Is it right to blame or discredit an entire group over the actions of one bad person from the group?

[Nine of Spades]

Even though I’m a Christian, I sometimes read atheists blogs because I like to see what nonbelievers are writing and thinking about. It helps me to better understand what people whose beliefs (or rather non-beliefs) that differ from my own see the world.

Several of the atheist sites I visit with some regularity have reported on the recent spree shooter who gunned downed eight Asian massage ladies. They specifically noted about how the killer, Robert Aaron Long, was a Baptist who was involved with his church and very much committed to his faith. The bloggers, who are undoubtedly hostile towards religion, wanted to discredit Christianity by pointing out the religious background of the said spree shooter.

Thinking about this, I decided to post a thread about it. Namely, I want to raise the subject with this question: Is it ethically right to blame an entire group based on one bad person’s immoral actions from that group?

For example, let’s say a person from a certain race commits a heinous, violent crime. Would it be acceptable to blame an entire ethnic group because one person from that ethnic group committed a very terrible crime? Of course not! People would call the idea racist.

If a black American kills a white cop, everyone would say it is racist if a reporter, journalist, or blogger decided to castigate all black Americans over it. And rightfully so. Meanwhile, if a Baptist (or at least someone who claims to be Baptist) kills eight massage ladies in a horrific crime, these atheists bloggers seem to think it’s absolutely okay to imply that all of Christianity is bad based solely on the actions of one awful “Christian.” Do these people not see how unfair their thinking is?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

A racial group and a religion cannot expect the same treatment.

A religion states all members believe the same thing, even if this is not true, this is the stick they are measured with. If one person is a disgrace, we all are a disgrace. The church is an embassy of the Kingdom of God, so each person's effort matters.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

At the same time, when Christianity is prevalent socially, it means other groups lose their rights and are treated poorly because of the collective actions of a group - Christians.

Thus since this group is seen as "the oppressor" it is important to take it down so they can live in peace.

Something similar happened with Italy in the Medieval times and renaissance, over fear of the Roman empire rising again and taking away rights of all european nations. So whether it's fair or not is debatable, but it is consistent with human behavior.

 

[Nine of Spades]

At the same time, when Christianity is prevalent socially, it means other groups lose their rights and are treated poorly because of the collective actions of a group - Christians.

Thus since this group is seen as "the oppressor" it is important to take it down so they can live in peace.

Something similar happened with Italy in the Medieval times and renaissance, over fear of the Roman empire rising again and taking away rights of all european nations. So whether it's fair or not is debatable, but it is consistent with human behavior.

If Christianity were so influential and prominent in American society, they would be teaching young earth creationism in public schools and prosecuting atheists for blasphemy. Neither of those things are happening because the First Amendment of the US Constitution declares that our country is a secular nation and that one religion or denomination cannot be given preferential treatment over another. You’re overstating the amount of influence Christianity has in America and our government.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

If Christianity were so influential and prominent in American society, they would be teaching young earth creationism in public schools and prosecuting atheists for blasphemy. Neither of those things are happening because the First Amendment of the US Constitution declares that our country is a secular nation and that one religion or denomination cannot be given preferential treatment over another. You’re overstating the amount of influence Christianity has in America and our government.

Christianity in a previous decade had much more influence than it did today.

During those times, Christianity treated non-Christians in a way that they are now being treated today.

To protest is hypocritical, instead turn the other cheek and sow seeds for better results in future generations.

 

[jacks]

Is it right to blame or discredit an entire group over the actions of one bad person from the group?

Of course it isn't right. Even people who are doing it, probably don't really believe it themselves (If they take the time to think.) Rather it is a futile attempt to further their private biases. I would just ignore it and move on.

 

[Nine of Spades]

Christianity in a previous decade had much more influence than it did today.

During those times, Christianity treated non-Christians in a way that they are now being treated today.

To protest is hypocritical, instead turn the other cheek and sow seeds for better results in future generations.

You made an assertion but didn’t bother to support your idea with arguments or data to prove your view. Explain your position and elaborate on your idea, otherwise you don’t really have an argument.

 

[Sabertooth]

Is it right to blame or discredit an entire group over the actions of one bad person from the group?

Do you really expect the ethics of atheism to rise higher than humanism?

 

[SilverBear]

Even though I’m a Christian, I sometimes read atheists blogs because I like to see what nonbelievers are writing and thinking about. It helps me to better understand what people whose beliefs (or rather non-beliefs) that differ from my own see the world.

Several of the atheist sites I visit with some regularity have reported on the recent spree shooter who gunned downed eight Asian massage ladies. They specifically noted about how the killer, Robert Aaron Long, was a Baptist who was involved with his church and very much committed to his faith. The bloggers, who are undoubtedly hostile towards religion, wanted to discredit Christianity by pointing out the religious background of the said spree shooter.

Thinking about this, I decided to post a thread about it. Namely, I want to raise the subject with this question: Is it ethically right to blame an entire group based on one bad person’s immoral actions from that group?

For example, let’s say a person from a certain race commits a heinous, violent crime. Would it be acceptable to blame an entire ethnic group because one person from that ethnic group committed a very terrible crime? Of course not! People would call the idea racist.

If a black American kills a white cop, everyone would say it is racist if a reporter, journalist, or blogger decided to castigate all black Americans over it. And rightfully so. Meanwhile, if a Baptist (or at least someone who claims to be Baptist) kills eight massage ladies in a horrific crime, these atheists bloggers seem to think it’s absolutely okay to imply that all of Christianity is bad based solely on the actions of one awful “Christian.” Do these people not see how unfair their thinking is?

We see this sort of thing often form the right often in association with the LGBT community.

in recent threads we have seen claims that a man entered a woman's locker room with criminal intent and then claimed he was a transsexual. It doesn't matter if anything like this happened or not the incident is now used to justify attacks on all transsexuals. In another instance a story of how the small child of a gay couple called a woman "mama" and this was touted as evidence that all same sex couples are bad parents.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

You made an assertion but didn’t bother to support your idea with arguments or data to prove your view. Explain your position and elaborate on your idea, otherwise you don’t really have an argument.

I supported it fine, however your response seems to imply you're done talking.

So thanks for the discussion.

 

[SilverBear]

If Christianity were so influential and prominent in American society, they would be teaching young earth creationism in public schools and prosecuting atheists for blasphemy. Neither of those things are happening because the First Amendment of the US Constitution declares that our country is a secular nation and that one religion or denomination cannot be given preferential treatment over another. You’re overstating the amount of influence Christianity has in America and our government.

but attempts to do these things happen regularly

 

[Nine of Spades]

but attempts to do these things happen regularly

Yeah I know, but they haven’t ever been successful.

 

[SilverBear]

Yeah I know, but they haven’t ever been successful.

Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee have passed laws that permit public school teachers to teach "alternatives" to evolution, using public funds to do so. In other states , such as Florida, Indiana, Arizona, and elsewhere, public funds are used to support creationist private schools through state tuition voucher or scholarship programs.

 

[Nine of Spades]

Do you really expect the ethics of atheism to rise higher than humanism?

I’ve known many atheists during my life, some of them are people I know personally, others are people on the internet. It seems like practically all of them have a negative view of religion, thinking only the worst of it and seeing it as some sort of reactionary and superstitious force. I’ve known only one atheist who has a positive view of religion. Apparently, he’s smart enough to recognize the good aspects of faith despite his unbelief.

 

[Nine of Spades]

Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee have passed laws that permit public school teachers to teach "alternatives" to evolution, using public funds to do so. In other states , such as Florida, Indiana, Arizona, and elsewhere, public funds are used to support creationist private schools through state tuition voucher or scholarship programs.

I’m from Texas. When I took biology in high school many years ago, they taught evolution and not creationism.

 

[SilverBear]

I’m from Texas. When I took biology in high school many years ago, they taught evolution and not creationism.

That's nice. What are they doing now?

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Only if it's an acceptable target.

 

[Nine of Spades]

That's nice. What are they doing now?

When I was in school and college, it seemed like the majority of educators were on the left side of politics. YECs are generally conservative-leaning and don’t fancy learning science or becoming teachers. Assuming things have stayed the same, I presume they’re still teaching science in science class.

 

[Ken-1122]

Even though I’m a Christian, I sometimes read atheists blogs because I like to see what nonbelievers are writing and thinking about. It helps me to better understand what people whose beliefs (or rather non-beliefs) that differ from my own see the world.

Several of the atheist sites I visit with some regularity have reported on the recent spree shooter who gunned downed eight Asian massage ladies. They specifically noted about how the killer, Robert Aaron Long, was a Baptist who was involved with his church and very much committed to his faith. The bloggers, who are undoubtedly hostile towards religion, wanted to discredit Christianity by pointing out the religious background of the said spree shooter.

Thinking about this, I decided to post a thread about it. Namely, I want to raise the subject with this question: Is it ethically right to blame an entire group based on one bad person’s immoral actions from that group?

For example, let’s say a person from a certain race commits a heinous, violent crime. Would it be acceptable to blame an entire ethnic group because one person from that ethnic group committed a very terrible crime? Of course not! People would call the idea racist.

If a black American kills a white cop, everyone would say it is racist if a reporter, journalist, or blogger decided to castigate all black Americans over it. And rightfully so. Meanwhile, if a Baptist (or at least someone who claims to be Baptist) kills eight massage ladies in a horrific crime, these atheists bloggers seem to think it’s absolutely okay to imply that all of Christianity is bad based solely on the actions of one awful “Christian.” Do these people not see how unfair their thinking is?

It goes both ways ya know. If an atheist committed mass murder, I will bet there would be a number of Christians blaming his evil deeds on him being atheist.

 

[public hermit]

If he claimed to be Baptist, then the Baptists should condemn his actions. If his grandmother was Baptist, then the Baptists should condemn his actions. If his cousin, twice removed, was Baptist, then the Baptists should condemn his actions. If there was a Baptists the next city over, that Baptist should condemn...all Baptists and non-Baptists should condemn his actions. We should...