…but are “christians” irrelevant, also?

In light of, and inspired by, Mad Mike’s new muse, Robert Douglas, who posted Atheists Are Irrelevant, I decided Mr. Sears is irrelevant and he needed to hear a different perspective. Not like I expect him to understand, of course. That the “star” will publish my missive is doubtful.

Robert corrected me for attributing Mr. Sears’ well-written and thoughtful op-ed to him. I am sincerely grateful.

I determined that my best course of action would involve posting my response to Mr. Sears. Rereading his perspective outraged me so much, that I felt compelled to expand my comment into a full post.

As Arthur C. Clarke wrote, I have encountered a few ‘creationists’ and because they were usually nice, intelligent people, I have been unable to decide whether they were really mad or only pretending to be mad. If I was a religious person, I would consider creationism nothing less than blasphemy. Do its adherents imagine that God is a cosmic hoaxer who has created the whole vast fossil record for the sole purpose of misleading humankind ?

Makes sense. The complexity of evolution evokes a far deeper faith in God than Creationism. I now wonder if Adam and Eve had belly buttons. Think about that for a second.

I thought I’d follow Susan B. Anthony’s precept: “I’m not a humanitarian, I’m a hell-raiser.”

Mr. Sears’ deluded opinion contradicts, of course, the Dalai Lama who urges people to “respect all religions.” Paramansa Yogananda, founder of the Self Realization Fellowship (and, no, this is not one of those crazy California religions…), who wrote “Brotherhood is an ideal better understood by example than precept” and believed in the unity of all religious faiths.

A quote in the Christian Bible is “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” I wonder if Mr. Sears ever read this quote.

Or, for that matter, Messers. Robertson and Fallwell.

Dear Mr. Sears:

I respect your conviction about your faith. I feel the same about atheists who have the right to have their beliefs also. In fact, I an not an atheist, but my faith requires me to respect all faiths. For this reason, I find your op-ed extremely disquieting. I assume you have heard of turning the other cheek and the First Amendment. Both of us can agree on that.

But, do you feel those of the Jewish, Muslim, Amish, or other small, faithful groups are just a percentage of people who should be ignored? Personally, I don’t care if someone wishes me “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” “Blessed Winter Solstice,” or even just “How ya doin.’” Any and all of these phrases, when said in kindness, should be cherished equally. Most Atheists feel the same.

Christianity is a 2,010 year-old religion. However, Judaism is the second oldest religion. In fact, “The city of Jericho has been continuously occupied—and had a city way—from something like 8000 BCE. The patriarch Abraham, if he existed, would have around 3000—or 2000—BCE. Accordingly, Judaism is approximately 5,000 years old. Hinduism is even older—approximately 8,000 years old.

Should adherents of either religion judge Christianity given the relatively small time people believe in Christianity? Of course, not. Perhaps you might do well to remember that Christians were once in the minority.

Just because a particular group of people are in the minority doesn’t mean they should be silenced. I was brought up Jewish, a religion which is approximately 1.7% of the U.S. population. By your logic, people of the Jewish faith are also useless. Ann Coulter, a self-proclaimed Christian, called Jews “unfinished Christians.” That statement denigrates all Christians. How do you feel about that comment?

No one can reason another into faith. Christianity does not mean stupid or vicious. I deeply believe in C.S. Lewis’ comment from Mere Christianity, a logic I wish were practiced by all faiths:

“The battle is between faith and reason on one side and emotion and imagination on the other….. the same thing happens about Christianity. I am not asking anyone to accept Christianity if his best reasoning tells him that the weight of evidence is against it. That is not the point at which faith comes in.”

Lewis’ logic is irrefutable I do not believe any soul is “useless.” Atheists do have a belief in that they don’t believe in anything.

Here’s how Mohamed viewed Christianity and Judaism: “… when he established the first peace sanctuary of Madinah, where the majority of the people were not Muslims. Here is what he said about the Christians of Najran (Yaman):”

“Najran has the protection of God and the pledges of Muhammad, the Prophet, to protect their (the Christians’) lives, faith, land, property, those who are absent and those who are present, and their clan and allies. They need not change anything of their past customs. No right of theirs or their religion shall be altered. No church leader, monk or church guard shall be removed from his position.”

Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Sears, that it is regrettable that more people don’t feel this way?

I strongly believe and try to practice the most important and central tenets of Christianity: “Judge ye not” and “The greatest commandment of all is Love.” Religion different from faith. Christianity is comprised of numerous branches and each group views Christ’s words in a different way. Accordingly, which Christians are on the “Right Side” of any issue and which are not?

Mr. Sears, if you sit in judgment and refuse to show love and compassion to others, an action Christ specifically instructed his followers to avoid, then your rationale requires one to find your logic spurious.