(...) You guys have said some great things. For one thing, Christians are supposed to have a united front. Jesus said to His Apostles: (paraphrased by me) "People will know you are my disciples by your love of one another". I've heard people saying vile things lately, not only to non-Christians but to other Christians, too. Saying vile things, the way I've understood my faith, is a big "no-no".
Christians are supposed to be humble, too. We're supposed to turn the other cheek (which doesn't mean we have to put up with a lot of abuse, though).
We are supposed to be examples. None of us is perfect, and we will have times when we're not so admirable, but we're supposed to at least try.
I like this approach to your faith, but I think in current circumstances it is to be expected that the 'tribe' fights back against the rising tide of other-religions and secularism. And a tribe that fights back is more likely to take those parts of the Bible to heart which reflect fitting emotions. I'm not sure 'scapegoating' is exactly accurate, but the majority of Christians who have chosen to show their teeth to me or which I have witnessed, do not seem to know where to direct their anger.
I think this is the sign of a phenomenon dying out. Generally speaking, organized religion in its current form, with so much authority and so totalitarian, won't survive much longer - at least not in modern societies. People aren't stupid anymore and can educate themselves independently and easily through the huge availability of information. The anti-humanist aspects which have tainted and continue to taint conservative Christianity will be its downfall. Significant social advances are pushed regardless of what the hateful old farts think, and rightly so. Secular justice is outwitting conservative Abrahamic values and (young) sensible Christians support it, because secular justice makes sense - Leviticus doesn't (as a tool for social justice).
By expressing humanist values - basically being a decent human being, Christians can save their religion. It's only the backward who are still enthused by bigotry on the pulpit, and that is a demographic which is historically the least succesful. Young people are smarter than their parents and it will take more brainwashing than most will be able to muster, in this day and age, to keep them from making up their own mind and becoming sensible people.
For the few months I identified as Christian, I saw God as the force of good in the world. And 'good' is really not always subjective, especially not when it comes to social matters. Human traits, needs and values are well understood and based on those, it doesn't take more than just your average human mind to identify what is good and what is bad behaviour. Not fully understanding a social issue is not an excuse to turn to a literal interpretation of the Bible, no one has needed the Bible to identify that stealing is wrong, and no one should turn to the Bible to validate their fear of homosexuals.
The Bible, clergy and churches are tools to establish the Christian Abrahamic faith for oneself. Not to dictate social norms and not to influence politics. Faith is all it should be, and needs to be. Being a decent human being takes a healthy mind. Being a good Christian shouldn't be at odds with that.
