Newsgroups: bit.listserv.words-l
Date:         Sun, 8 Nov 1992 15:06:00 CST
From:         "Jim Thomas (tk0jut1@niu.bitnet)"
 <TK0JUT1%NIU.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject:      Christian bashing???

Ruth attempts to divert criticisms of her (and Fundamentalism's) views
of some social groups, life styles, or beliefs, as bigoted
intolerance, "PC/liberal cant," and Christian bashing.  Feeling
persecuted, Ruth insists on identifying criticism of Christian
Fundamentalism with "Christian bashing." Feeling stung, Ruth insists
on labeling as bigoted those who call her bigoted. Searching for
analogies, Ruth adduces China as an example of Christian persecution
as if such "evidence" confirms her belief that opposition to the
political implications of fundamentalism is akin to persecution of
Christians. At a loss for logic, Ruth claims that disagreeing with
another's (presumably Christian) views is tantamount to Christian
bashing.

Ruth seems quite insensitive to the gross comments she made, and she
clearly is unable to understand how and why her comments have raised
hackles.

I recall no one on this list as having ever "bashed" another for their
religious beliefs. No one in this recent thread has said made a single
disparaging comment about Christianity in general.  Ruth demonstrates
my point through her posts: Her politics and her beliefs are
inseparable. When one resists the politics that penetrate into their
own lives, it becomes seen by Ruth as an attack on her religious
beliefs. She professes to be bothered by anti-gay violence, yet she
demonstrates no capacity for recognizing how Fundamentalist views of
gays promote such violence.  I'm sure she recalls that during a spate
of anti-gay violence in the mid-80s, a few Fundamentalist leaders
"deplored" the violence against those evil swine, but suggested that
they brought it on themselves and that the solution to the problem was
not toleration of difference but rather conformity to the "correct"
lifestyle (as they defined it from their <interpretation> of the
Bible. Ruth professes tolerance and advocates that others treat her
tolerantly. Yet, she supports legislation that allows (and in Oregon
would have required) discrimination against those she finds "evil."
Ruth claims that only "demons" can demonize without recognizing the
metaphoric trope that refers to how actions of <humans> stigmatize
some groups and thereby justify their persecution.

A re-reading of her earlier post confirms that she used the
pathological example of alcoholism to draw an analogy to gays and
their life style. With apologies to Bayla, this is hardly subtle. Ruth
acknowledges following a literal interpretation of the Bible (which
she claims *is not* an interpretation, even though other Christian
variants do not share her interpretation) as "proof" that gay
lifestyles are wrong. Her views are quite explicit, her words are not
ambiguous. Those words are precisely the words used by those who
advocate "live and let live" only when their own interests are
threatened, but not when they threaten the interests of others.

No, it is *NOT* Christianity that is under attack. It is the political
implications of the beliefs and actions of one segment that intrude in
rather nasty ways into the lives of others.  By twisting her
interpretation of resistance to the intrusions into "Christian
bashing," Ruth attempts to dodge the issue of intolerance and blame
her victims.

Ruth errs when she claims I call the implications of her views nasty
by reducing it to mean little more than "I don't like it very much."
She simply can't understand that it's not the views, but rather the
consequences of those views I find reprehensible.  She errs again when
she reduces opposition to her views as PC/liberalism: No, Ruth.
Fundamentalists have declared those with whom I associate as "the
enemy," as "evil," as "sinful." And, they have acted accordingly.  I
respect your <religious beliefs> Ruth, but when you translate them
into political action that symbolizes an attack on an enemy, you have
created an enemy.
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