Sometimes I'm ashamed as a Christian.

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Sometimes I'm ashamed as a Christian.

by Benjaminbrum @ Saturday, Jul. 19, 2008 – 10:10:51 am

This guy really makes me sad, angry and worried that he's out there speaking on behalf of Christian.

Watch the video (ignore the stupid laughter track) and I'll pop some comments after the clip.

I'm a Christian. I'm a homosexual too. I know some people hate Christians and I know there's another group who hates homosexuals. So I'm double hated or a minority within a minority.

I have some days where I want to recant my faith and chuck it away but I can't.

It's so hard for me to hear Christians mouthing off about gays.

There are so many things that the Warrior says that are wrong.

A bunch of Christian leaders got together over the last 2000 years and voted on which books got in. They use the whole "God told me" defence.

The Levitical stuff he chats about is bogus. Levitical law prohibits all sorts of terrible crimes such as eating shellfish, wearing cloth made from two different fibres and touching your wife when she's in "her monthly flow". For me the whole of Leviticus is a contextual book to understand a community trying to make sure they don't die during their time living in the desert. It's also a bit of a manual for how to have God living at the edge of the camp and not die. The rules are there because God is holy. (Wow, I sound like a fundementalist. Well, she is holy) And the rules just demonstrate that there are thousands of ways to go wrong. We could never justify ourselves. Hence the need for Jim Caviezel to suffer a gory death on our behalf.

(I get a bit icked by the blood sacrifice thing. Can anyone else say "myth of redemptive violence"?)

The bible gets twisted by various groups to suit it's own agenda. It also worries me the amount of time, energy and blog posts that get focussed on sex and sexuality. On another blog I was commenting about the word Queer and how I don't think the gay community is organised enough to get consensus on the issue of what to call itself. Let's get consensus on other issues. Let's gather around adoption rights, marriage rights, abolishing the death penalty in countries that still oppress LGBT/GLBT people.

Lets expose mendacity, hypocrisy and inequality whereever we find it. We might get a better word than queer- lets try for "peacemakers".

Sorry for a heavy post. Just need to respond to what he said because he moderates his comments on the Tube. (Bet mine don't turn up)
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7 Comments to Sometimes I'm ashamed as a Christian.

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- deleted user (Visitor)
- Saturday, Jul. 19, 2008 @ 11:41:31 am
Benjaminbrum,

Do not feel ashamed for other peoples prejudice or misrepresentation of Christianity. The failing is theirs and they only make themselves look foolish.

I currently working through the "Christianity Explored" course and despite this alleged liberal interpretation, I still struggle with the pejorative terminology and entrenched prejudice.

I personally think that if Jesus where to turn up tomorrow he'd be a wee bit pissed off in the way that his teachings have been hijacked and twisted to suit other peoples agendas.

I personally feel I will end up rejecting most churches and will make my peace with "the big man" in my own way, which is one of love, mutual respect, tolerance and inclusion.

I've never really understood what the big deal was about a persons sexuality. I think it says a lot more about the person who "bothered" by it.

Good post, by the way.

Best regards,

XoD.
- - Benjaminbrum
  - http://www.twitter.com/benjibrum
  - Saturday, Jul. 19, 2008 @ 11:51:57 am
  Thanks for posting.
  
  I do sometimes worry it's just me spinning round and round without getting anywhere.
  
  I feel that if alot of the religious leaders if they turned up to see how people have interpreted their teachings they'd be so upset.
  
  Most religious leaders don't want individuals interpreting scripture for themselves as they usually get it wrong.
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- fairplay ^Pro
- Saturday, Jul. 19, 2008 @ 08:50:20 pm
I seem to remember that a lot of the Sermon on the Mount was "You've heard it was said... [in the Old Testament], I say to you..." e.g "Eye-for-an-eye... but I say turn the other cheek".

One particular RE teacher said to me that the Old Testament was more of a reference book for what was discussed in the New.

I am no theologian but I think it is difficult to take certainly lines and apply them to situations with great confidence. Especially when you have fantastic general principles of mutual respect and regard for your fellow human.
- - Benjaminbrum
  - http://www.twitter.com/benjibrum
  - Saturday, Jul. 19, 2008 @ 09:31:25 pm
  Jesus says that he's come to uphold the law and the prophets but adds his own commentary saying that we should love each other as ourselves and love God.
  
  All this talk focus on gay sex and women bishops takes the focus away from loving people and looking at your own relationship with God/the divine/the universe/whatever you call it.
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- RGray1981 ^Pro
- Sunday, Jul. 20, 2008 @ 10:28:22 am
I should like to say that I was brought up C of E and I wholly consider myself bisexual. I have a Christian upbringing but have rather found my own way of believing.

Ben, do not allow those who practice prejudice and hatred in the name of their 'faith' dishearten you. It should be remembered that people were often upset by Christ because He loved others without regard to their positions and/or practices in life.

I have made my own peace with the Entity in charge of all that is. I do believe It to be loving, compassionate, and patient. I think of 'God' as akin to a parent who dearly loves It's children.

If the teachings and actions of Christ are anything to go by, those who love and show compassion are on the right path.
- - Benjaminbrum
  - http://www.twitter.com/benjibrum
  - Monday, Jul. 21, 2008 @ 01:51:58 pm
  I think all of us need to work on our own relationships with the divine/the universe/god/goddess/whatever you call it. I like that God has many names and we can use the ones that fit our situations to call on him/her.
  
  My way of believing doesn't fit the way of believing my parents have or others of my friends. It doesn't make one way or the other any better or worse.
  
  I worry that people see the more vocal camera grabbing members of various faith groups and think that we're all like that. Talking to someone who's a reasonable, thoughtful and wise person is not as exciting as listening to someone who's spouting hatred, shaking their fist with a little vein throbbing at their temple.
  
  Everything that the various commenters have said is like being picked up from the ground, dusted off, given a hug and setting off along the road again. Thanks!
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- Collar
- Sunday, Jul. 27, 2008 @ 12:00:06 am
I think it's sad when people get tied up in knots about these things.
It made me question the value of the original ideas.
Can't you see through it if you have to defend it so much?
I don't mean the ideas of mutual respect, seeking after common good, seeking the best, and so on ... these are ideas are naturally good. I mean the pre-conceived, pre-formulated ideas.
I think that when you need to label good and noble ideas with the wrapper of religion that you are belittling your fellow human beings.
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