Weird Anne Rice on my facebook friend's page

[Sweetdeath]

(from facebook)


Anne Rice: My question today: do you think
Christianity can survive and evolve if it
stops persecuting, stops projecting its
concept of "evil" and "Satan" on others --
such as gays, or worshippers in other
religions, or sexually liberated women?
Can Christianity exist without
scapegoats?

I'm sorry, but she is a loon.

The responses on her page are worse . I can link it later when i get to a computer/laptop.

[Ali]

I actually think it's kind of an interesting question.  Is part of Christianity's appeal that they not only create an "us" but a "them" as well?

[En_Route]

I actually think it's kind of an interesting question.  Is part of Christianity's appeal that they not only create an "us" but a "them" as well?

One wonders then why they have directed such effort into converting the"them" s into "us" s.

[Ali]

I actually think it's kind of an interesting question.  Is part of Christianity's appeal that they not only create an "us" but a "them" as well?

One wonders then why they have directed such effort into converting the"them" s into "us" s.

Well, because then they can feel virtuous about the us vs them mentality.  "Them are terrible sinners, but we're trying to help Them and make Them Us."

[OldGit]

Right.  Also because there's sanity in numbers: the more people they get to believe in this stuff, the deeper they can push down this nagging suspicion that it's not true after all.

[En_Route]

I actually think it's kind of an interesting question.  Is part of Christianity's appeal that they not only create an "us" but a "them" as well?

One wonders then why they have directed such effort into converting the"them" s into "us" s.

Well, because then they can feel virtuous about the us vs them mentality.  "Them are terrible sinners, but we're trying to help Them and make Them Us."

I think you underestimate the missionary position.

[OldGit]

^

[Ali]

I actually think it's kind of an interesting question.  Is part of Christianity's appeal that they not only create an "us" but a "them" as well?

One wonders then why they have directed such effort into converting the"them" s into "us" s.

Well, because then they can feel virtuous about the us vs them mentality.  "Them are terrible sinners, but we're trying to help Them and make Them Us."

I think you underestimate the missionary position.

Never!

[En_Route]

Right.  Also because there's sanity in numbers: the more people they get to believe in this stuff, the deeper they can push down this nagging suspicion that it's not true after all.

I only wish they did have  characteristic doubts. My experience of most Catholics of previous generations was that they were  utterly unwavering and unquestioning in their faith and  equally adamant that my apostasy guaranteed a fate of eternal torment.

[Sweetdeath]

I posted this, then had to go away to Maryland for 4 days .
haha, hey guys! 

[Firebird]

I read some of the responses on her page out of curiosity, and some of them actually said something like "Nope, it can't. People need to get their heads out of their asses and stop believing in that mystical thing in the sky." There's hope

[Amicale]

I actually think it's kind of an interesting question.  Is part of Christianity's appeal that they not only create an "us" but a "them" as well?

I think, unfortunately, that you're right. Several sects of Christianity have become either liberal or very liberal (and some have drifted far enough 'out there' that there's a vague Christian flavour, but nothing else), but these sects aren't huge and aren't powerful. They're broken up into handfuls of little churches and meeting groups everywhere, with no centralized authority. The Anglican church has probably the highest chance of surviving, but other independent churches, the United Church, the Christian aspects to Unitarian Universalism, some Presbyterian churches etc etc... I don't know how long they'll survive. I guess they'll keep going as long as they have enough liberal congregants giving them enough money to stay open.

But really, like you said, traditional Christianity's appeal is an us versus them mentality. For Christianity to exist, sin has to exist. People who are either going to heaven or to hell have to exist. Without that, you've got a group of people where absolutely everyone's OK and going to heaven, and therefore the very 'need' for the religion is taken away. Most liberal Christian groups I know of don't emphasize the need to get saved from hell at all, but instead espouse a religious humanism that encourages everyone to be kind and welcoming 'for Jesus', who unfortunately wasn't nearly as kind or welcoming as most of the liberal believers themselves.