I fully realize there are bigger fish to fry than how Bryan Fischer continues to make the strong case for the American Family Association’s place on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s list of hate groups. However, my mind keeps going back to this matter.
I struggle with the fact that in 2011, Christianity is known for what it is against more than what it is for. I am really disillusioned with the conservative church as represented by religious right advocacy groups. In fact, of late, especially when Bryan Fischer speaks about most things, people run from Christianity. My brothers and sisters, this should not be so.
I struggle with the fact that the American Family Association refuses to be accountable for the statements of people they promote on the radio and their websites. The disclaimer they list on Bryan Fischer’s columns reads:
(Unless otherwise noted, the opinions expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Family Association or American Family Radio.)
However, when I asked the AFA if they agreed with this statement from Bryan Fischer, they have not answered.
Had the other indigenous people followed her [Pocahontas] example, their assimilation into what became America could have been seamless and bloodless. Sadly, it was not to be.
Last Thursday, I started calling AFA to discern if this was one of the issues which reflect the views of the AFA. I think the group’s leaders might since they took down the first article on Native Americans but then allowed Fischer’s article on Pocahontas with the above statement in it. Does this self-styled Christian organization really believe that Native Americans didn’t have enough converts to avoid the Trail of Tears? And how can we know since they won’t answer a simple question?
“Does this self-styled Christian organization really believe that Native Americans didn’t have enough converts to avoid the Trail of Tears?”
I hope Warren, that rather than dispute the number of native american converts, you are pointing out the arrogance of suggesting that they got what they deserved for not converting to christainity.
Torquemada would have been proud of Fischer.
ken – You correct in your hope. My wording was too brief I guess, but I intended a bit of sarcasm. It is arrogant either way – suggesting that they got what they deserved is arrogant and a race-purity argument that is offensive. And then another offense is the historical revisionism – in fact many native people did convert so his thesis is factually incorrect. But there goes the AFA, offering up an offensive, factually false perspective in the name of Christ.
I’m beginning to think that Matt 18:18 is at work in all of this,
Well, from a sociological point of view, that is,
I’m beginning to think that Matt 18:18 is at work in all of this,
Well, from a sociological point of view, that is,
Bruce – Thanks for sharing that. I do believe that the teachings of Christ are hope and life. I struggle with Christianity as a political system right now.
“I struggle with the fact that in 2011, Christianity is known for what it is against more than what it is for.” – My late father was a Methodist minister who left his church (or it left him) due to opposition to his work against the Vietnam War. In part because of that background, I’ve always been conflicted about Christianity but in the end still felt that it could be a force for good. And, I hope it still can. But my studies of the politicized evangelical right have begun to contaminate my view of Christianity as a whole. This is unfortunate. – BruceW
“Does this self-styled Christian organization really believe that Native Americans didn’t have enough converts to avoid the Trail of Tears?”
I hope Warren, that rather than dispute the number of native american converts, you are pointing out the arrogance of suggesting that they got what they deserved for not converting to christainity.
Torquemada would have been proud of Fischer.
ken – You correct in your hope. My wording was too brief I guess, but I intended a bit of sarcasm. It is arrogant either way – suggesting that they got what they deserved is arrogant and a race-purity argument that is offensive. And then another offense is the historical revisionism – in fact many native people did convert so his thesis is factually incorrect. But there goes the AFA, offering up an offensive, factually false perspective in the name of Christ.
Bruce – Thanks for sharing that. I do believe that the teachings of Christ are hope and life. I struggle with Christianity as a political system right now.
“I struggle with the fact that in 2011, Christianity is known for what it is against more than what it is for.” – My late father was a Methodist minister who left his church (or it left him) due to opposition to his work against the Vietnam War. In part because of that background, I’ve always been conflicted about Christianity but in the end still felt that it could be a force for good. And, I hope it still can. But my studies of the politicized evangelical right have begun to contaminate my view of Christianity as a whole. This is unfortunate. – BruceW