|
Blog conversation with a fanatic Fundmentalist
Just for kicks the other day I joined (briefly) the “Don’t Blame Me, I Didn’t Vote For Obama” blog where people who evidently didn’t vote for Obama can vent their anger about our president. I just wanted to see what my fellow Americans were saying and perhaps get an insight into their motivations. I voted for Obama, but my curiosity got the best of me. I wanted to see what was being said about him. I like to look at both sides of an issue before forming my own (hopefully) intelligent opinion. Usually blogs of this nature aren’t about constructive criticism, the majority just rant and rave about their paranoia concerning their perceived state of our union. Many of the comments seemed to be heartfelt with some intelligent observations and some food for thought. I made the mistake of commenting on a woman from Arkansas’s allegation that Obama was the Antichrist and all Americans who voted for him and support him are going to suffer an eternity of hellfire damnation in the afterlife, or at the very least, be left behind after “The Rapture” along with the Pope and most of the Muppets. Her attitude seemed to be the “holier than thou” recipe, which seems to be the predominant philosophy of many, but not all, so-called “born again” Christians.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a lapsed Catholic but Christian and consider myself spiritual, but with a healthy dose of skepticism attached. I’ve always adhered to the tenet of respecting others’ beliefs and convictions whether I agreed with them or not. The Bible to me is a guideline for living. I’m no fundamentalist by any stretch. I am of the philosophy that God gave us brains and free will to seek Him out in whatever form. The “live and let live” philosophy has always guided my thoughts and has served me well. One thing I cannot tolerate is intolerance. After reading this woman’s allegations, I couldn’t let it go. So, I sent her my opinionated comments.
Her long list of complaints, besides Obama, included legal abortion (she’s again’ it) and healthcare reform, (she’s again’ that, too, naturally.) Her biggest complaint is, of course, sin, which seems to be the state most people, or at least Wall Street bankers, live in these days. Evidently, President Obama is fulfilling a prophecy in the Bible about the Antichrist. According to her, the Antichrist with a capital “A”, or “antichrist” if you consider him just a footnote in the scheme of things, comes to us as a savior that promises salvation and redemption while tap dancing to the tune of “Happy Days Are Here Again.” Obama is in fact a minion of the Devil, or “devil” if you think this guy is just a bit player. No matter how respectful and understanding I tried to be, I was met with another quote from the Bible, whether it was pertinent to our discussion or not. It was also pointed out to me that I was again, going to burn in hell because of my respect for the highest office in the land. I mentioned that the best thing to do was pray that he makes the right decisions. I read her reply that said then I would be “praying to the Devil as if you were praying to the false god Allah. You’d then be just a pawn of the terrorists!”
After pointing out to her that middle-eastern Islamic fundamentalists were saying the same thing-“our God is the only God,” and that most wars were fought over whose God is the best, she cut me off with another Bible quote about “having no other Gods before me.” I don’t know about her God, but my God doesn’t take sides. I don’t think He gives one whit about who the President of the United States is.
If you ever find yourself in a spirited discussion with a fanatic fundamentalist Christian, have your Bible handy-you’ll need it. Oh, and have a copy of the Koran close by in case an Al-Qaeda member drops by for tea.
.
|
