“I believe in a God who doesn’t need heavy financing” is
what Erwin M. Fletcher said in the movie Fletch Lives! You
know, I have to agree with him. I
also don’t believe in a God who is easily offended or a God who needs me to
stick up for Him. Sure, I may get
a little bent when Bill Maher says that my God is ruthless, over-bearing, homicidal,
and a homophobe. I did get a
little hot under the collar in college when a professor told me that a crucifix
in a jar of urine was art. I don’t
like “Buddy Jesus” or Jesus Christ Superstar or assertions from Richard Dawkins that I’m diluted for believing in God.
But at the end of the day I don’t lose sleep over it. I would
be lying, however, if I said that I never wanted to punch Dawkins or Maher, but
given the chance I know I wouldn’t.
Even if they were in front of my house with
blasphemous depictions of Jesus Christ I wouldn’t assault them. I certainly would not go to their place
of employment and mow them down with automatic weapons.
I suppose I don’t quite understand what drives a person to
massacre others over a couple of cartoons. Is the god of Islam that fragile he
can’t beat-up a couple of cartoonists in the streets? The god of Islam must be so puny that he can’t take a little
lampooning and his followers must murder those who make fun of him.
Doing evil things in the name of their god is not the story
here. The story in my pea-sized
brain is that people in our Government and media are hasty to distance these
killers from Islam even though these criminals are more than willing to call
themselves Muslims. However, they would be more than happy to associate every
gun-toting, right wing wacko to the Christian faith.
It’s like our Nation has an inability to say that this has
anything to do with Islam or its followers. Howard Dean, the former presidential candidate, came out and
said that the Paris attackers are not Muslim; that they were “as Muslim as he
is”. What?! Not Muslim? Then what the heck were they?
Buddhist? Atheist? Wiccan? Hey Howie, I’m pretty sure if
you ask them they will say they are Muslim.
Two years ago Jay “the Carn” Carnie, former (half)White
House press secretary, scolded the same cartoonists who were killed this week
for running cartoons which might be offensive to Muslims. What about all the other religions
these cartoonists made fun of? Did
Carnie say that they shouldn’t run offensive Darwin cartoons because it might
offend the Atheists? Did Carnie
warn the world that Christians would be offended at blasphemous caricatures of
Jesus? Nope he didn’t. You know why? Because liberal America
for some strange reason believes that Islam is the religion of peace and
Christianity is full of trigger happy psychos.
On January 7, Jimmy Kimmell had Bill Maher on his
program. Bill decried the recent
shooting and said that millions of Muslims supported these killings. Mr. Kimmell tried to rebut his comment
by asking “do you really think that millions of Muslims support this violence?” What if it was some crazed gun-toting
redneck from the Bible-belt who shot up a bunch of people, do you really think
Kimmell would have the same rebut? Or do you think that he would agree that
millions of Christians support this type of violence?
“Darn right L.
Kyle those dang Christians are always killing innocent abortion doctors and
blowing up abortion clinics in the name of their God!”
I’m glad you brought that up average liberal American. According to Salon.com since 1993 there
have 17 attempted murders of doctors or staff members at clinics and eight
murders. I’m not minimizing the
murder of anyone, but eight people murdered in 20+ years is a far cry from 12
people gunned down in one day. Not
only that, but not all of the people killing abortion doctors or bombing
abortion clinics claim to do in the name of God.
At the very least if Christians are killing abortion doctors
they are doing in the defense of human life…not because their God was made fun
of.
So why the double standard? Why does our current culture eschew Christians and defend Muslims?
“Because you dang Christians hate gays and hate women and
don’t want nudity on television!”
Um…so do the Muslims.
Just look at Iran, Saudi Arabia and a host of other countries that
follow strict Islamic laws. Some
countries put gays in prison, force women to dress in burkas and restrict media
access so that they don’t see nudity and other Western culture
.
“Well it’s because you Christians are so intolerant! Prop 8,
L. Kyle, Prop 8 dang it!”
Um…I wonder if there is a Harvey Milk day in Iran?
Look, I’m not defending all the actions of Christians in
this country. I don’t agree with
or like the actions of most Televangelists or the parishioners of the Westboro
Baptist Church. But I also don’t
agree with Bill Maher’s comment that “all religions are dangerous.” People have and will forever do evil
things in the name of God, Muhamad, Allah, Satan or barking dogs.
The point is that there is a large sentiment that
Christianity is bad and Islam is good despite the mass killings, bombings, and
terror sprees committed by Muslims.
People always say that those people “are radical Muslims” and not all Muslims want to behead people and
partake in jihad.
The word radical means “of or going to the root or origin;
fundamental.” So by the strict definition these people terrorists in Paris are Muslims. They are going to the root or origin or fundamentals of the
teachings of the Muhammad.
Muhammad taught to kill those that would not covert to Islam. Those who don’t subscribe to this
teaching are the ones in danger of not being Muslims.
On the other side though, ‘radical’ Christians are the ones
truly loving people without lopping off their heads. Radical Christians claim to love Jesus and follow His teachings.
The problem with Christ’s teaching--to those who are not Christians--is that it
exposes that people are in need of a Savior. His teachings tell us to die to ourselves and put others
needs above our own. In fact Jesus said that in order be a true follower of His
that you need to “pick up your cross and follow Him.” He tells Christians that
they will face trails and persecutions.
Shoot Jesus even knew that people would make fun of Him and us, but we
need to pray for those people instead.
Perhaps those in the media should examine side by side the
teachings of Muhammad and Jesus.
They would find out that Muhammad preaches death
and destruction and Jesus preaches graced and forgiveness.
Leftovers, enjoy.
L. Kyle
