Christians..... you are not the saviors of the world.

[Glaurung]

Wow, only 70 posts before someone started on with the "Christians are the real persecuted minority here!"

Did you read what I said in context, or are you being willfully dishonest? I in no way implied that Mr. Chau was a victim.

The Christians who play the victim card have never been victims, straight-up. If they want to know what it's like to be a persecuted minority as a Christian, they should talk to the Russian Orthodox or the Catholics and Orthodox in the Middle East. Only problem is, many American Christians don't recognize their Middle Eastern and East European coreligionists as being such.

Read the post Wobert has misrepresented. I did not imply that American evangelicals are a persecuted minority.

 

[Cooky]

They speak only for themselves, however, and don't represent every atheist ever.

Were you ever religious?

 

[Cooky]

Did you read what I said in context, or are you being willfully dishonest? I in no way implied that Mr. Chau was a victim.


Read the post Wobert has misrepresented. I did not imply that American evangelicals are a persecuted minority.

My posts were cherry picked earlier and misrepresented too.

It was post #110 - quotes taken completely out of context in either a most careless or deceitful way.

 

[Glaurung]

You're right. It was unnecessary. But I get the feeling that you blame the Islanders for his death. The blame clearly rests with the individual who broke many laws and the organization that supported his mission.

I even called Mr. Chau the author of his own death.

Blaming the Sentinelese for being territorial is as irrational as blaming a troop chimpanzees for being the same. Not that the Sentinelese are chimps. Only that any attempts to reason with them would be as futile.

But really, what's all the fuss about? If his beliefs were right and his god is real, he's sitting up there with his god right now. If not, well then, he got what he deserved.

Deserved? No. What was completely predictable? Yes.

And I'm a traditionalist Catholic. I consider Evangelical beliefs to be extremely flawed. Which is another thing people fail to take in to account when they make their all-encompassing denunciations of Christians and Christianity. Which is what I pointed out to the OP. The vast majority of Christians had absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Chau's misadventure. But if being on the internet has taught me anything. It's that any excuse to browbeat Christians will do.

 

[Cooky]

I even called Mr. Chau the author of his own death.

Blaming the Sentinelese for being territorial is as irrational as blaming a troop chimpanzees for being the same. Not that the Sentinelese are chimps. Only that any attempts to reason with them would be as futile.

I notice the post of which you quoted speaks about your intentions. That's the typical modern "call-out culture" snapping it's whips.

...Don't let it intimidate you.

Call-out culture - Wikipedia

 

[ajay0]

Givin the recent threads regarding John Chau's willful disregard for laws that had protected the safety and health concerns of the Setinelese nation and its people for a considerable time.

This is what has been going on since his death.

First, a look at John's stupidity and his spirit of disregard in spite of warnings and concerns that I'm reasonably sure were given to him prior to all this, and the consequences as what has come about from all this so far....

Seven people arrested for helping missionary John Chau before his death

A number of Christians also have the sheer gall to demand this after the fact....

Christian group invites ridicule with demand of murder charges against Sentinelese - Times of India


I think it's time to send a message and reminder to Christians and any other religion that follows a similar path.

In light of recent events surrounding Chau's actions, basically the message needs to be reaffirmed to (hopefully) get it through a number of Christians heads that....

POINT

* You are not the saviors of the world.

*You are not the salt of the earth.

*You are not a beacon of light into the darkness.

I don't know what it takes to drive the message home. Maybe it will take the modern age deaths of an entire group of an ancient indigenous people spanning tens of thousands of years for starters who simply want to be left alone. God forbid. Right?

Buddhism is also a missionary religion , and Emperor Ashoka the Great, send Buddhist missionaries all around the world for spreading Buddhist teachings, three centuries before the origin of Christianity.

A vital difference however is that Buddhist missionaries never used violence and conquest to spread their faith in contrast to the abrahamic faiths.

There is also a sense of hypocrisy in using conquests to spread religion, as Jesus Christ clearly espoused nonviolence and prohibited Peter to use the sword in his defence before the romans. I hope christians would start putting more emphasis on these teachings of nonviolence by Christ and ensure harmony between the teachings and actions.

 

[ajay0]

The missionary was of course stupid to jump into a tank full of piranhas and expect to come out. But this doesn't change the fact that the natives inhabiting the island are paranoid savages. They have been known to shoot at anyone who enters their island, for any reason. Why they are given special protections is beyond my understanding.

They are considered an endangered tribe and does not constitute much people. Vulnerability to diseases by outside contact is also an another issue.

Due to extreme hostility to outsiders it was decided by experts and human rights observers to leave them alone.

 

[Jumi]

If by 'indiscriminate slaughter as savagery' you mean 'shoots trespassers who have ignored many public warnings.' Are you as incensed by people who put up this sign as you are by this story?
View attachment 25552

Well that sounds like just the place to go sell your worldviews... go into their private property and ignore the warning shots while charging in. Perhaps with some gifts they don't know what they are.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Catholics don't preach by using words. So I guess that would be okay by me?

Funny thing is? I've been accosted by any number of Catholics over the years. With words and worse. But yes-- by example would be the epitome of grace. (in my worthless opinion, naturally... )

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

You guys do realize that ex-Christians turned Atheist feel a sense of loss in their lives right?

...Why try to do that to someone?

Sure! There is some slight loss. But the gains are many-many times greater. A 100% reduction of guilt, just for starters!

 

[Cooky]

Sure! There is some slight loss. But the gains are many-many times greater. A 100% reduction of guilt, just for starters!

Thank you for your honesty.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Thank you for your honesty.

Oh, I have freely admitted that I would rather that there was a Cosmic Policeman who watches over the collective fates of Humanity.

I would worry less about sudden extinctions from colliding asteroids or alien invasions.

And I'd not be overly concerned about the First And Last Atomic War from happening either.

Unfortunately? I look about the planet, and I see massive amounts of god-preventable evil happening. Bone cancer in infants. Mass starvation for want of some rain. Things such as that.

That proves to me, that if there is a Cosmic Super-being? It is rather an azz. A capricious monster, at best. A sadistic monster who enjoys the suffering of the innocent children--if it exists.

So, on second thought, perhaps it's best if there is no god at all. For it's name's sake.

 

[Woberts]

Did you read what I said in context, or are you being willfully dishonest? I in no way implied that Mr. Chau was a victim.


Read the post Woberts has misrepresented. I did not imply that American evangelicals are a persecuted minority.

Me? Misrepresent something? Perish the thought!
I was not referring to American evangelicals, neither did I say you thought Chau was a victim.

 

[Cooky]

Sorry... not to make light of the response, I just thought "perish the thought!" Sounded funny.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I did a poll once with my Atheist friends at Christian Forums, and Belk and others said they did actually feel a sense of loss. I believe them.

I think it more has to do with the loss of fraternity, kinsmanship, and the familiarity of something if you've done it for a long time. I felt that too and still miss it to be honest in that regard , yet I really don't regard it as a loss. Just fond memories of friends and the day and the times as I reminisce the past.

 

[Cooky]

I think it more has to do with the loss of fraternity, kinsmanship, and the familiarity of something if you've done it for a long time. I felt that too and still miss it to be honest in that regard , yet I really don't regard it as a loss. Just fond memories of friends and the day and the times as I reminisce the past.

I get it. Personally, I'm just way too stubborn to ever let that go I guess, even though I've only been to Mass probably once in the last 5 yrs.

...But I used to be a really good Catholic. One day, I hope to be again.

 

[John53]

Using isolated incidents like this to post your tirades about how awful "Christians" are may get you various pats on the back but that doesn't make it fair. Also, if you look beyond the US situation the overall global situation is that Christians are a persecuted minority. One of these global persecutors is officially atheist in doctrine. Yes, the Jehovah's Witness who knocks on your door on Saturday morning may be annoying, but such pales to being rounded up into "reeducation" by a Marxist governments (which will eventually extend to Christians if it hasn't already) or blown up at Easter services in Egypt. Spreading the "good news" is not an exclusively Christian behavior.

The Russian Orthodox Church is behind what is happening to the JW's in Russia so it's more of a Christian v Christian thing.

If disease is going to wipe out the Sentinelese, it's just as likely going to be a disease contracted from the next Hindu fisherman who gets too close. It's not as if Mr. Chau was the first and only contact they've had with outsiders. Look, I'm not defending him. It was breathtakingly arrogant to think he could convert such an isolated hunter gather tribe known for being aggressive. Heck, to my knowledge these people haven't even mastered fire. So what exactly was the plan is as beyond me as it is you.

The publicity Mr Chau has brought to this tribe is as dangerous as the risk of disease. His actions were criminal.

No doubt that Mr. Chau was the author of his own death. He's not a victim. Nonetheless, it's almost as some people are gloating over his death which says a lot to me.

What about the people saying things like "the tribe deserve to die from small pox"?

 

[Cooky]

The publicity Mr Chau has brought to this tribe is as dangerous as the risk of disease. His actions were criminal.

What about the people saying things like "the tribe deserve to die from small pox"?

My ancestors have lived 60,000 years too... But guess what, we're not dumb enough to refuse vaccination like these savages are.

What makes these tribe people so special anyways?

 

[John53]

You guys do realize that ex-Christians turned Atheist feel a sense of loss in their lives right?

...Why try to do that to someone?

Not this ex-Christian turned atheist.

 

[Cooky]

Not this ex-Christian turned atheist.

I think that's good. I support Atheists to the fullest.