Friday, November 9, 2007

Poor oppressed Christians

"Just like what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, so liberal America is now doing to the evangelical Christians. It's no different. It is the same thing. It is happening all over again. It is the Democratic Congress, the liberal-based media and the homosexuals who want to destroy the Christians. Wholesale abuse and discrimination and the worst bigotry directed toward any group in America today. More terrible than anything suffered by any minority in history." –Pat Robertson

Maybe Pat Robertson doesn't speak for the broad Christian (vast) majority of this country, but what's with the persecution complex? All of the presidential candidates are Christians. The vast majority of both houses of Congress are Christians. It's illegal in 38 states for an atheist to hold statewide office. It's illegal in 0 states for a Christian to hold statewide office.

Taking his statement literally, the following are consistent with the opening statement.

The Jews in Germany in 1942 had it better than Christians in the US today.
The Jews in Spain in 1492 had it better than Christians in the US today.
The Indians in America since 1492 had it better than Christians in the US today.
The Indios in Central America since 1492 had it better than Christians in the US today.
The Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994 had it better than Christians in the US today.

Let's sum this up:

The above 5 groups killed for being who they are: more than 7 million
US Christians killed for being who they are: 0

Honestly, why the persecution complex?

4 comments:

Ben said...

I've come to wonder if the Religious Right, particularly the premillenialists, aren't in fact the greatest threat to western civilization (and note that I say "Religious Right," and not, "Christians"). Sure, there are some downright evil, dangerous Islamic terrorists out there, but I don't see too many of them calling for the complete annihilation of another culture (and even if they were, how could they possibly do it?). I do, however, see a distressing number of Religious Rightists calling for the genocidal nuking of an entire country of innocent Iranians.

Many on the Religious Right would do well to read their NT, paying particular attention to what Paul has to say about politics: delight in your weakness, because your hope is not of this world.

Ben said...

One other interesting point: I watched some footage of Ron Paul speaking at the Values Voters summit (a big gathering of evangelicals on the Religious Right). They actually booed him when he called Jesus the "Prince of Peace." Amazing.

anne said...

has pat robertson ever left the states? or even entered any area of real oppression? it's amazing how tolerant people have been of the white culture of this country, throwing words around like oppressed, comparing ourselves to victims of genocide,
it's so embarrassing

Jeff said...

I was sort of baiting with this, but a few years ago I think more and more people were thinking this way. I'm optimistic that things are getting better, but that's only because atheists believe in the inate goodness of man.