Non-Christian Hypocrisy

Critics of Christianity love to come up with reasons to call Christians hypocrites (sometimes with good reason).  Of course, sensible Xians agree that hypocrisy exists anywhere humans exist, but it is not to be defended, nor is it a valid reason to reject an ideology - ideologies must be examined on their content.  Their implementation is another issue.

However, just in case some other significant ideological groups think they are hypocrisy-free, I offer up these recent news events.  Now, it may look like I'm just trying to be negative and argumentative, but really, I just want people to realize that hypocrisy is widespread, and we should all do what we can to eliminiate it, first in ourselves and the groups we participate in, and to not think that our favorite groups are above it.  Also, I want to point out that hypocrites do not invalidate an ideology - but they do bring shame to it.

Buddhists Outlaw Compassion

In Sri Lanka this month, Parliament gave preliminary approval to the Prohibition of Forced Conversions bill and referred it to a standing committee.

Proposed by the radical Jathika Hela Urumaya, a party formed last year by Buddhist monks, the bill ostensibly bans religious conversions by force or "allurement." Such initiatives come at a time when Christians are engaged in providing aid to the tsunami victims and earning widespread goodwill. Christians say the pending bill would make them cautious in engaging in any relief or social service for fear of seeming to "allure" people into Christian faith.

So, looks like even monks don't like anyone trying to convince others that their ideology might not be correct.  Tsk tsk.

Islamic Hypocrisy - Rage over Quran Flushing

In the Wall Street Journal, Islamic writer Ali Al-Ahmed has written an excellent article on the total hypocrisy of the Islamic outrage over the alleged flushing of the Quran by U.S. military. 

This anger would have been understandable if the U.S. government's adopted policy was to desecrate our Quran. But even before the Newsweek report was discredited, that was never part of the allegations.

As a Muslim, I am able to purchase copies of the Quran in any bookstore in any American city, and study its contents in countless American universities. American museums spend millions to exhibit and celebrate Muslim arts and heritage. On the other hand, my Christian and other non-Muslim brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia--where I come from--are not even allowed to own a copy of their holy books. Indeed, the Saudi government desecrates and burns Bibles that its security forces confiscate at immigration points into the kingdom or during raids on Christian expatriates worshiping privately.

Exactly.

Gay-Lesbian Hypocrisy, Hate, and Disregard for Free Speech

Stephen Bennett, well known ex-gay activist and speaker, recently participated in a bible givaway event targeted at the gay community.   It was both peaceful and respectful, and participants actually asked people if they would like the gift bag that included a bible, some gospel tracts, and a copy of Stephen's testimony about how he was healed of his homosexuality. 

Now, you or I may not agree with his position, but he has the right to speak or give away his materials.  However, as he reports, militant gays planned ahead of time to lie to those giving out the materials, taking them and then depositing them in the trash around the corner.  Talk about lack of respect for the law and for the scriptures.

The hate and vulgar language coming from this group of homosexuals was unbelievable. Yet these protesters knew we were coming... and they had a plan in place in advance.

This soon exposed "undercover" group of lesbians and homosexual men came up to our evangelistic team and said, "We would LOVE to have several of those Bible Gift Bags! We think it's wonderful that you are giving Bibles out to the gay and lesbian community! We would like to pass these along to our friends!"

Guess who the "friends" were of this group of homosexual activists? THE GARBAGE CANS ON EVERY STREET CORNER.

In fact, this militant group was actually going up to people who accepted the gift bags - taking them out of their hands - and saying, "Let me return that to the evangelists - THAT IS HATE MATERIAL." I personally heard and saw two lesbians right behind me do this.

SO -- THE BIBLE IS "HATE" MATERIAL??

We have photos of... count them: over 200 BIBLES THROWN INTO THE GARBAGE CANS IN PROVINCETOWN by this militant group of homosexual activists.

This un-reported story by the media speaks volumes -- and it speaks clearly for itself.

And they say WE are the ones who are hateful? We are the ones who are bigots? We are the ones who are intolerant? We are the ones against "diversity?" We are the ones against freedom of speech?

I've been to events where I was handed homosexual "pride" literature. I either accepted it, or kindly said "no thank you." I don't go and try to get all of their printed materials and throw them in the garbage. In fact, I have NEVER thrown any of their literature away - even if I disagree with it. I just won't take it. That is just pure evil and childish.

Anyway, as you can see, we all have hypocrisy to overcome. 

Comments

[Louis]

Childish, maybe, but not "pure evil." PURE EVIL? I think these guys are over-reacting. I don't think those "activists" should be doing what they did, but I can understand it. It's interesting that the outrage over "gift bags" being thrown in the trash quickly moved to talking about Bibles only. No, I don't think people should be throwing Bibles in the trash - after all, Bibles are literature and valuable from a historic and philosophical perspective. I don't mind it if people hand me free Bibles. However, I wonder what else these "gift bags" contained? Anti-gay literature? I remember being at the West Hollywood parade one year and being handed a pamphlet by two men who then turned away. Now, one's immediate response to being handed something (unless it's a snake) is to accept it. But when I examined it, it's argument was that homosexuality caused earthquakes. I immediately wadded it up and threw it back at them.

But back to the case at hand: The outrage here seems manufactured at best. Yes, the "activists" acted inappropriately. I would prefer that they had confronted this guy and argued rationally with him, or given him opposing literature. But given the hate and bad science behind the gay conversion movement, I can understand their reaction.

Bottom line: so what? Ho-hum.

[Sam]

So, Christians travel to the gayest town in America - Christians who claim that homosexuality can be healed - and hand out Bibles to anybody who is interested. When their Bibles are thrown out by gays who might suspect that those Christians aren't in their town SIMPLY to pass out Bibles, they are hate mongers. And then let's assume that I accept your point on its face (which, in case you're wondering, I don't).

Now, let's assume that a pro-gay group traveled to the center of Christianville USA, and in the midst of some Christian activity, passed out literature supporting gay marriage. Are you honestly telling me that you wouldn't be posting something on your site decrying the audacity of homosexuals to thrust their sexuality on disinterested Christians simply trying to have a good Christian day?

Don't author a text proposing to damn the hypocrisy of others when, if the situations were flipped, you most certainly would go crazy.

Seeker, this sort of post is nonsense. You're right that hypocrisy exists all over the world, but the fact is that Christians run this country, and hence their hypocrisy is WORSE than anybody else's. Crazy liberals might be hypocrites, but since they have no power at all, what's it matter? Fred Phelps is most certainly a hypocrite, but again, no power, no problem. But hypocritical Christian fundies who run the government? Well, that's a big problem, because they're legislating their Christian morality onto the rest of us.

And, honestly, if you don't want Muslims freaking out over trashed Korans, don't freak out over trashed Bibles. There's no fundamental difference there.

[seeker]

Actually, if you had read the post, you would notice that the author mentions how he responds to gay pride literature handouts - he politely refuses it, as opposed to lying, calling it hate speech, pulling it out of the hands of others, or using vulgar language. So he describes what many Christians would, or should do given the opposite case. I don't hear any gays saying "you are embararssing our cause." Because they tacitly support such behaviors. Their response? "ho-hum."

And the Xian response to such acts may be decrying, but not rioting and killing, while all the time shredding Qurans and beheading Islamists - the comparison is to show that Xians, while upset about it, don't react in the same way.

You assume hypocrisy is worse just because someone is in power. On one level, sure, leaders should be held to a higher standard, but also, in the cases I mentioned, are you excusing them? In the Buddhist example, they most certainly are in power, striving to pass legislation.

In the case of gays, I would argue that the pro-gay lobby already weilds power in the leftist NAE, in our educational system, and are trying to push gay marriage on us all. Just because xians have the upper hand doesn't mean they are the only ones wielding power.

[Sam]

Seeker,

How would gay marriage affect you again? How is it being pushed on you? I mean, men and OTHER men have gotten married in Massachusetts and you're still married. How is that possibly, what with the dangers of gays getting married? HOW?

Also, the Buddhists are wrong to do what they're doing. But perhaps they're assuming that some Christians aren't giving to aid to people who won't pray, or won't listen to a sermon. And if that's the case, maybe they're in the right suggesting that Christians shouldn't do such things. Finally, isnt' it worth considering that Buddhist monks are the Christian equivalents of clergy in the United States? Don't you trust American clergy members? So, is your problem the ruling, or that it's anti-Christian? You'd certainly be against a mosque refusing food to a starving Christian who refused one little prayer toward Mecca, right?

[Louis]

seeker has no standing to criticize gay people. He has already made it clear, in the most concise language, that he is bigoted against gay people. Anything he says is colored by this admission. We cannot trust ANYTHING he says about gay people, therefore, for it is further evidence of his bigotry.

[seeker]

Yes, if you agree with someone or disagree with their morality, you are a bigot. Nice definition. I guess by that definition, no one should listen to anyone they disagree with, and merely call them a bigots.

In fact, maybe you are a bigot because you called me a bigot! Maybe you are judging. What about that scripture about not judging? Nice double standard you have there.

You are hopelessly lost in ad hominem attacks because I don't bow down to your arguments, but propose my own counter arguments that you do not like.

[Louis]

Yes, I admit it, proudly: I'm bigoted against bigots. Anyone who claims gay people are a bunch of perverts who are harming America and should "get lost" is a bigot. Anyone who doesn't make the slightest effort to distinguish between differences of behavior and attitude within the gay community and, instead, tars us all with the same deliberately distorted brush is, by definition, guilty of prejudice and stereotyping - ie, a bigot. And anyone who refuses point blank to consider the effects such prejudice has on its target is a bigot.

This isn't an ad hominem attack, btw. It's an entirely accurate description of your views in your own words. It is true. That is what you are. Why not admit it?

[I Am]

It seems to me that every christian who opens their mouth only furthers their groups irrationality as a whole.

[seeker]

Only in the minds of the blinded and irrational ;)

[Ljossalf]

Since compassion is one of the tenets of Buddhist practice-- how is it that someone is trying to make Buddhists NOT do what they normally do?
To note, no, I am not a Buddhist, but as a person familiar with/educated about the teachings, I find something a little bit fishy here in the initial post.

Now if only the people of different religions (and denominations) could simply try to respect each other! One doesn't have to like or agree with another man or woman's theology, but we can all treat each other with some dignity, right?