Thinking about the hate all around us and praying for peace, love, and understanding.

[thatcrowwoman]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the The DU Lounge forum).

Lots of talk about Antisemitism and Islamophobia here at DU, and as a Jew who believes in freedom of and from religion, I appreciate that. But I have noticed a sharp increase of anti-Christian rhetoric that seems unnecessarily ugly, painting all Christians with the broad “ignorant sky daddy worshippers and God botherers.”

Nobody is making you agree with or believe in or join a Christian community. There are many Christians who live their lives in service to others. Think Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. So if you’re inclined to insult anyone about their faith, maybe take a deep breath.

Is it too much to ask you to state your specific objection/s and give your specific reason/s but think before you type insults?

I stop by Juanita Jean’s most morning since the first Obama campaign. If you’ve never visited the World’s Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, here’s a taste from Nick today.
https://juanitajean.com/how-to-beat-the-onslaught-of-hate/


Snip/
… The challenge is realizing that the biggest enemy to Christianity does not come from outside Christianity. It doesn’t come from Muslims, Buddhists, or Hindus. It doesn’t come from secular humanists, atheists, or agnostics. It comes from people that call themselves Christians, but have lost the script…

… I would simply like to introduce those folks to a person that called himself Jesus. He fed the hungry. He healed the sick. He brought hope to the hopeless. He didn’t ask for their insurance card. He didn’t ask for identification or papers. He didn’t check for attendance at the synagogue. He just gave of himself.

… I know this seems like a radical concept, but the antidote for hate isn’t hate. It is love. It is relentless love because that hate can seem relentless. It is sustained and repeated love. It is unequivocal and it is undying love. It is unqualified. The forces of evil want you to think you are alone. They want you to distrust the institutions we used to rely on. They want you to think your neighbors are out to get you. They want you to arm yourself to the teeth and shoot first. They don’t want you to even ask questions later. They tell us that the world hates you. They say that the world wants to take what is yours and the only thing that can stop it is you and your hate.

You don’t combat that by hating that messenger. You don’t combat that by simply saying once that this is wrong. You defeat it by repeating it every chance you get. You defeat it by pouring water on that out of control brushfire. That fire is hate. The water is love. Love means that we have to give of ourselves. It means it will come back to us. We have to believe that. We have to know that. We have to share that with the world.
/end snip

Many interesting and thoughtful comments ensue.
One about how we all need to take up arms and be prepared to fight.

Which in this season of Chanukah, brings me to the Maccabees, a rag tag group of warriors lead by a family who fought the Hellenistic overlords and took back the Temple in Jerusalem, removed the Greek idols, and purified the temple with the miracle of lamp (menorah) oil. Enough for one night miraculously lasted the 8 nights necessary to complete the purification/restoration ritual.

And as you may know, I have a song for that.
From the Maccabeats. Enjoy!
Peace, love, and Music
🕊🩵🎶🕎 thatcrowwoman

[debm55]

1. Thank you, that crowwoman for the intelligent and heart felt post. It touched my heart. I also enjoyed your video. I am

going to bookmark and watch we get home later today from MA. Love you, debbie.

[thatcrowwoman]

3. Safe travels, Deb!

Thank you for your response.

A little traveling advice for you and your sweetie from James Taylor
🕊💫🩵🎶tcw

[debm55]

7. Thank you, thatcrowwoman

[claudette]

2. Such a profound post - thank you

As a student of Buddhism - who was baptized a Catholic as an infant, with many close Jewish relatives and family members who are devout Christians (even Baptists), I would just like to say that it IS possible to live in harmony with those who worship differently than ourselves.

I had a Bible that had all of Jesus' words printed in RED and I read them every day. Remember - Jesus was a Jew - whom I still love.

The only objection I have to some Christians is their involvement in our government when they try to make or enforce laws based on THEIR religious beliefs alone. Maybe I am naive, but I have not seen that from politicians of other religions.

Those Christians I mention should examine their conscience and see if Jesus himself would have behaved the way they do.

Namaste!

[thatcrowwoman]

4. Thank you, claudette.

Seems to me every religion, every group contain bad actors.
Greed is at the heart of it, I think, and lust for power.

My daughter’s college graduation was held in a mega-church in Jackson, Mississippi. That was the first time I ever saw ATMs in a church before and it shook me. A deep dark chill. Prosperity Gospel for the leaders and crumbs for their flock. Those pastors need a refresher about camel through the eye of a needle. Which just triggered an image of MAGA #45 attempting to squeeze through the eye of a needle. Oy, vey! His little hands maybe could get through?

I’m working on live and let live these days and nights.
As long as a person’s behavior causes no harm to others, who am I to judge?
Thank you for your response. Namaste 🙏🏽
🕊💫🩵🎶 tcw

[claudette]

6. 🙏

Amen❣️ 😊

[Coventina]

5. Peace, Love, and Understanding

?si=1oPRnAuC02bzL5Kg

[debm55]

8. Kick

[Omaha Steve]

9. AFTER a review by forum hosts LOCKING

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