- I know God. You, having a different God, clearly do not God.
- My God is the true God. Your God, therefore, cannot be the true God.
- My God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and sustains the world through a mere exercise of his or her will. Your God is a sorry delusion that only someone raised in your foreign culture could even begin to consider credible.
- My God is the God. Your God is an imposter.
- My God offers eternal salvation. Your God is a one-way ticket to a place no person would ever want to go.
- My God is good.
- Anything that exists in opposition to my God is bad.
- You clearly have a choice: my God, or your deceptive evil.
- If you choose your deceptive evil over my awesome God, then, as you surely understand, you limit my options.
- For verily has my God called upon me to resist evil, in all of its manifestations.
- And if you choose to align yourself with the evil that I am sworn to resist, then surely you understand that in my response I have no choice.
- I will draw your blood, and the blood of your children.
- I will be deaf to your screams.
- What can I do? My God, being infinitely good, will stand for nothing less.
- My hands are tied, you see? I am a servant of the most high God.
- Of the only good, real, and true God.
- We will be victorious.
- We will take your land. We will take your children. We will take your women.
- We will take all that is yours.
- And when we have done that, and you are vanquished, our God will be pleased.
See how easy?
![John Shore on The Huffington Post](http://johnshore.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/huffpost.jpg?w=120 "John Shore on The Huffington Post\")
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i strongly feel that this sentiment is a result of sola fide, the protestant belief in salvation’through faith alone’ which means that christians and only christians can go to heaven. this devolves rapidly into ostracism and quickly becomes an excuse for hatred, persecution and discrimination. Ultimately though, I suppose the tendency towards those things are natural human flaws more than protestant or christian characteristics.
Exactly, Michael.
Anyone can go to Heaven. Sola Fide (salvation through faith alone) just means that you (anyone) has to believe in Christ in order to go, for He is the only way.
I have always been baffled by the sense of monopoly that self-proclaimed Christians seek to hold over the divine. “This is my God, and he is the absolute best and you suck if you don’t have him, and if you’re reeeaalll nice, I’ll let you enjoy him.” This is an all knowing, all loving being we’re talking about here, not your shiny new Christmas toy.
I don’t know if I’m the only Pagan here, but I’m going to share some Pagan attitudes (insofar as they represent myself and the other Pagans I personally know). When we talk to others about our faith, it usually goes something along the lines of “I’m excited and filled with wonder and happiness about my God/Goddess/Deity. I’d like to share that with you. Oh, and that’s your Deity? Cool, let’s have a drink.” Even within Paganism, people worship different Deities and follow different paths, and the emphasis is always on “what are you doing for your community?” rather than “are you worshiping the RIGHT God?”
A couple of the people that I consider my family are Christians, and I often forget that they are because they don’t terrify or shame or judge me, they simply are, and they let me be who I will. I was raised in a horribly fundamental, conservative, hate and fear mongering environment. There’s something wrong when I forget someone’s a Christian because they’re not condemning me.
Oh, I almost forgot. This is the first time I’ve commented here, but I’ve been reading for weeks, and I really love the posts and discussions. I thank everyone here for being so honest and engaging in much needed discourse.
excellent, Heather. very well done. welcome.
Heather, I suspect you’re not – Mr. Shore is balm on many ears who are working to separate ‘walk with Christ’ from ‘follow the Church’ – growing up with Jesus being a cousin whose wisdom was subverted by the power-hungry, it’s sometimes hard for me to reconcile the bright with the dark.
Hey Heather I am glad your Christian family members don’t condemn you for it is not our place as Christians to judge another persons heart, but I am concerned that you are able to forget that they are Christians. The Bible tells us in Mat 7:20 “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” So you should ever be able to forget if a person is truly walking the walk.
I will come to be able to integrate that truth eventually. In a nutshell, I can’t reconcile 20 straight years of abuse in the past four good years I’ve had. It will take time, and I am very optimistic that I will come to know more true Christians.
I will pray that God place true Christians in your path that you will be able to experience His true nature mean while may God Bless you and keep you safe from the enemy’s plans.
Thank you for the kind words. I wish you health and happiness as well.
Most of the statements made in the authors “Played out section” is absolutely true. Now i don’t believe we should allow the truth to play out and become evil but the truth is the truth. It has become clear to me why Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mar 10:15) and “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 18:3) Adults allow what they think they know about life to influence what they think they know about scripture. Children on the other hand take things at face value. You know What I mean? If the scripture say’s, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jhn 14:6) Children believe just that, Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. While I do believe we should receive everyone with Love and treat them as Jesus did with compassion we in no way should except their false beliefs and allow them to think we are unsure of what is right or that there is possibly other ways to get to Heaven (God). The enemy (devil, god of this age), “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2Cr 4:4), has blinded the people and we are responsible for shinning the light.
At the beginning I meant to put “Most of the statements made in the authors “Played out section” are absolutely true until it starts sounding like the the Muslims way of believing.” Sorry
I have found that pretty much everything that annoys me in other religions also exists in my own (>_<)
If you are following the true path it will not annoy you
you’re right… i should have used a stronger verb. if i were really paying attention, i should be outraged.
Peace
aleykum salaam
You know the old saying “Many rivers all lead to the same ocean….”
The issue with the religious is most of them are believers, not mystics, not seekers of knowledge. They are content with the surface stories in ancient texts. They are more caught up in the mythology rather than the message. Humans are a competitive species, especially with ourselves. We are almost programmed to see one set of myths as true and others as false. Too few see that the stories teach the same lessons if you’ll look.
You know I’ve spent the last few years believing that, but the potency of ‘mysticism’ and deep devotion can be such a nightmare that it makes the fundamentalist Christian hoodlums like saints precisely because they’re not pulling the sunk-costs maneuver to the same extent of ‘mystic’ cult leaders.
I only know the religion I believe in which could be considered Christianity. I don’t attend a church although I might if I knew of one where the people lived up to the things that Christ taught such as loving one another, not judging others, praying for our those who misuse us, forgiving those who harm or take advantage of us, give to the poor and not valuing the things of this world more than the people in it. In my search for God I looked into many ways of trying to find him including other religions. When I discovered Christ or maybe some would say when he was revealed to me, the simplicity of what he taught was the answer I had been looking for. All you have to do is love others and treat them like you would like to be treated. If we can do that regardless of their religion, nationality, color of their skin, sexual differences, social or financial standing (yes we have to love the rich too) or whatever way they vary from us then we are living the life of Christ and we know that we are God’s children. If other religions are pathways to God then they would have to teach something similar and if they do, bless them. Whatever others believe I know that God knows their intent and we should leave judgement up to our creator who loves us all.
I read this a couple of nights ago after a discussion with someone over whether Christians and Muslims worship the same God – I said they did. She was adamant that they don’t, that HER GOD would never treat women the way that Muslims treat women. I suggested she read a book that I love, “the Faith Club”, but never got a response on that one. She then attacked my denomination as preaching falsehoods! She says that she reads the Bible for herself and goes to a strickly Bible church (no surprise there!) and I am a main stream Presbyterian – all my life! I was surpirsed how her attack on Presbyterians hurt me. She said she was truely sorry a couple of times, but I decided to end the “conversation” there. To me, this is what is wrong with our country and our world, and this article spoke directly to me in that respect. There is too much “ownership” of God and not enough acceptance of each other for who and what we are.
I am so filled with happiness at this moment reading all the responses to this article and others. I live in a very RED and very unforgiving Christian filled state. I see the un-Christian behavior and have called people out on it… Jesus LOVES…God never said “I’m too busy to judge, why don’t ya’ll do it for me”. Show Christ’s love through kindness, understanding and caring. Listen to others, walk a mile in their shoes. That’s what Christ did, right? Thanks, my brothers and sisters. I need your uplifting.
I have a couple of axioms when it comes to God and religion. The first is “God is so big, no one person, society, nation, religion, or species has a complete understanding of God.” The second is “God is not an asshole. If, in your efforts to understand God, you find yourself ascribing asshole behavior, beliefs, or requirements to God, you have made an error. Crumple up your paper, throw it in the trash can, and start over.”
I love this, especially #2! In some ways, God is the original inkblot, in that when we talk about God we’re usually saying far more about ourselves than we are about him/her.
BTW: I’m quoting you on my FB page. Just thought I’d share.
I’ve never heard this said better.
If you start at the “My God is good” line and replace all of the occurrences of “God” with “nation,” you’ll have a pretty good representation of nationalist/patriotic thinking–the other great source of large-scale anti-humanitarian behavior in the world.
You know, I did not realize that until I read your comment. This explains the logic of extreme Christian Nationlists who go on this whole “America is God’s Country and thus everything else is wrong”. Because if the US was anything less than God’s ideal country then that would mean you are settling for more than God’s perfection. You’ve given me a lot to think and talk about.
Thank you for this wonderful article and all the people who’ve taken the time to discuss. I know we are all frequently confronted with the question “if there really is a God, why is there war, disease, famine, disaster, etc.” Often I stumble around and end up saying some thing trite like, God doesn’t cause wars; arrogant, self-righteous people cause wars, and religion is their excuse. This seems like a lame response, because I so badly want that person to understand that God loves all his children, even when they behave poorly. And there are so many things we are confronted with daily; “Christians” who are really nice, moral people, yet are so quick to condemn Jews, Muslims, gays, even other denominations. Does anyone else feel angry and want to shake them until they remember Christ taught us to love everyone?
Once again I’m just in awe of the quality of the conversations happening here. I’ve lately not had nearly the time I’d like to properly engage with so much of the great stuff being written here—but I’m reading all of it, and wanted to take a moment to at least express my appreciation for what so many of you are doing here. It’s so awesome for me, to paint in the pretty broad strokes I sort of have to in this form, and to know that once I have, YOU guys will come in and really explore the whole thing, and properly open it up. It’s such an enriching pleasure for me, the way you guys do that. Thank you.
You know, I have a nephew who was a missionary to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was well received because he tried to understand the beliefs of those he lived among. He was there to help build water filtration plants for purer water. He worked hard at this job and sustained a nearly life-threatening injury. God used THAT situation more than any other thing to show His mercy and grace. But that’s just the thing: my nephew exhibited the mercy and grace of God; not the “my God is the right one, yours is not” attitude. He told me later that when “American Christians” came on their “mission trips”, the native peoples only looked for the gifts and candy the Americans brought but had no respect for them because these “Christains” never tried to learn anything about them but acted superior because “our way is the right way”. He told me that “real” missionaries dreaded these mission trips because it always caused set-backs!
The story of your nephew and the other missionaries reminds me of the novel The Poisonwood Bible. The missionary in the novel was a classic example of someone who clearly didn’t get the concept of learning the ways of one’s neighbors to better understand and relate to them, rather like many missions where evangelism is the prime motivation. Your nephew is an example of how to do it right, which is enhanced by his success in the built friendships with the local residents.
John – for me – this post could not have come at a more timely time. Really. It hurts me so much when I see how Christianity is projected to the world. I am as guilty as anyone I know of misrepresenting my faith. And, as in any situation, the bullies who use Christianity as a weapon for their own agenda deserve to be called out.
Not to mention – show me a church that DOESN’T claim to be the one true church… the majority unfortunately do. We should all judge less and love more. Feel free to sing Kumbaya now, people
In what key would you like it?
The key of A would be nice.
That sounds good to me!
I like the part where you say “I am as guilty as anyone …”. Now, listen for the words “Feed my sheep.”
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya.
Agree! I think Rob Bell tackled this pretty good in ”Love Wins.” The idea that there is only one way to God is the root of much religious violence, hatred & divisions amongst people.
I’ve heard that there are many ways, but only one Way.
Well put, Aliyah. Unfortunately too many people hate in the name of God. They spend more time tearing others down than they do in building a relationship with God. Too many people can’t shed the ego.
Religious extremists judge without looking in the mirror. Everyone who has life has a part of God within them. That said, everyone should be treated as a child of God. No one is better than or less than you. You can hate the act but not the person. Leave judgement to God.
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