My "WTF?" of the day, Christianity is *NOT* a religion?

[Archae]

This guy says so.

BTW, the kook that Jackson is criticizing does sound like he may be mentally ill and dangerous.

E.W. Jackson Says ‘Religion Is One Of The Most Dangerous Things In The World,’ But ‘Christianity Is Not A Religion’

By Kyle Mantyla | April 17, 2017 2:39 pm

Religious Right pastor E.W. Jackson declared on his American Family Association radio program on Thursday that “religion is one of the most dangerous things in the world” but that Christianity is not a religion because “it’s reality.”

Jackson was discussing reports about a Muslim convert who moved to Minneapolis recently and has taken it upon himself to try to impose Sharia law on the residents, much to the dismay of local Muslims and Islamic religious leaders.

Jackson said that the young man behind this effort is probably mentally ill and should be committed because he could “erupt into an Islamic jihadist at any moment” since religion is so dangerous.

“Religion is one of the most dangerous things in the world,” Jackson warned. “Religion is. Now some people say, ‘Exactly, that’s why Christianity is so dangerous.’ Christianity is not a religion, folks. Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a relationship of God’s people, with Him as father, Jesus as Lord, it is a living relationship. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and we live and breathe and have our being in Him. It’s not religion, it’s reality.”

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/e-w-jackson-says-religion-is-one-of-the-most-dangerous-things-in-the-world-but-christianity-is-not-a-religion/

[Warpy]

1. Well, there's nothing loonier than somebody else's religion

while the one you got brought up to believe in is just common sense.

Jackson is just being pig ignorant and tribal.

[hunter]

46. 'twas my good fortune to be brought up in loony religion.

I didn't have to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in school, I could stay seated and keep reading.

My mom went from a bad Catholic Priest encounter before she met my dad, to Jehovah's Witness, to Quaker.

The religion I own is mine,

[northoftheborder]

2. Cra-cra

[yuiyoshida]

35. For sure...

wow.

[standingtall]

3. The claim that Christianity is not a religion at it's core

is not a religion,but a relationship with Christ is nothing new. That's a viewpoint even held by many progressive Christians.

[Drahthaardogs]

29. I was taught Christianity is a follower of Jesus Christ,

Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, etc. Are actual religions with heirarchies, dogmas, etc.

[standingtall]

32. When Christians say

Christianity is not a religion at it's core. They are not generally saying Christianity is not a religion in no way what so ever,but in the sense that their doctrines are not harmful. Yes I acknowledge often times certain doctrines can be harmful,but that does not change the perception of those who hold the position.

[WinkyDink]

48. Sorry, but that doesn't make sense. "Christianity" isn't a person, so can't be "a follower...."

[Drahthaardogs]

54. It's not really a religion either. It's a belief system.

Methodist, Orthodox, etc are religions.

[FBaggins]

4. Nothing particularly new there

That's actually a fairly common claim for those (particularly protestants) trying to deepen the faith of people who already consider themselves to be christian.

[WinkyDink]

49. My late husband was the son of and brother to Protestant ministers, and we never heard this absurd

declaration.

[FBaggins]

55. Wow... huge statistical sample there.

[smirkymonkey]

5. Yeah. Ok. Whatever dude.

[longship]

6. Get a bowl, a spoon, and some milk...

This guy is cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!

He's fucking stupid, full of shit, and fucking nuts. (Homage to George Carlson.)

[beam me up scottie]

7. This isn't really that surprising.

Most major religions teach that theirs is the One True Religion and that their God is the One True God. Everyone else's is just a fad that will die out. I know people who still don't think Catholics are Christians, Old Testament Christians who call New Testament Christians fake and vice versa. It seems like someone is always trying to kick someone else out of the club.

This particular nut job just takes it one step further by declaring his religion is reality.

[trixie2]

16. As an atheist

Whenever I am cornered by an evangelical I always say, "Aren't you an atheist in regards to Islam, Hinduism and other non Christian religions?" They ponder the question and say yes. This is where I comeback with, "Well I just add 1 more religion, yours".

Usually they just walk away.



I believe I stole the whole tactic from someone famous, but I do use it from time to time.

[beam me up scottie]

18. That's a good line!

When they ask me how I can 'reject' God I ask them which of the thousands of gods they're referring to and how they can reject all but one.

[trixie2]

24. Adding this to my repertoire

Thanks! I apologize upfront for the theft. I only steal from the best.

[beam me up scottie]

27. It's not theft, I borrowed it from another atheist and we like to share.

I think that's in our Atheist Bible we always hear so much about. Along with worshiping science, evangelizing our lack of beliefs, persecuting believers and something about eating children although that ritual is super secret.*










*Disclaimer: This is satire. Atheists don't really eat children. That's our official statement and I'm sticking to it.

[beam me up scottie]

33. A belated welcome to DU btw.

If you don't subscribe to our Atheists and Agnostics group you should check it out.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1230

Come to the dark side. We have cookies!

[trixie2]

44. Thanks but not new

I'm a refugee of the great hacking of the 2016 election. Have been on here for years - a bit quiet during the Obama years. I was Trixie.

[former9thward]

23. You should give it back to whoever you stole it from.

Its meaningless. If you are an atheist it means you do not believe in a God force. A Christian is not an atheist to other religions. A Christian does not believe as they do, period. That is not the definition of atheism.

[trixie2]

28. I reject your definition!

I will not be defined! They are all meaningless, yes. One still must walk the street and interact with those who differ from us.

Are you saying there are different forms of atheism? Do I need atheism training?

[former9thward]

56. Oh I'm sure you do reject the definition.

People like to create their own personal definitions of words that the rest of the world commonly hold.

[trixie2]

61. Like arguing over who is better, Santa Claus or Easter bunny

I don't care. Being raised to respect others while knowing myself that it is all a bunch of hokum, I will tip my hat and walk away.

[beam me up scottie]

30. This quote is attributed to Stephen Roberts:

I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

It's used to explain why it's not impossible or even difficult to be an atheist. Like most quotes of this nature it's a reaction to a common misconception about atheism. Its purpose isn't to to redefine atheism or theism - it's to help theists see things from our perspective.

Unfortunately it often fails since fundamentalists go into orbit when they hear it.

[synergie]

20. Really just the three related Middle Eastern ones.

[former9thward]

25. Which is "just" the majority of the world...

[synergie]

60. They seem to belueve they comprise all religion and all humanity.

They do not.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Does that mean he'll give up the special privileges he gets under the 1st Amendment

and just get taxed as a normal business? Cool. Various levels of governments will also get to regulate him if they want.

[ck4829]

9. It's usually said by people on the right as a loophole to get around the Establishment Clause

Here's Bill O'Really saying it back in 2012.

http://www.newshounds.us/o_reilly_admits_christianity_is_a_religion_12042012

[beam me up scottie]

10. Yup. Good catch.

They also pull that bullshit when they try to disguise creationism as 'science' instead of mythology so they can teach it in public schools.

[haele]

12. Religion - 1) the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power,

especially a personal God or Gods.

2) commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance.

3) a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.

4) a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.

I don't know, but I'm thinking that simply the belief that you have a living relationship with a supernatural, superhuman entity that creates and controls your reality is a religion.

Especially since you can't apparently question his comment about Christianity being a reality vice a religion. Which is rather strange, because I'm sure that Muslim convert who is attempting to impose his own Personal version of Sharia law on the community says the very same thing...

Y'know, my not so distant G-G-G-parents and their kin also strongly and ardently believed that God gave animals, trees, rivers, and rocks spirits as well as people. They weren't quite sure how to connect the long-held family animist traditions with the church the Lutherans made them attend regularly back during the 18th century, so they just sort of carved a niche for the old world they knew to live comfortably alongside the more modern, socially acceptable religion that took over the area.
But as they still kept little "granny rituals" to appease and communicate with all of God's spirits - making sense of their new reality and their old reality, I think their practice would still be considered a religion.

Haele

[Jack-o-Lantern]

13. Well assuming that Jesus (the man) was a genuine historic person who taught

a good, humane and progressive philosophy, way ahead of his time.
Then I suppose one who follows and lives his teachings today could theoretically be an atheist Christian.

[jls4561]

26. I hav no problem with Jesus

But I do have a problem with hypocrites.

[Humanist_Activist]

14. I've heard this type of terminology amongst very committed Christians to make...

Christianity above "other" religions. At least that is what it seems like to me, even to separate themselves from other Christians who are more "high church" or ritualistic. A common refrain is claiming they aren't religious, but have a personal relationship with Jesus.

[WinkyDink]

51. No. You "heard this" from people 100% ignorant of Christianity, the English language, and logic.

[Humanist_Activist]

57. I have no doubt that they are ignorant, but that doesn't prevent them from being Christian...

they do believe he came to Earth, died and rose again for them, after all. That's pretty much the core of Christianity right there.

[Initech]

15. Republican Christianity is definitely *NOT* a religion.

It's hate disguised as religion featuring Bible verses.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

17. "Christianity is a relationship of Gods people, with Him as father, Jesus as Lord"...blah blah blah

religion = the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

If Christianity is about having a relationship with a god, then it is is a religion. The belief in the god is implied by the relationship with it. It wouldn't make any sense to have a relationship with something they don't believe in. Why would they push so hard to get other people to have relationships with a god they don't believe in? Why would they have schools to teach children to have relationships with a god they don't believe in? That would be a lot of senseless effort.

These people need to learn the definition of words.

[synergie]

19. These guys do not seem to have a working knowledge of English

or world history. Christianity has a well proven track record of being one of the most dangerous and deadly things in the world. This guy gas been huffing something and seems away from reality.

[JHB]

21. That's why I demand conservatives speak English Only...

...not the Bizzaro dialect they have that uses the same words but has vastly different meanings - more than American English and British English have when discussing bonnets or sod.

[NCTraveler]

22. Take their tax status away now. Nt

[rzemanfl]

31. Bullshit. It's a business. n/t

[safeinOhio]

34. Adding his rant about the Trinity is

an insult to Unitarians, the true Christianity.

[MineralMan]

36. Standard apologetics.

Heard it hundreds of times. Feh!

[ProudLib72]

41. This from the man

who swears Apple is the anti-Christ and vowed not to be in the same room as his wife's new Mac.

[MineralMan]

42. But that's an obvious joke.

The guy described in the,OP isn't joking.

[ProudLib72]

43. I know you were joking

I have, however, seen anti-Mac people display just as much conviction as the guy in the OP. Deep seated beliefs about anything, whether it be cars, music, computers, or religion, can make for some ridiculous arguments.

And, for the record, I lean toward Mac at home but use a PC at work.

[rogue emissary]

37. He's been kinda quiet since the last election.

So not certain if this is his normal crazy or him trying to raise name recognition for 2018 level crazy.

[VOX]

38. I'll bet that Jackson sure thought "it's a religion" on his tax return.

Otherwise, it's just the old "my god can beat up your god" bit of business.

[jberryhill]

39. *snort*

[TheDebbieDee]

40. I would say that Christianity is a classification or

group of religions with a Messiah or Savior known as Jesus, who had 12 disciples and who sacrificed himself to buy forgiveness for our sins from his father (or himself if you also believe in the Trinity)for our transgressions... (There are many other religions that pre-date Christianity that also have a Savior with twelve disciples who sacrificed himself to buy forgiveness for their transgressions.)

[WinkyDink]

52. In and of itself Christianity is a religion.

[Thor_MN]

45. Well, if it's not a religion, then its not Tax Exempt.

I expect his church will be aying their taxes any day now that he has given up the religious exemption.

[WinkyDink]

47. No matter what or if one believes, there is no question that....oh, you know the rest.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

50. Religions of the World

Taoism: Shit happens.
Hinduism: Shit happens again and again.
Buddhism: This shit doesn't have to keep happening.
Islam: If shit happens, it is the will of Allah.
Mormonism: You couldn't make up shit like this.
Judaism: Why does shit always happen to us?
Televangelism: Send money or shit will happen to you.
Unitarianism: Come, let us reason together about this shit.
Christianity: Jesus died to save you from your shit.
Protestantism: Shit won't happen if you work hard.
Quaker: Let us not fight over this shit.
Hedonism: Fuck this shit.
Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserve it. 
Capitalism: We can sell this shit.
Rastafarianism: This is good shit.
Agnosticism: I don't know about this shit.
Atheism: I don't believe this shit.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

53. Isn't it just adorable, how many people

have an invisible friend?

[Skittles]

58. lol, his second statement proves his first statement

nutcase

[Doreen]

59. re li gion

noun
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

A particular system of faith and worship.

A pursuit and interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.