RACISM? No, it is not.

[arunma]

St Valentines Day, St Patrick's Day, Christmas Tree... Is this culture or religion? - Church on Sunday rather than on Sabbath Day (Saturday) - culture or religion? Church on Christmas e

Culture & religion, beliefs, traditions & rituals all come hand in hand.

So then, do you think (as Galilean most likely does) that Christianity is a white, anglo-saxon religion?

By the way, Christmas isn't characteristically western. The vast majority of churches (at least as far as I am aware) recognize it. As for such things as St. Valentine's day, I'm fairly certain that the Catholic Church no longer recognizes it as a holiday, because it has become secular. And the Sunday Sabbath is a tradition that is mentioned in the Bible. It has nothing to do with the white, Western culture that you wrongly attach to Christianity.

 

[Kris_J]

So then, do you think (as Galilean most likely does) that Christianity is a white, anglo-saxon religion?

No - what I am saying is that it is incredibly difficult to express religion without expressing your own culture.

If we had practiced religion devoid of western culture, we would be reading the Bible in Hebrew & Greek - but then we would have to be fluent in Hebrew & Greek culture to understand the language.

By the way, Christmas isn't characteristically western. The vast majority of churches (at least as far as I am aware) recognize it. As for such things as St. Valentine's day, I'm fairly certain that the Catholic Church no longer recognizes it as a holiday, because it has become secular. And the Sunday Sabbath is a tradition that is mentioned in the Bible. It has nothing to do with the white, Western culture that you wrongly attach to Christianity.

Are you proposing that all cultures regardless of religion celebrate birthdays? - BTW Sabbath is literally Saturday(Sabado).

 

[arunma]

No - what I am saying is that it is incredibly difficult to express religion without expressing your own culture.

If we had practiced religion devoid of western culture, we would be reading the Bible in Hebrew & Greek - but then we would have to be fluent in Hebrew & Greek culture to understand the language.

Are you now claiming that all Christians read the Bible in English? Why are Hebrew and Greek the only alternatives to your Western culture? There is no short supply of Christians who do not speak English. I'm curious as to where they fit into your culturally-bound version of Christianity.

Are you proposing that all cultures regardless of religion celebrate birthdays?

Quite a few cultures celebrate birthdays, but this is beside the point. The point is that the holidays you mentioned are former Roman Catholic holy days. In the time when they had religious meaning, these days unified various cultures.

It sounds to me like you have taken an ethnocentric and European view of Christianity, and portrayed the religion as a predominantly white country club. But please correct me if I have misinterpreted what you have written. This is why I interpret your statements as ethnocentric: the original poster claimed that Judeo-Christian culture is being destroyed by non-Europeans (or at the very least, this is how he was interpreted). Instead of reminding him that Christianity is not dependant on any culture, you claimed that Christians ought to "share the public pie" with non-Europeans.

By making that statement, you have implicitly submitted that Christianity is characteristically European. You have turned a religious division into a racial and cultural division. Do you see the problem?

 

[Kris_J]

People of all races & culture should be able to rightfully claim their own culture. If that means Judeo-Christians have to share the public pie, then so be it. Being able to speak the language of the culture you come from is the most basic act of practicing the culture.

By making that statement, you have implicitly submitted that Christianity is characteristically European. You have turned a religious division into a racial and cultural division. Do you see the problem?

I think you misunderstand my post, unless you can tell me where in the above post I mention Europeans or non-western.

 

[Kris_J]

Speaking of languages, culture & religion, FYI in my language Saturday is "Sabado" means "Sabbath Day" (spanish/latin), when the English "Saturday" means "Saturn Day" (greek).

This "erosion" of judeo-Christian traditions has been going on for a long time - or perhaps the judeo-Christian traditions has failed to erode the Ancient Greek tradition.

 

[arunma]

I think you misunderstand my post, unless you can tell me where in the above post I mention Europeans or non-western.

You said, "If we had practiced religion devoid of western culture, we would be reading the Bible in Hebrew & Greek - but then we would have to be fluent in Hebrew & Greek culture to understand the language."

 

[Kris_J]

You said, "If we had practiced religion devoid of western culture, we would be reading the Bible in Hebrew & Greek - but then we would have to be fluent in Hebrew & Greek culture to understand the language."

.... and your point being?

Messianic Jews should come to mind as Christians that are not practicing the western culture. They are Christians that celebrate hannuka & Passover etc.

 

[arunma]

.... and your point being?

Messianic Jews should come to mind as Christians that are not practicing the western culture. They are Christians that celebrate hannuka & Passover etc.

I would not hold up Messianic "Jews" as a good example of Christianity, since they often hold heretical views. Perhaps it would be better to use the example of, say, Coptic Christians. Are they sufficiently non-Western?

 

[Kris_J]

I would not hold up Messianic "Jews" as a good example of Christianity, since they often hold heretical views. Perhaps it would be better to use the example of, say, Coptic Christians. Are they sufficiently non-Western?

Are you saying that Messianic Jews are not Christians? Either they are or they are not.

.... & your point being?

 

[arunma]

Are you saying that Messianic Jews are not Christians? Either they are or they are not.

.... & your point being?

I would classify most Messianic Jews as Christians. Keep in mind that the various congregations of Messianic Judaism are very different. Some hold to proper theology. But some practice the ancient heresy of Judaizing. So I would refer to these Messianic Jews as heretical Christians.

As for the Copts, they celebrate Christmas, just as the Western churches do. So you were quite wrong to claim that our celebration of Christmas is a purely Western tradition.

 

[Kris_J]

I would classify most Messianic Jews as Christians. Keep in mind that the various congregations of Messianic Judaism are very different. Some hold to proper theology. But some practice the ancient heresy of Judaizing. So I would refer to these Messianic Jews as heretical Christians.

As for the Copts, they celebrate Christmas, just as the Western churches do. So you were quite wrong to claim that our celebration of Christmas is a purely Western tradition.

I am showing you Messianic Jews - a group according to CF are Christians - & that they do not celebrate Christmas.
Are you suggesting that it is heretical for a Christian to believe they do not need to celebrate Christmas?

Christmas relies on the value of the day of birth as a day for celebration. Not all cultures value this, therefore why should they value Christmas? I don't recall Jesus celebrating his own birthday...Jesus however practiced Passover aka Last Supper.

 

[Galilean]

I checked out some things about Australia...did a search on "the Pacific solution" and detention centers for immigrants. Are these still going on or have you moved through that stage yet. All in all it sounds like you've got some problems "down under"!

So you have a problem with the detainment of unqurantined illegal immigrants, who are not refugees. Righto.

xenophobia

It's generally not a good idea to frequently misuse words which actually have a valid psychological definition, such as 'homophobia' and 'xenophobia'. And no, the definition of 'homphobia' is not 'anyone who doesn't fully embrace homosexuality as a moral and wonderful thing'.
I ponder at the ignorance and bigotry of those who regard others whose opinions disagree with them as mentally ill.

If we had practiced religion devoid of western culture, we would be reading the Bible in Hebrew & Greek - but then we would have to be fluent in Hebrew & Greek culture to understand the language.

Greek isn't western?

 

[Kris_J]

Greek isn't western?

Christianity is neither Greek nor western, & Christianity can be understood without being Greek or western.

 

[Galilean]

Christianity is neither Greek nor western,

Christianity is actually profoundly hellenestic. I would mentioned the fact that christianity is officially a western religion as opposed to eastern religions like islam, buddhism, hinduism etc, but then again I'm getting sick of my little thought policeman arunma following me around and biting my heels.

 

[sanaa]

hmmm christian,white,american nationalism........................ superiority of american culture to other cultures ...................................... blatantly and unrepentendtly stated . arunma i noticed u did not disagree with the posts that said american culture is superior to other cultures . i do hope u disagree otherwise it would be quite hypocritical of u to pick on hindus and accuse them of thinking their culture is superior

 

[arunma]

Christianity is actually profoundly hellenestic. I would mentioned the fact that christianity is officially a western religion as opposed to eastern religions like islam, buddhism, hinduism etc, but then again I'm getting sick of my little thought policeman arunma following me around and biting my heels.

You are right to say that I will most likely write an anti-racist polemic against virtually anything that you say.

arunma i noticed u did not disagree with the posts that said american culture is superior to other cultures . i do hope u disagree otherwise it would be quite hypocritical of u to pick on hindus and accuse them of thinking their culture is superior

I obviously do disagree with that. But I didn't find her belief nearly as offensive, because it truly was a "culturalist" belief, without the racism that various other posters show. She freely confessed that there is only one race, and if she happens to think that the culture which has developed in America is superior, then this isn't quite as disturbing to me as is what Galilean preaches.

But again, I strongly disagree that there is any such thing as a superior culture.

 

[sanaa]

thats good to know

 

[Galilean]

She freely confessed that there is only one race, and if she happens to think that the culture which has developed in America is superior, then this isn't quite as disturbing to me as is what Galilean preaches.

You like to pretend that I preach the superiority of western culture and/or caucasian races, slavery, or that I have hatred for certain races/ethnicites or the people that belong to them. Time and time again, and from the very beginning, I have made it clear that I do not beleive in any of these things, and it hasn't sunk in with you at all.
Everytime someone even vaguely implies that christianity is a part of western culture you accuse them of being supermacists and racists, not only with me but with anyone.
You also seem to have a very hard time accepting that there is someone around who has a different opinion to you, or opinions that you decide are 'racist'.
Obviously, anyone that acknowledges the fact there are human races or ethnic groups is a racist to you, and automatically a white supremacist, a christian identity, a supporter of slavery, even when they make it very clear they are none of this things.

 

[Kris_J]

Christianity is actually profoundly hellenestic. I would mentioned the fact that christianity is officially a western religion as opposed to eastern religions like islam, buddhism, hinduism etc, but then again I'm getting sick of my little thought policeman arunma following me around and biting my heels.
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Oh, sure, if you ignore everything in the bible that is Jewish - starting with Jesus, Moses, Abraham...etc.

 

[Kris_J]

No - what I am saying is that it is incredibly difficult to express religion without expressing your own culture.

If we had practiced religion devoid of western culture, we would be reading the Bible in Hebrew & Greek - but then we would have to be fluent in Hebrew & Greek culture to understand the language.

Are you now claiming that all Christians read the Bible in English? Why are Hebrew and Greek the only alternatives to your Western culture? There is no short supply of Christians who do not speak English. I'm curious as to where they fit into your culturally-bound version of Christianity.

How on earth did you arrive at that conclusion from reading my post? Its common knowledge that the original scriptures were in hebrew & greek, translated into latin, & in recent centuries english. Now its in almost every language.