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Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events Religion In The Military When I speak of Christian Extremism...Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| When I speak of Christian Extremism... | Login/Join |
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This is what I'm talking about: "http://www.repentamarillo.com/" They tout themselves as this paramilitary sort of Army for God. They harass people. They work by intimidating others. They are the Christian version of the Taliban. Take a look at their "targets", (found here: "http://www.repentamarillo.com/mission.html" )
They're going to swarm breast cancer awareness events?!? Have any of you ever known a woman with breast cancer? Think about this for a minute. And Halloween? Good grief! EARTH DAY! Oh dear, the evils of recycling! Look at their "warfare map", here: "http://www.repentamarillo.com/map.php" Buddhist churches ("False god"), the Islamic center ("Allah is a false god and Muhammad is a false prophet"), the Masonic Lodge ("Masonic rituals and teachings in the upper ranks is based on Egyptian paganism. Full of secrecy. Only evil hides in the dark"), the Universalist Church ("Teaches that everyone is going to heaven. This calls Christ a liar. You cannot be a Christian if you call Christ a liar"), the Unitarian Universalist Church ("Pagan and witchcraft headquarters for Amarillo. Pagan and witchcraft celebrations and rites are performed here"), St Andrew's Episcopal Church ("Referred to an OUTstanding Amarillo's (Homosexual activists) website as a 'gay friendly' church. In other words, they do not tell homosexuals who attend this church that they must repent of the sin of homosexuality. This is a serious violation of scripture"), and Beavers Gentleman Club ("Total nude strip club"), among many others. They use the word "WARFARE." How can this not sound like militant extremism to you? They TARGET people of other religions. They want to target Unitarian Universalist churches (I'm a UU... if I lived near there, I'd feel unsafe, as these folks have openly declared UU's a target.) This group EXISTS, as do other groups like it. We can't ignore the fact that they exist. As I've said many times, I do NOT equate people like this with "normal" groups of Christians. As I've said many times, I have nothing but the utmost respect for most Christians, and I STRONGLY support our mutual freedom of religion. However, I want people to be AWARE that these "Army of God" groups DO exist in America, that they ARE trouble, that they CAN be dangerous, and that THESE are the sorts of people I've been railing against. I wanted to post this so you folks can see the difference between the Christians that I love and respect, and then the fundamentalist extremists that I openly condemn for their hate and malicious behavior. As one person in Amarillo said about the "Repent Amarillo" Army of God:
That's a good quote - it shows that normal Christians, GOOD PEOPLE, who have encountered these militant fundies are equally unimpressed with their behavior. For an fairly thorough article about these folks, check out this link: "http://www.texasobserver.org/dateline/he-who-casts-the-first-stone" | ||
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Whirled I went to their home page. All I could find is they plan to, pray for and witness to, these organizations and or peoples. They spefically said that they are not a protest group and will not be protesting anything. Do you know something more? I agree, they seem a bit un-orthodox, however, I see nothing remotely illegal or dangerous, at least on their home page. Don't get me wrong, I agree with very little of what they profess, as far as I can tell, they are another "works oriented, theology of glory, and decision based group whose theology leads to nothing but doubt and despair. I personally wish they would sit down and shut up because they do much more harm to Christianity than good and I have been speaking against these types for a long, long time. But, I see nothing here that most radical evangelical types don't already profess, although they are bit more militant about it. | |||
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| INDEF suspension Nemesis |
I believe it is a mind set, Peas. If they lived in the middle east they would be terrorists for Allah. The name of god appears to be irrelevant. Consequently you find the same kind of kooks in any number of belief systems. Somehow, they have experienced an amygdala hijacking. The 'primitive' brain has taken over. IMHO | |||
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Is there something in the well-water down there? Like Peyote, maybe? It is not our belief or disbelief that can make or unmake the fact. ~ Thomas Paine | |||
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Read exterior articles ABOUT them, instead of their own self-description. See what people have encountered when they decide to "preach." I'm sorry, but these people do cross a line. I've been to their website a while ago, and this came back across my radar today. Their website used to be more "militant." They probably got some nasty PR, and decided to make themselves sound "nicer." Too bad they haven't actually changed their tactics. | |||
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"Witness to" sounds like a form of protest to me. They aren't doing it because the 'agree' with their 'target.' I'd rather have a root canal or get interviewed by an insurance salesman, personally. But, maybe if they approach me at one of these events, I could look at them showing the whites completely surrounding my irises, remind them that I'm a proponent of the 'right to bear arms' and 'concealed carry' ...and make them guess just how nuts I am while they stare at the bulge in my jacket. Or, alternatively... I could quote Plato, Hume, Rand, and Carlin while making lewd eyes at their lovely daughters. Discouraging fundies is soooo much fun. | |||
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billbright this is not aimed at you justa general comment. No one is claiming their leaders are stupid enough to put themselves in legal trouble by advocating illegal and violent activities on their own website.  You have to look at what the active members do and say when the leadership can legally claim it is not their fault to see the true purpose of an organization. | |||
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I accidently did this once when I was single. A couple local Christian groups in Northern Del. would go to apartments near the UofD early on Saturday mornings with the women going to the apartments while the men waited outside. I had been at an all night club dancing the night before and got to bed about 6:30 when they knocked on the door at 7AM. To get the full impact of the incident you have to realise that I slept in the nude and answered the door (loud constant knocking like it was an emergency) BEFORE I was fully awake and BEFORE dressing  . Anyway as was the habit with these groups as soon as the door opened the women moved forward so you could not close the door without hitting one of them and then both the women and I realised I was not wearing any clothes (surprise). They still started on their spiel and would not leave so I stated I was a satinist and invited them to join me in an orgy to honor him. They left and even though the group visted the apartment complex many other times while I lived there they NEVER knocked on my door again.  This message has been edited. Last edited by: rayld2, | |||
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| INDEF suspension Nemesis |
Just thinking about the ideal of 'Christian extremism" made me realize that the founder of the bunch was so very extreme, not only in the stuff he taught and expected of his followers, but so much so to the point of suicide! Like the Masada bunch 6o years later and even to Jones Town and Heaven's Gate. Crazy. | |||
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Here are some more of this brand of "Christian" extremists: "http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/30/michigan.militia.arrests/index.html?hpt=C1
Again, I use the term "Christian" with a pretty heavy grain of salt in reference to these lunatics. I recognize them as a fringe group, not in any way representative of Christians in general. I'm posting this information because I want people to be aware that extremist groups DO exist under the claimed banner of Christianity, just as extremist groups exist under the banner of Islam. Same extremism, different brand name. | |||
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Christians will disavow these groups just as Muslims disavow their extremists, yet without the moderates, the extremists wouldn't be tolerated. | |||
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Did you see the interviews with these morons? I call them morons because that is exactly what they appear to be. If their aggregate IQ exceeds the temperature of dirty dishwater, I'd be surprised. This is the element that the Obama government was ostracized by the righty media for highlighting shortly after the election, so I don't look for them to do what needs to be done to curtail such activity. | |||
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 "a seeker of the TRUTH always!" |
What???? | |||
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He's right! It's the "No True Scotsman" gambit; basically the act of disavowing something or somebody from your group because you feel that they're not functioning within what your recognize as "real and correct" doctrine!
It is not our belief or disbelief that can make or unmake the fact. ~ Thomas Paine | |||
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It is already happening regarding the "Christian Militia" members recently arrested. They call themselves a "Christian Militia" on their website and in literature, so the media calls them "Christian Militia" - and some Christians whine that the atheist/secular/liberal/socialist/leftist media is smearing all Christians by using the very term in their news stories the group uses to describe themselves. Case in point: "http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/672198221/m/6450031842001/p/4"
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| "a seeker of the TRUTH always!" |
OK KJ1110 and Billbright, Let's explore your statement what I normally say. I can not speak for anyone else and can only be held accountable for what I do. I guess the same can be stated for anything, since you have stated your case. I am a black man. So if a black man comes and breaks in your house, you can say, those black men are thieves. Let's go a little less controversial. I am a mechanical engineer and a software engineer. But I never went and got my Professional Engineering certificate. However since I graduated form college with a degree, how about I do a design on a bridge and have you drive over it. If it falls down, and you are hurt, you will probably say, all of those mechanical engineers are blah, blah. Although the P.E> group will say he is not a "certified" engineer, but according to your post, that doesn't matter. Let's go one further, I am former military, so if a military member mistreats a prisoner of war, then all military members are deviants that just want to exercise their power and there is no such thing as "professional service memebrs" with ethics that properly respect what being a service member means, they are all the same. Now to be perfectly clear and so you do not have to make any assumptions about MY position, I am not saying that Christians are perfect. There is no such thing as a perfect Christian, "yet". However: 1. there are rules for being a man (black or white) and if you break into a house that is not yours you are a thief. 2. There are rules and procedures to be a Professional Engineer. 3. There are rules to be a service memebr, set for each branch. 4. And there are rules for the Christian. Just because a person calls themselves something does not make them what they call themselves. Judge them by the rules they claim is what I SAY and have said many times. I said WHAT???? because Billbright made a very prejudicial statement and then backed it up by saying because the people who are obeying their rules do not break the law or take the law into their own hands are somehow supporting the false Christian seemed to require a post that exposed his post for what it is. You seem to agree with Billbright's prejudice as "OK". I happen to disagree. Billbright is an individual who has expressed his belief or should I say nonbelief in God. For me, I say that is his choice and his right. Supported in the US by our constitution. What Billbright believes does not support another person's with similar beliefs activity. Billbright is only responsible for his own actions. LJ | |||
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We will disavow these mindless fools when you get on here and disavow the next rent a mob that shows up to support Obama or protest a conservative speaker at a local college....ya know one of those places that champions the free exchange of ideas....yeah...riiight. | |||
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| Member -------------------  Proud Member Derelict Veterans Group -------------------  |
The bottom line is they are extremeists or to use an ancient word "zealots". The very definition it that they care their beliefs to extremes. Regardless of their religion- Christian/Moslem- seldom do their actions reflect the teachings of their founders. Ffor instance many Christian extremeists choose to follow the Old Testament and not pay attention to the New Testament with Christ's teachings. The Old was a combination of the history & laws of the Israelites, yet Christ said several times that we were not capable to follow the law in our hearts and too many went thru the motions of following the law instead of obeying it. Bottom line all extremists seldom represent their religion! | |||
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BULLSEYE!!!! | |||
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I'll disavow some of those pre-emptively. Not the people who support Obama (or anyone else) by choice - even if it that choice is misguided or stupid. But the ones who support them because they're paid? Sure. Got any actual evidence of such a thing? As for anyone who attends an event to shout down the speaker or otherwise inhibit free speech - yeah, I disavow them, and I KNOW such cases exist on all parts of the political spectrum. The correct response to speech with which I disagree is more speech, not less, to expose the flaws, inaccuracies, and fallacies. I even grudgingly agree with the recent court decision in favor of the Phelps clan - as much as their hateful acts disgust me, even they have the right to have their say. | |||
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Great, with luck perhaps the Phelps clan can visit your next family funeral... | |||
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I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!! | |||
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The Phelps clan should visit the family funerals of every smug self satisfied liberal drone who believes they have the "right" to torment strangers - it would be interesting to see how long the understanding lasts then. | |||
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Read you 5X5 | |||
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Fine. You don't like my smug self-satisfied attitude? YOU try to come up with a clear written definition of the limits on free speech that bars the Phelps clan and all the other "bad people" - but can't be turned around to prevent the free expression of ideas you agree with. Good frickin luck. You support free speech or you don't. Apparently, YOU DON'T. | |||
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Bob five years ago there was a guy putting up nazi posters on phone poles here in Mass. He wasn't defacing synagogues or other stuff and was not advocating violence of any kind in fact wrote against it in his posters. He would be referred to more correctly as a separatist. He was hauled before the court on "hate crime" charges and told to stop that and fined a moderate amount....I forget how much. He kept it up and was charged again. The judge fined him and gave him a suspended sentence of four years if he did it again, in the slammer ya go! He did it again....in the slammer he went!! served the four years and got out late last year....the case is on it's way to the supremes. I see no damned difference whatsoever between what he did and what phelp's whelps are doing in fact what they do is worse in my estimation....where are the watchdogs from the left????? This guy in Mass. is not the only one jailed for this kind of crap but it somehow never seems to be enforced against minorities the way it is against whites!! Blacks killed a Jew, mistakenly it turns out, on a bridge in Brooklyn, no hate crime charged. Idiots dragged a poor black man to death in Texas they were charged with murder and a hate crime...... Three black men on the same day in Tennesee raped and butchered a young white girl, twelve years old, no hate crime charged there and in fact the crime was almost completely over shadowed by the hoopla from the Texas debacle. This double standard in law and everywhere else by the left needs to STOP!! | |||
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I agree - a double standard is bad. I would have supported the Nazi's right to his posters, too. As for hate crimes - again, I don't like double standards. I can provide the justification for hate crimes laws, but I don't really support them - I think that adding extra punishment based on circumstances of the crime should be left to the judges. But of course that's why hate crimes laws have been passed - the judges used to have that power, and DID use a double standard. Usually against minorities and in favor of white folks. That doesn't justify a double standard now in the other direction. But why are you asking ME about those? And how did hate crimes come into the issue, anyway? Hate crimes, by definition, are supposed to include a regular crime - the "hate" aspect is added to the regular charges. Speaking of that, I couldn't find the story on the Nazi you mentioned - not enough details. Exactly what crime was he charged with? I suppose, before I declare my support for his rights (though NEVER his message), I should make sure you didn't leave out a detail or two. | |||
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I guess it did seem like I was asking "you" but what I was trying to do was bring forth points of contention....it seems we agree that the points mentioned do bear thinking about and pointing out. Tha "nazi" was charged and convicted of, distributing and posting in public places "hate speech or racist inflamatory literature." He was tried I think in the Barnstable Superior Court....Barnstable County Ma.....about six or seven years ago for the first time. I don't have his name.This message has been edited. Last edited by: tawodi, | |||
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Still couldn't find anything. That's been awhile. But, yeah, given that charge, I believe that his free speech was infringed upon. ANY speech critical of ANY idea might be termed "hate speech" by those who disagree. This is the major problem with the anti-hate-speech resolutions the Muslim countries keep getting passed by the UN. | |||
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I know, it is especially ennervating that the current crop of those inhabiting the idiot magnet in Dizzy City, would probably love to ratify one of those rediculous treaties!!! T | |||
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Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events Religion In The Military When I speak of Christian Extremism...
