The Milk of Human Kindness
By grandpa_lash
@grandpa_lash (5225)
Australia
October 9, 2009 4:53am CST
I was at a party a week or so ago, and a group on the verandah somehow got onto a discussion on AIDS. The normal moralistic lot got started on gay men and their unnatural behaviour, and when someone pointed out that it wasn't just gay men, but IV users and that heterosexual women were as much at risk as gay men, the old chestnut about the wages of sin (drug-taking is a sin) popped up. Then someone pointed out that some people contract the disease through blood transfusions, and that many women in countries where women are traded by fathers to suitable husbands for dowries and so forth, and often their children, get it from their husbands.
I was staggered when one silver-haired old battleaxe from one of our local "Christian" communities said that they could not be innocent, that God was punishing them for sins of which we were unaware, but that He knew about. Children?
I am quite aware that this attitude is not part of normal Christian teachings, but she is far from the only person I have come across who takes this evil and un-compassionate view of others' misfortunes.
How do you other Christians deal with people in your church who have these horrendous beliefs?
Lash
6 people like this
12 responses
@pattiurlvd (137)
• United States
9 Oct 09
In my Catholic parish we are taught to show love and kindness even to those who have misjudged others and treat them with the same dignity and understanding we would of the person who say might have or be dying of AIDS. We are continually taught that we need to try our best to see others through the eyes of Christ. It's truly a challenge, since all of us are mere mortals carrying sin as our baggage. But when you can accomplish that feat, it does open your eyes to the fact that no matter what we have done in our lives, we're all still God's children.
It may be true that what people have done to others and to themselves is a sin. But we are taught that we must try to forgive them for what they've done, especially if we want forgiveness from God for what we have done wrong.
2 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
9 Oct 09
I was raised Catholic and that is what I was taught as well.
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
9 Oct 09
This is the attitude that truly "Christian" people show, whether or not they are devout, or even religious. But there are people, it seems, in all religions and all branches of religions, who seem to have no understanding of compassion or forgiveness.
Lash
@coolcoder (2018)
• United States
9 Oct 09
This is precisely the attitude that keeps people who might be open to hearing about Christianity away from Christianity. The whole holier-than-thou bit is incredibly despicable and hypocritical. Perhaps this moralistic lot needs a refresher course on what being a Christian is really about.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
9 Oct 09
I don't attend church anymore. I haven't for many years. I think often hear these type of opinions because I live in what they call the "bible belt" and I am here to tell you that you don't have to be in a church to get opinions on these. type things. My family was very devote and my uncle a preacher so I am very familiar with verses and the bible. Often times when people quote stuff out of context..I get aggravated. I want to call them out on it and give them real quotes with real meanings but most of the time I just shake my head and feel sorry for them that their religion has brought them so much hate instead of the love and comfort that it's meant to.
1 person likes this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
9 Oct 09
Yes, clearly their interpretation is the crux of the matter, and that comes from their own warped personalities. I have many problems with organised religion, but one of the main ones is that all religions seem to attract this kind of person along with the good ones, and often allow them to take up significant positions in their various organisations. I can't think of any other form of human endeavour in which this can occur, at least with the same frequency. Another thing that bothers me is that the congregations allow them to stay; if I found someone in my social group that took these sorts of views, I would shun them, and publicly criticise them until they left.
Lash
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
9 Oct 09
Yes..it is their interpretation that has brought it. I have met many people that have been within the same religions with very different views on what is taught to them or what they have read. I think that this is also due to the "leader" of the church. If it is a preacher or a priest or whatever the leader is called for them..it is him that gives the sermon in the manner that he wants it recieved. I have been in many congregations where the preacher is all about hell and brimstone then others that taught more along the lines of love and understanding. There can be a huge difference among churches even within the same denomonation.
@pattiurlvd (137)
• United States
9 Oct 09
I don't think that it's particularly their religion that has brought them so much hate, I think it's more that they tend to misinterpret the word of God. Or translate it to suit their own self-centered needs and religion does not teach people to be self-centered.
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
9 Oct 09
Disgusted with this typical attitude of Christians and their coldness and cruelty toward life, to say nothing of their hypocrisy and their lies, I left not only the Catholic community, but also the religion.
Cheers and happy Mylotting
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
9 Oct 09
I can understand the frustration, I myself left the church 40 years ago for similar reasons, but I also have to agree with the rabbit, it's not all, and in many sects not even a majority of Christians (or any other religion) who are like this. Nevertheless, as long as the "good" people tolerate this sort of attitude, the churches can never function as they were designed to.
Lash
@opalina143 (1240)
• Morristown, New Jersey
9 Oct 09
All I can say is that I've been in Christian churches and ministries for about 15 years before I finally gave it up. And I can honestly say that the most judgmental, hypocritical, vicious people I ever met where Christians, most of the 'born again' variety. I would count the number of Christians I met who were decent people on one hand. I would say 90% of them were complete and utter hypocrites. I hate to say that, but I've been in many churches and many ministries throughout the years and it is true. A lot of people use theri faith as a vehicle to judge others. Fundamentalists and Evengelicals feel that everyone who is not a 'born again' christian is going to hell- to suffer for eternity- yet they spend more money on bubble gum than Evangelism every year as a demographic. What does that tell you? It tells me that most Christians are self-rightous and selfish, and I have seen this to be true time and time again.
@jb78000 (15139)
•
9 Oct 09
[hijacking rabbit returns] i don't think all or even most christians are like that. in real life i know a few that are actually extremely nice people. yes like its counterpart (obvious which one i'm on about, and there too i know some great people) it can be used to excuse viciousness. you've obviously had some bad experiences with the book thumpers which i can understand - the self righteousness in certain people can be horrifying. don't tar all of them with the same brush though.
[rabbit who is neither a christian or a muslim bounces off having i think been bossy towards somebody. again.]
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
10 Oct 09
hi grandpa lash wow and she called herself a Christian, battle axe sounds more appropriate to me. I deal harshly with other christians who are so unchristian.Yes I too have heard so called
Christian spout prunes and prisms and act very unGodly no matter how good they think they are. I guess I am not a very good Christian as one of my best friends is gay,he is my sons best friend and a friend to me as well. a nicer person you wou ld not want to know.we owe him much for all the help he has given our family .I maybe heterosexual myself but I am still his friend.My dad used to have a remark about some so called Christians he said the milk of human kindness had soured in them and I do believe that for sure.
1 person likes this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
10 Oct 09
I haven't heard anyone in my church make such comments. Of course, this isn't a subject that comes up, so I can't really say how they feel on the subject. Was the woman saying the children were being punished for sins they had committed or was it the sins of the father passed down to the next generation?
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
11 Oct 09
What possible difference could it make? Either way there was no compassion for the child's fate, or of anyone's fate suffering this disease. In another context she'd have been knitting as the heads fell in Paris, or running a concentration camp in Germany, all while claiming to be a Christian.
Lash
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
16 Oct 09
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Maybe you should have pointed out to them that as a christian its their duty to pray and help the sick and afflicted not to cast stones on top of them.
I know lots of Christians who can quote the bible word for word but few who know the meaning and even fewer who apply it in their lives, its not always easy its a struggle against everything we see and have been raised into. But who am I to judge another mans servant, I have not always been what I should be myself, I am just thankful God gave me some control over my tongue. Maybe their gift is greater than mine in a different way. Luckily I haven't ran into anyone with such beliefs if I did I would probably point out a few scriptures that might make them rethink their stances.
@opalina143 (1240)
• Morristown, New Jersey
9 Oct 09
Unfortunately there are a lot of Christians like that. Many Christians stick to the religion because it gives them an opportunity to judge others. They get to feel superior because they believe they are going to heaven and everyone else isn't. Basically they get to feel that they are chosen and special. I have sadly found that most Christians are like that- (When I say most, I mean most 'born again' fundamentalist Christians) without a doubt, most are like that. Sadly, I am not surprised by what you said. So many Christians use thier religion as an excuse for hate and intolerance.
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
9 Oct 09
As an Australian, where we don't have a "Bible Belt" as such, although certainly a number of fundamentalists spread out around the place, this sort of attitude does come as a bit of a shock to me. There is no institutionalised version of these un-Christian sins.
Lash
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
9 Oct 09
"Born Again" and fundamentalists are some of of the most UN-Christian people (in their attitudes) that I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. Jesus taught about love and compassion, not the judgmental self-righteous I see coming from so many of those ignorant, EVIL bible thumpers. How they can claim to be followers of Christ is completely beyond my understanding.
I despise fanatical believers of ANY religion (and fanatical atheists too). Why is it so hard for some people to understand that not everyone believes as they do and that having a different spiritual path (or no path) does NOT make someone a bad person?
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
9 Oct 09
I don't really go to church these days, but in the Catholic church in which I was raised I NEVER came across people who believed as that one awful woman you describe does. We are taught to NOT judge people and to be compassionate towards others.
I have come across those false Christians you describe in life and here at mylot, and yes, they are FALSE Christians because how they act and the abominable things they say is NOT in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ. I basically tell them what I just said in the last sentence and if that doesn't work I might either walk away or get loud, depending on my mood. LOL
AIDS is a disease, like any other horrible disease, it can strike innocent people who have done nothing wrong. Babies can be born with it, those babies did nothing to deserve such a devastating illness.
So did anyone on the veranda correct that awful woman? Did you say anything to her? I probably would have yelled at her. LOL
@forestgold (792)
•
9 Oct 09
I have to say, that i have come accross many *so called Christians*, who have a total selfish, and high moral handed attitude towards others who are less fortunate.
I have noticed this, and i think they are just self opinionated, hypocrits, who may find themselves in need of some help some day, and find there is no one interested in their problems.
What goes around, comes around.
I am a big believer of that.
