Social Darwinists who don't believe in evolution.

[Chamdar]

What are your opinions of people like this? It should be obvious as to who I'm referring to: They're so-called Christians who reject the theory of evolution yet hypocritically follow a "survival of the fittest" worldview and have a callous, heartless view of the poor, the homeless, and the less fortunate in general (even the disabled). I've definitely seen it with some Republicans on these forums and with quite a few people who believe in the prosperity gospel stuff.

And for any potentially offended posters, this shouldn't be interpreted as a defense of "redistribution of wealth", socialism, or welfare. I do, however, condemn the contempt for the less fortunate from individuals who dare to call themselves Christians.

 

[ChristianFriend2012]

I've definetely seen what you're talking about in many Christians unfortunately. After analyzing it for over a decade, my conclusion is still the same as it was then, I think that the real problem with them is that they literally haven't even read the scripture. Clearly if they had then they wouldn't believe as they do. I've found that many have had John 3:16 read to them in church which convinced them that they do believe, and then they rely on their pastors to spoonfeed them a milk & cookies gospel every week and "wear" Christianity on their sleeve as if it's the fashionable thing to do. However, have they themselves sat down and meditated on the scripture? Have they even read the New Testament from front to back themselves? I can guarantee that they haven't actually read it, and are running solely from what they are told every week from someone else's book review (their pastor). Because the charity theme, and the theme of sacrificing material gain for the benefit of their soul and other's souls around them, is impossible to miss. Personally I will say that the charity theme is the core message of the whole New Testament.
So if they hate the homeless and follow the false doctrine that Heaven & Hell is a reference to financial heavens and hells, gated communities being blessed by God and ghettos being blessed by Satan, then they have missed the whole message. Neither rich nor poor are immune to spiritual wickedness, but when they think that those who have materially-prosperred are immune to spiritual wickedness, watch out because pride comes before a fall, and the scripture says, "God giveth, and He taketh away." Calamity can strike these folks as it can you or I, and I think we all need to remind ourselves of that daily. Great topic though, it'll be interesting to see what other Christians think about this.

 

[Chamdar]

I've definetely seen what you're talking about in many Christians unfortunately. After analyzing it for over a decade, my conclusion is still the same as it was then, I think that the real problem with them is that they literally haven't even read the scripture. Clearly if they had then they wouldn't believe as they do. I've found that many have had John 3:16 read to them in church which convinced them that they do believe, and then they rely on their pastors to spoonfeed them a milk & cookies gospel every week and "wear" Christianity on their sleeve as if it's the fashionable thing to do. However, have they themselves sat down and meditated on the scripture? Have they even read the New Testament from front to back themselves? I can guarantee that they haven't actually read it, and are running solely from what they are told every week from someone else's book review (their pastor). Because the charity theme, and the theme of sacrificing material gain for the benefit of their soul and other's souls around them, is impossible to miss. Personally I will say that the charity theme is the core message of the whole New Testament.
So if they hate the homeless and follow the false doctrine that Heaven & Hell is a reference to financial heavens and hells, gated communities being blessed by God and ghettos being blessed by Satan, then they have missed the whole message. Neither rich nor poor are immune to spiritual wickedness, but when they think that those who have materially-prosperred are immune to spiritual wickedness, watch out because pride comes before a fall, and the scripture says, "God giveth, and He taketh away." Calamity can strike these folks as it can you or I, and I think we all need to remind ourselves of that daily. Great topic though, it'll be interesting to see what other Christians think about this.

Well said.

But regarding this issue overall, I think I should take a look at how well I myself follow the Christian tenets of having compassion and mercy on the poor and the weak instead of self-righteously badgering others for it.

 

[BobW188]

Good thought. As the now-old saying goes, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Those old attitudes and prejudices of ours just don't go away; and need to be combatted at every turn; and we are so prone, even those of us who have some claim to know Scripture, to Pharasaicly rationalize it away in the immediate presence of someone we don't like, or really don't want to confront.

 

[Chamdar]

Good thought. As the now-old saying goes, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Those old attitudes and prejudices of ours just don't go away; and need to be combatted at every turn; and we are so prone, even those of us who have some claim to know Scripture, to Pharasaicly rationalize it away in the immediate presence of someone we don't like, or really don't want to confront.

The thing is that I can understand why some people feel this way. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get annoyed whenever a homeless person would ask me for spare change. I also remember a family in my old neighborhood that would send their son door-to-door to ask for miscellaneous food items, and meanwhile, they had cable t.v. and the husband would be seen coming home with a 12-pack of beer.
However, that doesn't mean it's the same for every person on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. It is pointless to preach personal responsibility to a bag lady who obviously has schizophrenia, and there are plenty of people who don't waste their money on luxuries, but still have trouble making ends meet (not to mention that there is no shortage of well-off individuals who also spend irresponsibly).

I think that I was being unfair by associating such attitudes with only Christian fundamentalist conservatives, though. I have an uncle who's a partisan Democrat, and he can barely contain his contempt for the poor, even though he castigates Republicans for doing the same thing. But I think that proves your point even more.

 

[TheReasoner]

What are your opinions of people like this? It should be obvious as to who I'm referring to: They're so-called Christians who reject the theory of evolution yet hypocritically follow a "survival of the fittest" worldview and have a callous, heartless view of the poor, the homeless, and the less fortunate in general (even the disabled). I've definitely seen it with some Republicans on these forums and with quite a few people who believe in the prosperity gospel nonsense. I can imagine William Jennings Bryan rolling in his grave.

And for any potentially offended posters, this shouldn't be interpreted as a defense of "redistribution of wealth", socialism, or welfare. I do, however, condemn the contempt for the less fortunate from individuals who dare to call themselves Christians.

I have seen the same things.
While I am ethnically a Norwegian, I grew up in Ecuador as a missionary kid. As we lived there for four and a half years I helped out at an orphanage, visited natives, sometimes in dirt hovels without neither running water nor electricity, visited slums and even saw children search for food alongside dogs and vultures in garbage dumps so foul smelling I felt like vomiting.
These experiences have colored my social perception, awareness and political viewpoints. And it grieves me deeply when I see what you describe. I cannot see any Christian ethics or morality in this heartless - even hateful approach. It reminds me of the pharisees. So loud and boisterous. Very ready and willing to appear christian and holy in superficial things like bumperstickers and bible verse quotations. But the actions, the humility, the love is simply not there.

 

[TheReasoner]

I've definetely seen what you're talking about in many Christians unfortunately. After analyzing it for over a decade, my conclusion is still the same as it was then, I think that the real problem with them is that they literally haven't even read the scripture. Clearly if they had then they wouldn't believe as they do. I've found that many have had John 3:16 read to them in church which convinced them that they do believe, and then they rely on their pastors to spoonfeed them a milk & cookies gospel every week and "wear" Christianity on their sleeve as if it's the fashionable thing to do. However, have they themselves sat down and meditated on the scripture? Have they even read the New Testament from front to back themselves? I can guarantee that they haven't actually read it, and are running solely from what they are told every week from someone else's book review (their pastor). Because the charity theme, and the theme of sacrificing material gain for the benefit of their soul and other's souls around them, is impossible to miss. Personally I will say that the charity theme is the core message of the whole New Testament.
So if they hate the homeless and follow the false doctrine that Heaven & Hell is a reference to financial heavens and hells, gated communities being blessed by God and ghettos being blessed by Satan, then they have missed the whole message. Neither rich nor poor are immune to spiritual wickedness, but when they think that those who have materially-prosperred are immune to spiritual wickedness, watch out because pride comes before a fall, and the scripture says, "God giveth, and He taketh away." Calamity can strike these folks as it can you or I, and I think we all need to remind ourselves of that daily. Great topic though, it'll be interesting to see what other Christians think about this.

I don't know. The single most wicked man I have ever met was very well versed in scripture indeed. He was still a very evil man, and I and several others wonder whether or not he was possessed. I think he may have been/may be.
While I would love to believe that reading the bible would have such power, I simply don't. Following Christ is so much more. I like Keith Green's definition of a Christian: "…Someone who's bananas for Jesus". And we seldom see that. The bible, I feel, backs this up. What with the biggest/mostimportant commandment being to love God with all our hearts and all our minds. (A lot of people forget the mind part, sadly) - and the second, equally large one - to love everybody else, as much as we love ourselves. Furthermore, the bible also tells us to seek God's kingdom first, and then everything else will follow.

The way I understand it, this is not about reading scripture, though that is an integral part. It is about seeking to know, understand and be like God, whom we love to pieces. You can read the bible as much and as literally as you want. You can even try to live according to what it says, if you don't love God and your fellow man, then it is just an empty book and it will gain you nothing. In fact, sometimes it may only serve as an excuse to do or promote evil things. Love is key. Love is central.

 

[Chamdar]

I have seen the same things.
While I am ethnically a Norwegian, I grew up in Ecuador as a missionary kid. As we lived there for four and a half years I helped out at an orphanage, visited natives, sometimes in dirt hovels without neither running water nor electricity, visited slums and even saw children search for food alongside dogs and vultures in garbage dumps so foul smelling I felt like vomiting.
These experiences have colored my social perception, awareness and political viewpoints. And it grieves me deeply when I see what you describe. I cannot see any Christian ethics or morality in this heartless - even hateful approach. It reminds me of the pharisees. So loud and boisterous. Very ready and willing to appear christian and holy in superficial things like bumperstickers and bible verse quotations. But the actions, the humility, the love is simply not there.

I pointed out in another thread that many Americans would sympathize with the poor in countries like Ecuador and rightly recognize their plight as a result of their government's policies, but they think the poor here at home always bring it on themselves, as if there aren't any Americans who are also impoverished because of government policies.

 

[Chamdar]

I think a lot of it also has to do with the misinterpretation of 2nd Thessalonians 3:10.