Post by HSTN2983 on May 4, 2006 10:58:29 GMT -5
hello kids,
your friendly agnostic, dmclayton, here. i have changed my pseudonym on this message board, and in general. i have used this pseudonym for the last year, on aol and xbox, and i decided that it would be much more convenient for me to use one screename versus ten, or more. so, for the sake of apathy and convenience, i have one username on the internet for all things--and one password! i figured that if i am going to be hacked, i might as well make it easy for them, because it was bound to happen anyway. moving on...
p.s. i apologize for any confusion, although i doubt anyone gives two hoots that its changed in the first place.
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a persecution complex is a psychological phenomenon defined as, by wikipedia, an array of psychologically complex behaviours, that specifically deals with the perception of being persecuted, for various possible reasons.
note: the red font will be the topic of discussion, but i will graciously accept more information, and/or an extention of the said topic.
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this board, and fundamentalist (moral majority, christian right) theology in general, provides a good example of a persecution complex. this phenomenon is a cousin to the martyr complex which can be defined as a person who desires the feeling of being a martyr for its own sake, seeking out suffering or persecution because it feeds a psychological need--an exaggerated desire for self-sacrifice.
i do not need to provide any examples, because we all know what they look like.
the question is, however, why do christians feel they are being persecuted, and is there any truth to their claims?
the persecution complex has lingered in infant form since the founding of the christian church, but it was the twentieth century that paved the way for christians to use to complaex to their spiritual and political advantage. my theory is that the persecution complex was resurrected at the birth of fundamentalism in the ninetween-seventies under the shield of robert grant's 'american christian cause' and the 'christian voice,' and was anchored by the nineteen-eighties 'neath jerry falwell's 'moral majority.' james dobson provoked the politically motivated christian right into the nineteen-nineties with the 'family research council' (better known by its current name: focus on the family). now, the christian right has been strategically renamed, 'the christian coalition,' and lobbies against the civil rights of homosexuals, abortion, sodomy laws, divorce, etc.
however, 'the southern poverty law center' and 'theocracywatch' have produced evidence that republican, christian-oriented lobbyists such as the 'family research council' promote racism and are fundamentally anti-civil rights (google the two for the official websites).
this is the background for the discussion, so again, why do christians believe themselves to be persecuted, and is there any truth to their claims?
the bible does state that christians would be persecuted for their faith, and there have been circumstances throughout history in which this has been so; but often times more than not it is the christians who are doing the persecuting, especially if one were to examine the death ratio of christians by nonbelievers and nonbelievers by christians.
history is evidence of ugly results, period. regardless of who has killed who and why...
however, it is not the history of persecution we are discussing, but modern day accusations of crimes against peoples of faith.
first of all, christians are the ones who presuppose that the god of the bible is the universal truth of how life is to be stylized in america. christianity has slithered into the political arena with the intention of revoking the rights of americans to live a spiritual life of freedom that was guaranteed to them by the first amendment (please do not argue the context of the first amendment here). the christian coalition is determined to create a theocracy in america--a nation controlled by the divine. however, the strategy of christian coalition politicians is not to reveal this dominionist agenda, but promote it to the american people as 'moral, family values.' unfortunately, this strategy is entirely too successful as most christians, liberal and conservative, would like to see an installation of 'family values' in secular society.
how is this presented to the public? fear. politicians use propaganda to make unwarranted attacks against secularism, "liberals have no family values, vote bush, he goes to church" is a good example. americans are extremely fearful, by nature, and the government uses it to their advantage--republicans and democrats alike. "liberals will steal your children's minds" is an argument used to promote teaching creationist theories in the classroom--while removing all teachings of evolution. people fear this talk.
this is, my friends, is where the persecution complex enters the battlefield for control of the human spirit, mind, body and soul. the people, usually christians, living in fear of secularists will then seek out persecution to prove the government right. jesse went to jail for breaking the law, american laws, and he voiced an opinion that said he was being harrassed because he was christian. this is a good example of persecution complex. jesse is trying to excuse his actions by shifting the blame to the officers who are only doing their job. i doubt the officers enjoyed arresting jesse, and scoffed his faith. in fact, they probably pitied him outside of the fact that they were only abiding by their duty to 'serve and protect' the constitution and the laws of america.
another theory is that somone who is possessed by the persecution complex desires, unconsciously, to be persecuted to give their faith meaning. these people want to feel like they are serving god to the extreme. martyrdom is as far as you can take faith, and some people desire to reach this plateau. however, this desire is egotistical in nature, as the person only wants to be projected as a follower of god. in other words, they want to be remembered for their actions--or sacrifice. this is a false sense of altruism.
hate will always be an extension of existence. i cannot speak on behalf of my secular comrades as being entirely pacifistic, or innocent of any crime, because history has proven otherwise. however, i do own up to the fact that such incidents have happened and are wrong.
the question is do christians own up to the fact that their people have persecuted millions over the centuries? do they admit that there are sects of their own faith that tolerate and promote hate in the modern world?
in conclusion, there is so much more that i can write, but i know no one will read this so its in vain. haha. however, it is th christians who need to read this and to explain why their beliefs deserve more rights than your average 'heretic.' why is it that there is always a christian screaming persecution when it has nothing to do with their individual life?
christians have the freedom to be pro-life. christians have the freedom to be heterosexual, and most of all they have the freedom to worship christ. however, for the safety of all peoples our culture has made it their utmost concern to make everyone equal. this is why xmas trees are not allowed in city squares, because christians do not want any other religions represented beside them.
this is objectivity. this is balance, this is only fair. america should represent all faiths, or none at all (publically). america, as long as it is a democracy, will provide freedom of worship to the individual. unfortunately, as long as other religions strive for equality, a christian will be there protesting it under the banner of a persecution complex.
your friendly agnostic, dmclayton, here. i have changed my pseudonym on this message board, and in general. i have used this pseudonym for the last year, on aol and xbox, and i decided that it would be much more convenient for me to use one screename versus ten, or more. so, for the sake of apathy and convenience, i have one username on the internet for all things--and one password! i figured that if i am going to be hacked, i might as well make it easy for them, because it was bound to happen anyway. moving on...
p.s. i apologize for any confusion, although i doubt anyone gives two hoots that its changed in the first place.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a persecution complex is a psychological phenomenon defined as, by wikipedia, an array of psychologically complex behaviours, that specifically deals with the perception of being persecuted, for various possible reasons.
note: the red font will be the topic of discussion, but i will graciously accept more information, and/or an extention of the said topic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this board, and fundamentalist (moral majority, christian right) theology in general, provides a good example of a persecution complex. this phenomenon is a cousin to the martyr complex which can be defined as a person who desires the feeling of being a martyr for its own sake, seeking out suffering or persecution because it feeds a psychological need--an exaggerated desire for self-sacrifice.
i do not need to provide any examples, because we all know what they look like.
the question is, however, why do christians feel they are being persecuted, and is there any truth to their claims?
the persecution complex has lingered in infant form since the founding of the christian church, but it was the twentieth century that paved the way for christians to use to complaex to their spiritual and political advantage. my theory is that the persecution complex was resurrected at the birth of fundamentalism in the ninetween-seventies under the shield of robert grant's 'american christian cause' and the 'christian voice,' and was anchored by the nineteen-eighties 'neath jerry falwell's 'moral majority.' james dobson provoked the politically motivated christian right into the nineteen-nineties with the 'family research council' (better known by its current name: focus on the family). now, the christian right has been strategically renamed, 'the christian coalition,' and lobbies against the civil rights of homosexuals, abortion, sodomy laws, divorce, etc.
however, 'the southern poverty law center' and 'theocracywatch' have produced evidence that republican, christian-oriented lobbyists such as the 'family research council' promote racism and are fundamentally anti-civil rights (google the two for the official websites).
this is the background for the discussion, so again, why do christians believe themselves to be persecuted, and is there any truth to their claims?
the bible does state that christians would be persecuted for their faith, and there have been circumstances throughout history in which this has been so; but often times more than not it is the christians who are doing the persecuting, especially if one were to examine the death ratio of christians by nonbelievers and nonbelievers by christians.
history is evidence of ugly results, period. regardless of who has killed who and why...
however, it is not the history of persecution we are discussing, but modern day accusations of crimes against peoples of faith.
first of all, christians are the ones who presuppose that the god of the bible is the universal truth of how life is to be stylized in america. christianity has slithered into the political arena with the intention of revoking the rights of americans to live a spiritual life of freedom that was guaranteed to them by the first amendment (please do not argue the context of the first amendment here). the christian coalition is determined to create a theocracy in america--a nation controlled by the divine. however, the strategy of christian coalition politicians is not to reveal this dominionist agenda, but promote it to the american people as 'moral, family values.' unfortunately, this strategy is entirely too successful as most christians, liberal and conservative, would like to see an installation of 'family values' in secular society.
how is this presented to the public? fear. politicians use propaganda to make unwarranted attacks against secularism, "liberals have no family values, vote bush, he goes to church" is a good example. americans are extremely fearful, by nature, and the government uses it to their advantage--republicans and democrats alike. "liberals will steal your children's minds" is an argument used to promote teaching creationist theories in the classroom--while removing all teachings of evolution. people fear this talk.
this is, my friends, is where the persecution complex enters the battlefield for control of the human spirit, mind, body and soul. the people, usually christians, living in fear of secularists will then seek out persecution to prove the government right. jesse went to jail for breaking the law, american laws, and he voiced an opinion that said he was being harrassed because he was christian. this is a good example of persecution complex. jesse is trying to excuse his actions by shifting the blame to the officers who are only doing their job. i doubt the officers enjoyed arresting jesse, and scoffed his faith. in fact, they probably pitied him outside of the fact that they were only abiding by their duty to 'serve and protect' the constitution and the laws of america.
another theory is that somone who is possessed by the persecution complex desires, unconsciously, to be persecuted to give their faith meaning. these people want to feel like they are serving god to the extreme. martyrdom is as far as you can take faith, and some people desire to reach this plateau. however, this desire is egotistical in nature, as the person only wants to be projected as a follower of god. in other words, they want to be remembered for their actions--or sacrifice. this is a false sense of altruism.
hate will always be an extension of existence. i cannot speak on behalf of my secular comrades as being entirely pacifistic, or innocent of any crime, because history has proven otherwise. however, i do own up to the fact that such incidents have happened and are wrong.
the question is do christians own up to the fact that their people have persecuted millions over the centuries? do they admit that there are sects of their own faith that tolerate and promote hate in the modern world?
in conclusion, there is so much more that i can write, but i know no one will read this so its in vain. haha. however, it is th christians who need to read this and to explain why their beliefs deserve more rights than your average 'heretic.' why is it that there is always a christian screaming persecution when it has nothing to do with their individual life?
christians have the freedom to be pro-life. christians have the freedom to be heterosexual, and most of all they have the freedom to worship christ. however, for the safety of all peoples our culture has made it their utmost concern to make everyone equal. this is why xmas trees are not allowed in city squares, because christians do not want any other religions represented beside them.
this is objectivity. this is balance, this is only fair. america should represent all faiths, or none at all (publically). america, as long as it is a democracy, will provide freedom of worship to the individual. unfortunately, as long as other religions strive for equality, a christian will be there protesting it under the banner of a persecution complex.