Or, you know, the media likes to focus on the corruption and ignore the numerous good. Everything is corrupted, but there is good in organized religion. Christians are meant to be persecuted; it's our lot in life, our cross to bear.
This was just one man's story about how being faced with the hypocrisy, abuse of power, and systematic denial of accountability caused him to lose his faith. The religious leaders are supposed to be these great, moral people, so when they abuse their power, it's not just corruption, it's a let down of faith.
While religion and its people are two separate things, it's pretty understandable how incredibly immoral behavior from its leaders can reflect on the religion itself. When the corruption begins that high and is spread throughout the entire organization down to many of the pewsitters, yes, it can overshadow the good that is also done by the religion.
I'm not sure where you're coming from, but in the US, Christians tend to have the opposite problem of persecution. :D
LOL. The Bible talks about us being persecuted. We are put down all the time in America. ALL THE TIME. I don't know where YOU live, but in movies, television, and music, we are constantly ridiculed.
I'd like to point out that I grew up in the church and went to a Christian school for thirteen years which got me constant persecution from my public school peers.
Things have changed a bit in the past 2000 years. For example, we have tasty tasty soda, but sadly, togas are no longer in fashion.
I don't really see being insulted as being the same as being persecuted. It's just part of what happens when a religion defines the powerful majority. The folks in power get more screentime because they're doing powerful things. Also, it's a very American thing to dislike the powerful and root for the underdog, and when you're part of the majority, you can still try to believe you're the underdog.
Things that are religious persecution: Being unable to practice your religion Being afraid to reveal your religious affiliation Being denied job or social opportunities due to your religion Having no public places to practice your religion Not receiving the same governmental benefits other religions do Not having your religion recognized as a religion Not having people of your religion represented proportionally in your government
Things that probably aren't religious persecution: Being criticized Having representatives of your religion criticized Having corruption and scandals in your religion revealed Being forced to remove your display of the 10 Commandments from a public space :D
Things that are the complete polar opposite of religious persecution: Having the vast vast (vast) majority of governmental representatives be the same religion as you Having references to your religion in national governmental documents Having your religion's main holiday be the only national religious holiday
Being afraid to reveal your religious affiliation - Are you in my generation? Do you face college like I do? When I say I'm a Christian in a theatre environment look at me like I'm insane, and the ask me all sorts of questions like "Do you think being gay is bad?" and "What's up with hating abortion?" JUST to rile the peace. And then they blame me for being ignorant and narrow-minded. So, yes, I'm proud of being one, but sometimes I wish I didn't have to say anything about it because of how people treat me. Being denied job or social opportunities due to your religion - Try working in theatre. I've never been so unfairly treated because of my religion in my life.
I say this not knowing you at all, iam, so hopefully it won't be offensive. I have no idea whether you're a good actress/director/stage manager/whatever you do in theater.
One of my closest friends here is an evangelical Christian and ostensibly an actor. He's in the guild and everything. Even so, he's managed to get cast in one show (and one commercial) in the four years I've known him. But never once has he said it's because of his faith. It's a tough field.
Not having any idea how talented you are or aren't, I just wonder if you're really not getting jobs solely because of your faith. If you're certain you are, file a discrimination claim because that's not legal.
Agreed. Christians are certainly persecuted in parts of the world, such as Eritrea, China, parts of the Middle East and far more.
But I have a lot of trouble reconciling the concept of the majority religion in the United States being subjected to persecution. Hell, I belong to a minority religion and I don't think I'm particularly persecuted. There are things that I wish were more accomodating to my faith, but nothing even close to a level I'd call persecution.
No, we're not persecuted, but the trends in the culture are heading that way. Maybe not to the full-on persecution your ancestors went through, but definitely an intellectual marginalization, equating us to the Flying Spaghetti Monster and such.
And I know that FSM was made up to counter a very specific issue, that of science education, but the problem is that it gets expanded in the public consciousness, and the next thing you know, one can't quote anything Christian, whether it be Paul's letters or C.S. Lewis without getting a "OMG u iz a FSM lol!!111eleventy11" thrown back.
I don't know; you could argue that this is the most religious president ever*, which kind of counteracts that argument. From my perspective, we have the most conservative Supreme Court of my life, which is already making government far more open to religion.
I think too often what Christians interpret as persecution is what I see as separation of church and state. Not being allowed to have massive Christmas pageants in school isn't persecution, IMO -- it's ensuring that one viewpoint isn't presented as the correct one by public institutions.
You look at the presidential election -- every single candidate is Christian, and it's to the point that Romney's Mormonism is enough out of the orthodoxy that it's considered one of his biggest problems in the race. I find it hard to go from that step to saying you can't quote C.S. Lewis without being mocked (by rational people).
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While religion and its people are two separate things, it's pretty understandable how incredibly immoral behavior from its leaders can reflect on the religion itself. When the corruption begins that high and is spread throughout the entire organization down to many of the pewsitters, yes, it can overshadow the good that is also done by the religion.
I'm not sure where you're coming from, but in the US, Christians tend to have the opposite problem of persecution. :D
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There's a big difference between being "put down" in the entertainment media and actually being persecuted.
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I don't really see being insulted as being the same as being persecuted. It's just part of what happens when a religion defines the powerful majority. The folks in power get more screentime because they're doing powerful things. Also, it's a very American thing to dislike the powerful and root for the underdog, and when you're part of the majority, you can still try to believe you're the underdog.
Things that are religious persecution:
Being unable to practice your religion
Being afraid to reveal your religious affiliation
Being denied job or social opportunities due to your religion
Having no public places to practice your religion
Not receiving the same governmental benefits other religions do
Not having your religion recognized as a religion
Not having people of your religion represented proportionally in your government
Things that probably aren't religious persecution:
Being criticized
Having representatives of your religion criticized
Having corruption and scandals in your religion revealed
Being forced to remove your display of the 10 Commandments from a public space :D
Things that are the complete polar opposite of religious persecution:
Having the vast vast (vast) majority of governmental representatives be the same religion as you
Having references to your religion in national governmental documents
Having your religion's main holiday be the only national religious holiday
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Being denied job or social opportunities due to your religion - Try working in theatre. I've never been so unfairly treated because of my religion in my life.
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One of my closest friends here is an evangelical Christian and ostensibly an actor. He's in the guild and everything. Even so, he's managed to get cast in one show (and one commercial) in the four years I've known him. But never once has he said it's because of his faith. It's a tough field.
Not having any idea how talented you are or aren't, I just wonder if you're really not getting jobs solely because of your faith. If you're certain you are, file a discrimination claim because that's not legal.
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But I have a lot of trouble reconciling the concept of the majority religion in the United States being subjected to persecution. Hell, I belong to a minority religion and I don't think I'm particularly persecuted. There are things that I wish were more accomodating to my faith, but nothing even close to a level I'd call persecution.
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And I know that FSM was made up to counter a very specific issue, that of science education, but the problem is that it gets expanded in the public consciousness, and the next thing you know, one can't quote anything Christian, whether it be Paul's letters or C.S. Lewis without getting a "OMG u iz a FSM lol!!111eleventy11" thrown back.
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I think too often what Christians interpret as persecution is what I see as separation of church and state. Not being allowed to have massive Christmas pageants in school isn't persecution, IMO -- it's ensuring that one viewpoint isn't presented as the correct one by public institutions.
You look at the presidential election -- every single candidate is Christian, and it's to the point that Romney's Mormonism is enough out of the orthodoxy that it's considered one of his biggest problems in the race. I find it hard to go from that step to saying you can't quote C.S. Lewis without being mocked (by rational people).
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There's a big difference between ridicule and persecution.
Maybe it is an age thing, Cyn. School kids are notoriously cruel and ignorant. That (mostly!!) changes as people age.