Sunstone asked:
"Is it permissable to pick on Christianity in ways that it's not permissable to pick on other religions? What do you think?"
I suppose this question is left to the experiences and environments in which one is raised, in thusly predicating an ultimately (and admittedly) biased perspective in answer.
As noted caveats, I was born in the US of parents of long generational lineage as resident citizens. My upbringing included exposure to religious (Methodist) beliefs, but my immediate familial environment was ambivalently irreligious, My parents were not especially "pro" or "con" (nor neither espoused) religious beliefs/traditions, nor were they adherents of any sort of religious indoctrination practices (at least as far as I was concerned). The impact and effects of predominantly "Christian" beliefs and "values" were inescapable and unavoidable as "majority" adherence aspects in politics and civic policy/discourse in the days of my parent's own intemperate youth in the 1950's. "Commies" were "godless heathens", and it was, umm, "unpopular" to be either a Pinko or an unconcerned agnostiic/atheist in those tumultuous and fear-laden days of Joseph McCarthy and the "Red Scare".
[Note: It is not with a small sense of irony that Evangelicals today protest of "persecution", "character assassination", and "ridicule", in much the same manner of argument and special pleading that McCarthy employed in his own defense back in his day.]
If we limit our (or my own) answer [to the question at hand] to an uniquely American perspective, one could presumably argue that Christianity is called upon to bear the brunt of ridicule of religious beliefs/claims (in general) within our own borders, because...well, it's the
overwhelmingly self-ascribed/avowed religious affiliation in the US.
Besides, some of the
most idiotic and inane rationales proffered by prominent (or less so) Christian adherents/televangelists/politicians are
so inflammatory,
so (purposefully) divisive, and
so blatantly outrageous (or even frightening) in circumspect contemplation...as to perspicaciously invite sardonic/sarcastic/bombastic ridicule in modest (and even necessarily important) balance - with reason, and related to/rooted within the foundational constitutional principles and unambiguous initial intentions of their predicated origins.
[Aside: Does anyone really question the prevalence of both good-natured and ill-spirited mocking of those of Jewish faith and traditions? Jews represent only 2% of religious adherents in the US, but "Jew jokes" are as popular as ever. Fortunately for the Jews, they have no popular evangelizing TV rabbis to apologize for...or from which to distance themselves. Atheists, agnostics, paganists, Hindus, Muslims, etc. revel in similar good fortune...as Christians retain the only palpable overwhelming monopoly over: religious TV/radio broadcasts; print media; elective/appointed political offices, and; total houses of worship - in the US. When you get to be "front and center" in virtually
every aspect of civic/cultural policy/discourse in a country, you
should expect a
proportionate degree of evaluative commentary/satire.]
Lest we forget the reasons
why Christianity and it's more outspoken advocates/adherents are the subjects of duly earned proportionate jest and derision, a few motivational reminders...
...from some noted
American Christians...
"
Just like what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, so liberal America is now doing to the evangelical Christians. It's no different. It is the same thing. It is happening all over again. It is the Democratic Congress, the liberal-based media and the homosexuals who want to destroy the Christians. Wholesale abuse and discrimination and the worst bigotry directed toward any group in America today. More terrible than anything suffered by any minority in history."
--
Pat Robertson, interview with Molly Ivins, 1993
Stunningly, stupefyingly idiotic.
"
Let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good.... If a Christian voted for Clinton, he sinned against God. It's that simple.... Our goal is a Christian Nation... we have a biblical duty, we are called by God to conquer this country. We don't want equal time. We don't want Pluralism. We want theocracy. Theocracy means God rules. I've got a hot flash. God rules."
--
Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue
"
When I, or people like me, are running the country, you'd [abortion doctors and escorts] better flee, because we will find you, we will try you, and we will execute you. I mean every word of it. I will make it part of my mission to see to it that they are tried and executed... If we're going to have true reformation in America, it is because men once again, if I may use a worn out expression, have righteous testoserone flowing through their veins. They are not afraid of contempt for their contemporaries. They are not even here to get along. They are here to take over... Somebody like Susan Smith should be dead. She should be dead now. Some people will go, "Well how do you know God doesn't have a wonderful plan for her life?" He does, it's listed in the Bible. His plan for her is that she should be dead."
--
Randall Terry, at the Aug 8, 1995 U.S. Taxpayers Alliance Banquet in Washington DC
"
The [Supreme} Court by seeking to equate Christianity with other religions merely assaults the one faith. The Court in essence is assailing the true God by democratizing the Christian religion."
--
John Whitehead, founder & president of the Rutherford Institute
"
I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over and Christians will be running them."
--
Jerry Falwell, "America Can Be Saved"
"
...Christian values should dominate our government. The test of those values is the Bible. Politicians who do not use the Bible to guide their public and private lives do not belong in office."
--
Beverly LaHaye, Concerned Women for America
"
Clearly our nation was founded for a particular purpose and that purpose was, among other things, the propagation of the Gospel of Christ."
--
Bill Gray, Legal Advisor to Gov. James of Alabama
"
It is your god-given right to destroy any man or woman calling themselves doctors who willingly slaughter innocent children."
--
Keith Tucci, Executive Director, Opration Rescue
"
No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
--
Pres. George Herbert Walker Bush, Boulder Daily Camera, February 27, 1989
"
The Supreme Court of the United States of America is an institution damned by God almighty."
--
Jimmy Swaggart, televangelist (self-confessed adulterer, liar, and cheat - but "saved"!)
...and some other noteworthy (albeit "foreign") Christian ruminations...
"
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but -- more frequently than not -- struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God."
"
Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed."
--
Martin Luther, Christian reformist
"
Hitlers war is a noble undertaking in defense of European culture".
--
Cardinal Baudrillart, July 30, 1941
"
The bliss of the elect in heaven would not be perfect unless they were able to look across the abyss and enjoy the agonies of their brethren in eternal fire."
--
Pope Gregory I (the Great)
"
If my own father were a heretic, I would personally gather the wood to burn him"
--
Pope Paul IV
"
From the polluted fountain of indifferentianism flows that absurd and erroneous doctrine, or rather raving, which claims and defends liberty of conscience for everyone. From this comes, in a word, the worst plague of all--liberty of opinions and free speech"
--Pope Gregory VI
Is it "permissable" to (unfairly) "pick-on" Christianity?
Thank goodness, the answer is
...yes.
Proverbs 22:8 - "
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed."
May such cautionary wisdom be embraced by all.
Amen. ;-)
