Teachable Moments

I am very sad that Matthew has this view of Christianity, and it is Christianity’s fault. I hope that Matthew and others who view this cartoon understand that it does not represent all Christians, only those who seek out attention in the media. Be encouraged that there are Christians out here (me included) who are concerned less with moral justice and more with social justice.

A bit shallow, don’t you think, given how broad the spectrum of religious belief is in the U.S. and around the world? Tolerance of the varying degrees of belief and nonbelief abounds. While I enjoy many of the cartoons featured in this “Teachable Moments” section, this one buys into a reductionist form of bigotry that casts all religious individuals in the stereotype Christian fundamentalists. As a religious individual, I will admit that I did not take personal offense at the cartoon. It wasn’t substantive enough to get me riled up. It just wasn’t funny. As I scrolled down the page looking for a caption that would put some laughter into my morning,my anticipation was deflated when, at the bottom, there was no intelligent nuanced caption like there often is. In my judgement this was a failed attempt at humor that appealed to a cliche of religion. Unfortunately it was at the expense of religiously tolerant and thinking people.

In a quick response to Tom’s question about what religions other than Christianity might take an approach, I suspect that the point is not targeted at any one sect or religion but to approaches to religion. In essence, all Fundamentalist sects, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or other tend to believe theirs is the only way to the high way and that all others are inherently godless or, worse, heretical. One only need look to the Albigensian Crusade (One of the early sources for the “Kill them all, God will sort them out” approaches to determining who should and should not be killed....). To limit it to an exclusively Christian view ties you a little too closely to a contemporary American setting.

I agree with Matt. The signs say, “Religious Writers,” not “Christian Writers.”

For those quick to condemn Christians who hold to the belifes written in the Bible, how I wish you would actually read the Bible with an open mind and searching heart instead of continuing to spout your misperceptions of what it says or who true believers are. And I quickly add that not all who sit in the church pews and call themselves Christians are themselves Christian. Several of Jesus parables speak to the reality of true and false converts.

If one holds the Bible as authoritative in all matters of faith and practice, then he/she does not have the option of picking and choosing what is considered true therein. It speaks of God’s moral law, of sin (breaking His law), of the consequences of sin (hell), but also of the amazing provision of God through Jesus Christ available to all who will repent (turn away from their sin) and fully trust and follow him.

I can’t help it if it seems intolerant that a believer stands by what the Scriptures say about heaven and hell. Tolerance isn’t my God — Jesus is. G.K. Chesterton wrote “Tolerance is the virture of the man with no convictions.” That isn’t a camp I want to be in when I face my Maker on the day of judgment.

I can’t read anyone’s heart, and it isn’t up to me to proclaim on an individual basis who is and isn’t going to heaven or hell, but I do stand by what Jesus said when he declared “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He, as the ultimate judge knows who has repented of their sin and fully trusted in him and whose subsequent life bears the godly fruit that is the evidence of that regeneration. To them will he grant eternal life. Others will face his just and necessary judgment.

Jeff Ross

When are you going to realize that not everyone is (or wants to be) a xian?

I am obviously not alone in recognizing that this cartoon references Christian fundamentalism. Those who want to accuse me and others of being “too American” are too quick to prove their inclusivism to engage in any meaningful dialogue.

I do want to make it clear (since it seems I have failed to do so) that what dismays be about this cartoon is that it is accurate.