Ethnocentrism

[morningstar2651]

Ethnocentricity doesn't have anything to do with religion rather the culture you were born/raised in and it exists in every country and culture.

I've encountered ethnocentrism in polytheists before.

 

[morningstar2651]

Stay up late and watch religious tv..you will see them asking for money to send bibles to starving children. Faith in Action is great for sending bibles to famine victims in Sudan. SWI is a good one for that too. Ministries in Zambia are sick too. Any place that has a population that's 40% at risk of starvation should be sent food, not Jesus.

Mmmm mmm, deep fried goodness! *takes a bite out of a fried Bible*

 

[MortonGneiss]

Indeed they can. The problem with MortonGneiss is he's arguing about the evils done by "Christianity" yet conceeds that the sources had been misused.

But I don't conceed that it was misuse. I said that interpretations have lead to some of the worst atrocities known to man, but that's par for the course for the religion. I think they were using scripture exactly how it is written, especially in the case of Cortes, which means it was the proper use. Given Christianity's history for violence, one might just say that violent acts of intolerence are more true to the nature of the religion than this loving gospel garbage Christians shuffle around with today.

 

[MortonGneiss]

Nothing new, this is what Malecchas do when they get asked tough questions. They run, hide or end with : I will pray for you.

Pray for me? They shouldn't waste their time talking to themselves on my account.

 

[Montalban]

A lot of books can be used to promote war, not necessarily religious either.

And of course he now argues that a miss-use is not a miss-use!

 

[MortonGneiss]

And of course he now argues that a miss-use is not a miss-use!

Care to define the correct usage? If these weren't true Christians, please enlighten us as to what a true Christian is.

I haven't met a Christian yet that can rise to this challenge.

 

[Bonhoffer]

The Jews are only 'the Chosen People' in the sense of role in Gods plan. They are not superior or inferior to anyone else. They were just a tribe that God chose to write the Bible, establish monotheism and give the world its saviour. Someone had to do this. For some reason I do not know He decided to choose the Jews. However through His work with the Jews He blessed all of humanity.

I dont think that Christianity really teaches that Christians are the chosen people as such. The Bible certainly doesnt teach that people are saved by cultural, ethnic or even religious ties with Christianity. The Bible teaches that people are saved by being humble enough to accept Gods grace. In many senses Christianity teaches that we choose ourselves. Its certainly not ethnocentric because Christians come in all colours, shapes and sizes. I also believe that many people culturally in non-Christian religions will chose Christ at their death. Only those who are too proud to accept Christ will not go to heaven as it were.
Its funny that some people label me ethnocentric for saying Christianity is the one true faith because I am a white. They view Christianity as being Eurocentric or as a White mans religion. This is incredibly ignorant. If anything it is Afrocentric and anti-European. I believe that when it comes to percentage of the different skin colour groups being saved from todays world- white people will have the lowest figure. This is because they tend to live in rich countries where they are tempted by wealth, become proud and adopt humanistic philosophies. According to the Sermon on the Mount the gospel is biased towards the poor. Therefore there will be higher rates of salvation in the third world than in the western world. So Christianity is certainly not Eurocentric.

 

[MortonGneiss]

I dont think that Christianity really teaches that Christians are the chosen people as such. The Bible certainly doesnt teach that people are saved by cultural, ethnic or even religious ties with Christianity.

You really should have read all the way back before posting, as most of this is already addressed, and I'm about to make you look very foolish for it.

The Bible teaches that people are saved by being humble enough to accept Gods grace. In many senses Christianity teaches that we choose ourselves. Its certainly not ethnocentric because Christians come in all colours, shapes and sizes. I also believe that many people culturally in non-Christian religions will chose Christ at their death. Only those who are too proud to accept Christ will not go to heaven as it were.

Main Entry: eth·no·cen·tric
Pronunciation: "eth-nO-'sen-trik
Function: adjective
: characterized by or based on the attitude that one's own group is superior

You have just told us that accepting Christ is the only way into heaven. And if you're not too thick, you might see how exclusive that doctrine is. Furthermore, if those who follow Christ are the only ones that go to heaven you are explicitly stating that God only favors Christians..which isn't much of a stretch from saying they are His chosen people.

Your group, Christians, feel they are superior in that their way is the only way to get into God's graces ergo get into heaven. Which fits the definition quite well. It doesn't matter that they will accept anyone into their group, that doesn't change the attitude that their group, Christianity, is superior.

Its funny that some people label me ethnocentric for saying Christianity is the one true faith because I am a white.

Ethnocentrism as we are using it has nothing to do with race. Read the definition. In the future please read all of the thread before gracing us with an uninformed opinion.

 

[urnotme]

No he doesn't have to bait me. I have already asked him and other Malecchas to convert me to their organization. No one even wants to try. Since he can't answer your questions he just wants to take the focus elsewhere. Nothing new, this is what Malecchas do when they get asked tough questions. They run, hide or end with : I will pray for you.

I pray for the Malecchas and animals alll the time.

satay

What does melacas mean, are they just non hindus or someething else?

 

[urnotme]

Mmmm mmm, deep fried goodness! *takes a bite out of a fried Bible*

Would you rather they didn't send anything? They send food too and not just to christians.

 

[arunma]

What does melacas mean, are they just non hindus or someething else?

Technically, malecchas are people of inferior spiritual capacity. It could be taken in a couple different ways. Firstly, it could refer to people who don't adhere to the dharmic religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Secondly, there may also be a racial factor. Just as the word "heathen" literally refers to unbelievers, but was often used to refer to Africans and Native Americans, so too can the word maleccha refer to non-Indians.

It seems to me that the Hindus here speak in the spirit of both contexts. Indeed many Hindus believe in the superiority of the Indian race and its culture (personally, I find no difference between this attitude and that of the KKK). To be fair, though, I think Satay tends to refer to Christianity as a "maleccha religion" mostly for religious reasons. For example, he also calls me a maleccha. So unless he forgot that I'm an Indian, I think he's referring to people with less "spiritual capacity" (whatever that means).

 

[MortonGneiss]

Would you rather they didn't send anything? They send food too and not just to christians.

I'd rather they sent just food. Humanitarian aid should be just that. They use the plight of these people as an excuse to prostelyze, and that's dispicable. Basically the sentiment is "Hey we have food and medicine for you, but first let me tell you a bit about Jesus."

So unless he forgot that I'm an Indian, I think he's referring to people with less "spiritual capacity" (whatever that means).

I think by this he means you're more concerned with dictating how people believe, then actually concerning yourself with the spiritual teachings. I have to agree. And for you to condemn people based on their beliefs isn't that much different then condemning them for their race, they're both ignorant reasons to hate someone.

 

[urnotme]

I believe that when it comes to percentage of the different skin colour groups being saved from todays world- white people will have the lowest figure. This is because they tend to live in rich countries where they are tempted by wealth, become proud and adopt humanistic philosophies. According to the Sermon on the Mount the gospel is biased towards the poor. Therefore there will be higher rates of salvation in the third world than in the western world. So Christianity is certainly not Eurocentric.

Why is the US considered the wealthiest nation in the world or one of them when we a 3 trillion dollar national debt?

 

[MortonGneiss]

Why is the US considered the wealthiest nation in the world or one of them when we a 3 trillion dollar national debt?

It has to do with our standard of living. We have a higher percentage of internet connections per household then some countries do for running water and indoor plumbing.

 

[indianx]

Indeed many Hindus believe in the superiority of the Indian race and its culture

Prove that.

I could say many Christians are dumbasses, but I wouldn't be able to statistically prove it, it would be an ignorant statement, like yours.

 

[MortonGneiss]

Prove that.

I could say many Christians are dumbasses, but I wouldn't be able to statistically prove it, it would be an ignorant statement, like yours.

They can't prove that. It was a retarded thing to say. Hindus' may be proud of their beleifs and reluctant to abandon them, but I've never seen them going around trying to forcefully convert other people to Hinduism. The Hindus that I have interviewed all say that 'there are many paths up the same mountain', which is very tolerant of other peoples beliefs. Christians only believe in one path, and they try to force everyone onto it, or at least believe that if you're not on it then you deserve to burn in hell.

So when someone says something that blantanly hypocritical and ignorant, we just have to laugh. And we can notch one on to that statistical proof.

 

[urnotme]

I'd rather they sent just food. Humanitarian aid should be just that. They use the plight of these people as an excuse to prostelyze, and that's dispicable. Basically the sentiment is "Hey we have food and medicine for you, but first let me tell you a bit about Jesus.

I don't think you know that. There are other organizatiions that just send food anyway..Some of the programs I've seeen ask for money for food then ask people to donate their extra bibles but I am sure there are a lot of poor people in this country that need it too.

 

[MortonGneiss]

I don't think you know that. There are other organizatiions that just send food anyway..Some of the programs I've seeen ask for money for food then ask people to donate their extra bibles but I am sure there are a lot of poor people in this country that need it too.

I think you just like to pretend this isn't true. The ones that just send food usually aren't Christian, and I happen to respect those ones.

After the tsunami struck I had some great examples of Churches that were rallying missionaries because 'the door was open' for conversion, they were going to do aid and relief, but the major motivator was that they could get into that region, an area Christians had been restricted from, and preach. But alas too much time has passed for me to provide you with those links.

So, no, I'm not just making empty claims. TBN should proof enough that many of these organizations are more interested in promoting themselves and the word of God than doing any actual good.

Let me ask a question, and maybe this will open your eyes. These people are starving to death and illiterate...what good is a new/used bible going do for them?

 

[satay]

What does melacas mean, are they just non hindus or someething else?

Maleccha is a sanskrit word that can be used to describe someone that does not or can not comprehend the dharmic principles. A Maleccha is a person that is more wrapped up in the wordly matters and wants to push his or own ideas on others. In other words, anyone that is not following the Dharma principles is a maleccha. Nationality has nothing to do with it. I know many westerners that live dharmic life and I know a lot of "indians" that have no clue of what Dharma is because they lack the capacity to comprehend it. These "indians" rightfully belong to Maleccha organizations fit for their spiritual capacity and according to their karma.

Of course I never use this word in a derogatory sense. I use it in the same sense as Malecchas use the word idoltary.

satay

 

[satay]

To be fair, though, I think Satay tends to refer to Christianity as a "maleccha religion" mostly for religious reasons. For example, he also calls me a maleccha. So unless he forgot that I'm an Indian, I think he's referring to people with less "spiritual capacity" (whatever that means).

No, to me you calling yourself "Indian" means nothing. Either you are following the Vedic Dharmic principles or you are not. If you are not then you are a Maleccha. A lot of my westerners friends are more dharmic than most "indians" I know here.

By the way, I thought you are in the US, so unless you were born in India and have voting rights in india, technically you are not an Indian. You just like to say that you are Indian to tell others that "Indian" doesn't mean "Hindu". But if that makes you sleep better at night then keep thinking that you are an Indian.

satay