As a nation, we have made a big deal out of attacking the Taliban, but the Taliban are just the “rednecks” of Islam. Anyone raised in the South as I am, knows we have religious groups in the States that could give the Taliban a run for their money. It is only the separation of church and state that keeps our own Bubba’s from drawing blood.
Case in point is, Charlie Fuqua, Republican candidate in Arkansas. He has written a book that calls for the legal execution of disobedient children. The Book is called God’s Law- The Only Political Solution: A Prophecy of the Downfall of the United States or a Blueprint for National Prosperity.
You’ve heard the argument before, the Bible is God’s handbook for humankind. Not, of course, the Bible as understood by a liberal or someone with humanist leanings. But the Bible as understood by the person who wants the power. According to this line of thought, God has a divinely ordained pecking order. Problems in the world come when this order is not honored. So when wives disobey their husbands, when slaves disobey their masters, when subjects disobey their King, then chaos follows.
It isn’t Christianity’s fault, nor Republicans’ fault that they have whacko’s in their midst, but it is very much all of our fault when we do not loudly condemn those who attack others in our name. I realized in seminary that the church’s history should be written in blood not ink. No one can count the women burned as witches, the adulterers stoned, or the heretics murdered when we were in control.
So before our nation launches our crusade against the religious extremists elsewhere, we would be wise to do something to protect citizens from the Christian Taliban in our own midst.
Glad to see some sensible comments on the web, especially from someone who representing Christianity at its best.
Firstly, he’s a bad person for promoting this. But, I understand how people get to this point, especially in fundamentalist areas. These people are told the Bible is the inerrant word of God. And that Bible absolutely DOES promote both slavery and stoning unruly children. How do Christians answer for the fact that the Bible does say these things? Do you only listen to the bits you think are good, but not the bits you happen to disagree with?
Harry, that’s an important question. I believe the Bible represents a growing understanding of the human condition. I believe its trajectory leads to universal human rights, but I understand when someone considers the whole thing dangerous in light of how it has been misused. As I’ve said on this site, without using love as our interpreting devise, the world’s scriptures are the most dangerous books in the world. Thanks for your comment.