellow frat brother's company to do business with your's.  It's shallow, but no real nefarious motives.

I agree up to a point, as for doing business amongst one's own social set (some folks feel they gotta keep it all in one camp), but in some cases, there is perhaps an underside to it.

When I lived in the Tulsa area-especially during the 1980's as a teen-there was a function known as the Christian Business Show, and as a lark, I checked it out. And I saw that in so many cases, the "Christian" aspect was little better than a marketing gimmick, because beyond the word "Christian," there was nothing much that set it apart from a regular business. If anything, it would seem that one would be paying a little more for those same goods and services.

[cannon_fodder]

IP, if I were to hire a Frat buddy it would be because I had a personal relation with them.  An extension might be to hire someone that is in the same club because you think membership proves them superior - your frat brother must be the best to be in your frat.  That works for some groups, but certainly not one that constitutes billions of people.

I suppose we will not know without inquiring with her as to the motive, but I feel confident that at least part of her rational would lend itself to my interpretation.

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

IP, if I were to hire a Frat buddy it would be because I had a personal relation with them.  An extension might be to hire someone that is in the same club because you think membership proves them superior - your frat brother must be the best to be in your frat.  That works for some groups, but certainly not one that constitutes billions of people.

I suppose we will not know without inquiring with her as to the motive, but I feel confident that at least part of her rational would lend itself to my interpretation.

Here is a good example.  My cousin was a Sigma Nu at UofH in Houston.  He just got a job with a local company just because the guy that owned the company was a Sigma Nu from Stoolwater.  It's nothing but a social club, and from 30+ years of off again, on again church attendance, that's what most churches are...

At least that's what I think...

[cannon_fodder]

That would be very persuasive if it was THE same church.  But belief in the same gods is such a vast club that it hardly seems applicable.  Bah, not that important.  I can understand the reasoning behind the frat boy thing much more than the god thing I guess...

[si_uk_lon_ok]

What really pisses me off with the Christian right is the way they deal with deal people within the Christian faith who have difference of opinions. As in, not ramming social conservatism down your throat or viewing everything in black and white.

Batesline

See what Master Bates had to say about the Episcopal Church on batesline. I'm no theologian, but does he not imply that the Episcopal Church are worshipping the angels of Satan? Is not seeing the good works that the Episcopal Church does through God as Satanic the ultimate sin?