…At least on Capitol Hill:

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Charles Mudede—who writes about film, books, music, and his life in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, the USA, and the UK for The Stranger—was born near a steel plant in Kwe Kwe, Zimbabwe. He has no memory...

28 replies on “The True Spirit of Christianity”

  9. http://www.kirotv.com/news/25027743/deta…

    ‘Everybody Draw Muhammad ‘ Cartoonist Goes Into Hiding On Advice Of FBI
    Posted: 4:26 pm PDT September 15, 2010
    Updated: 4:55 pm PDT September 15, 2010

    SEATTLE — A local cartoonist for the Seattle Weekly is in hiding tonight, fearing for her life and acting on the advice of the FBI.
    Molly Norris drew the attention of Islamic fundamentalists after drawing a cartoon depicting ordinary objects as the prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims consider visual representations of the prophet Muhammad offensive. Norris also declared May 20, 2010, “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day.” At the time, she said the day wasn’t planned out of disrespect for Islam, but to protect the right of cartoonists to express themselves.

  10. And we love our Christian neighbors right back, no matter what the media says. Proud Muslim here! Loving her proud Christian mother and sister and grandmother every single day. Having a blast with her staunchly aetheist friends and his remarkable opinions that make me think and question every time. Put people like me on the news! Get rid of those fanatics, man do they ever suck.

  11. One of the signs in front of a Greenwood Ave church read “A Blessed Eid to Our Muslim Brethren,” alongside their perenially-flying rainbow pennants. Doesn’t inspire a sudden conversion in me, but damn if it doesn’t make me smile.

  14. The message is great. The sign is just plain tacky. But it has good company. The sign on the 3rd Avenue side of Benaroya Hall is just plain tacky also.

  19. Good Evening Charles,
    What I am about to say is said in context and isn’t necessarily cynical.

    I’m intrigued. Last time I checked, it was my understanding that you’re an atheist. As a result, why would you or any atheist conclude that “The True Spirit of Christianity” is to love one’s neighbors (in this case, Muslim) when (it is my understanding) an atheist would necessarily reject that notion (that Jesus Christ, or God if one believes in the Trinity would be your Lord & Savior and would instruct you to love your neighbor as yourself). And, why Islamic (Muslim neighbors)? Would the First Baptist Church love their Republican, Capitalistic, Pro-Life (or Anti-Choice), Against Gay Marriage neighbors? How about flat out racist neighbors?

    Yes, I’m aware the message is quaint and au courant. Rev. Jones’ prank of wanting to burn Korans and then reneging was the ostensible reason for this display on the First Baptist Church’s marquee.

    Before the question is posed, no, I don’t love my Muslim neighbors or ANY (except for two who I consider friends) other neighbors of any creed, race, gender, ____(heck, fill in the blank) in the immediate sense. On the other hand, I do RESPECT them. Indeed, I respect the “stranger”. As Samuel Johnson once remarked (paraphrased) “I trust the stranger because he has never deceived me.” Nor has he or she (the stranger) ever harmed me.

    I believe RESPECTING one’s neighbors trumps any Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, atheistic etc. notion of “loving thy neighbor”. I don’t believe humans are obliged to LOVE their neighbors. I don’t even think the marquee’s display is even humanistic. Heck, I don’t believe one is obliged to love their family. I am sure that “I don’t love you anymore” has been uttered many a time.

    My point is the marquee has a certain charm but isn’t substantive. For the record, I have no contempt of Islam, I know the five Pillars of Islam and I have worked in a Muslim country.

  20. Recently seen in a Hindu’s shop window in Barnet outer London: two or three little statues of multi-armed gods – and hung just above them a MERRY CHRISTMAS banner. That’s having the best of both worlds…

  21. I smile every time I see the signs propped up in the windows of Tacoma’s First United Methodist left over from their 9/11 demonstration against the idea of burning the Qur’an! It’s definitely what I’ve loved best about my bus ride for the last week.

  23. It’s the truth! God bless everyone here. God bless the Muslims in New York who are being persecuted. God bless the Muslims around the world who are being persecuted.

  25. Lark @19: Yes, the sign was put up in the context of the Koran burning stunt by Rev Yosemite Sam and the general anti-Muslim mood of some on the 9/11 anniversary. I think it’s important for Christians, and Baptists in particular, to send the message that the loudest voices do not speak for all of us. As for the Love part, it should be taken figuratively, as in the message of Jesus to love your neighbor as yourself. When asked “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the Good Samaritan parable. Keep in mind, of course, that the audience for this story despised Samaritans as much as your average Fox News viewer despises Muslims.

    You have asked a fair question about whether liberal Christians love their conservative neighbors. I’ve been a member of Seattle First Baptist for 12 years and similar churches back east before that. While I am only speaking for myself and no one else, this is something I’ve been wondering for a long time. I am just as guilty of demonizing those on the other side as many evangelicals are guilty of demonizing us. This is unfortunate because it seems like the two sides within the church, as in the secular world, have stopped listening to each other. While I don’t imagine we will ever sing a chorus of Kum-ba-yah with Fred Phelps, surely there are some in the conservative Christian world who may be willing to listen to us, and I know that leaders of liberal congregations are willing to listen to their conservative counterparts even if some of their parishioners (like myself) are a bit more reluctant. We need this dialogue to happen because the polarization of this country is getting us nowhere in terms of actually solving its many problems.

  26. @Madonna – YES! there are “reasonable” christians all over this country. Actually this is a Baptist Church that is a proud member of The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. AWAB is an association that believes God’s radical welcome is for all – LGBTQ people in particular. However, we are about God’s radical welcome for ALL and this includes any who find themselves on the margins.

    @RainMan – thank you for owning how we ALL struggle with “othering” as a way to keep ourselves separate (and better?) than “them”. The call to be people who really wrestle with what it means to embody God’s radical welcome – what Buber would call the “I-Thou” place – is what I think we, as followers of the other who we know as Jesus, is all about.

    So, maybe it is the day when we can invite whomever the “other” is in our own lives to coffee and begin a dialogue toward understanding. This just might be what the peaceable kin*dom looks like.

  27. Rainman, it is true, even in the christian church there are two sides, the literal, and the spiritual. Always have from the beginings.. Believers who have the Spirit, and those that don’t! Acts 18,19.
    Paul pointed to this, as well in his writings to the christians in Rome. Romans 8..

    Just as there are two *churchs*, one made of wood, or brick, and one that is etheric.

    Christianity isn’t a *religion*, as the rest, but Christianity are those in relationship, sons and daughters born of the Father, and fellowship with Christ. Those grafted into the Vine, and receiving the very life of the Vine, and showing forth the fruit of the Vine, which is the likeness and character of Jesus Christ Himself..

    They that have the Spirit are His, those that don’t, don’t! Jesus being the example of a human before receiving the Spirit, and a human after receiving the Spirit… Baptists beleive that they receive the Spirit at conversion, but there is an evidence of ones having received the Spirit, 1 Cor 12, at the least. Also Hebrews 2:1-4.

    No recorded miracles by Jesus before receiving the Spirit, but many after! My question to believers who think they have the Spirit……..where’s the beef? ” For you shall receive power, when the Spirit has come upon thee!” Acts…

    Sincerely
    Bar

  28. Rainman… Liberal and conservative sides in the church? Wouldn’t that be more accurate if you said, Carnal and Spiritual! Much of the new testament letters were to those who had received the Spirit, and those that hadn’t, or who had, but weren’t attentive to the Spirit.. ” For they that are led by the Spirit, are the true sons of God!” Romans 8:14..

    Since the mandate of God for believers, is to be conformed into the image of Christ, and that can only be done as the believer allows the Spirit His way, for it is the potter that works the clay, we will remain to be as you have depicted the church!

    But we still have the church made of stone and wood, and the church that is spiritual, and operates in the Spirit of Christ. 1 Corinthians 14.

    KJV: Hebrews Chapter 2
    [1] Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
    [2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
    [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
    [4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

    There is evidence of those beleivers that have the Sprit, and those that only think they have. Paul speaks of this in ……
    Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

    If, one has the very Spirit of Christ, living and abiding in them, and are being conformed, transformed into His character and likeness, the the appropiate *welcoming*, or depart from Me, will take place. Otherwise, one acts from their own fleshly desires, wills, and volitions, and get it wrong every time…. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, still had *good* attached..

    Sincerely
    Bar.

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