The Last Acceptable Prejudice

persecution, christian, christianity, holy, religion, jesus, easter, god, atheism, atheist,
I would have thought the last totally acceptable prejudice was hating fat people, but no, apparently, it's hating Christians! (In a country that self identifies as over 75% Christian. I'm thinking of mailing everyone in the country a dictionary, with "persecution" highlighted.)

For the Media, It's Unholy Week by Colleen Raezler

Apparently, we're only allowed to talk about certain things in the week preceding Easter. Any news that might reflect negatively (now matter how tangentially) on Christians is not be to be reported. In deference to the zombie king, I think.

Most regular church-goers have heard their less scrupulously observant fellows called "Christmas and Easter Christians." I would imagine it's the regular church-goers using that phrase, because who else would. and, in my family, that was "holly and lilly christians". Well, they also have their counterparts in the mainstream media: "Christmas and Easter Anti-Christians." how would these be counterparts, exactly? we're comparing regular attendees to those who only attend on high holy days. is she saying that "antichristian" reporters that only surface around high holy (christian) days are somehow worse than year round "antichristian" reporters? analogy fail. How else to explain the spate of skeptical, negative stories that inevitably accompany the two most important Christian holy days? inevitably? or is it just that events occur regardless of what high holy day your religion is experiencing? perhaps Ms. Raezler is suggesting that we not in any way negatively report on Muslims around Ramadan?

This Holy Week has been typical. Newsweek proclaimed "The Decline and Fall of Christian America" on its cover. in response to a legitimate study that was released in March. stupid scientists, not taking the holy week into account when releasing their findings. The Washington Post/Newsweek "On Faith" blog featured a post that belittled the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. you know, i'm putting in all these links, which is problematic, because I can't find the post she's referencing. The most recent On Faith post is entitled "Is Your Rabbi Hot or Not?" The Discovery Channel aired a documentary that painted Jesus as little more than an opportunistic politician who caught a bad break in a trial. didn't see it, but oh, noes, did somebody portray jesus in a way your religion doesn't approve of? well, that's easily as bad as lions!

These are just the most notable recent instances of secular media's disdain for traditional Christians and the tenets of their faith. we should tiptoe around the christians and say nothing that upsets them. ever. and especially not during holy week! Anti-Christianism is the last acceptable prejudice. The assault on Christian beliefs and morality is ongoing. there's gays! right there! being gay! Take for example the howls of outrage when the Pope reiterated Catholic teaching on abstinence. you mean when the pope told africans at risk for contracting HIV that condoms spread HIV? that?

But because Easter is so central to understanding Jesus and His purpose, and to Christians' own understanding of the world, easter is central to your understanding of the world? the secular attack escalates during Holy Week. it's part of the atheist agenda. or possibly the liberal agenda. with a little help from the gay agenda. It takes on more existential dimensions the atheist/liberal/gay agenda takes on existential dimensions? would that be the 8th dimension, or the 11th?, questioning Christianity's relevance in the modern world, how dare we not recognize your supreme importance and bow before your superior understanding of the world?! the meaning of Christ's lessons and ultimately, His divinity. which doesn't matter at all to me, but i guess i don't understand the world.

Depending on your point of view, Jesus was either a charismatic populist crusader, a doctrinaire Marxist or "do your own thing" feel-good guru. Anything but the Son of God. how dare, HOW DARE, HOW DARE anyone not think exactly as she thinks?! ever! in the history of time! it's persecution I tell you! If that's what you think of Him, it's easy to see why you would question His relevance. hey, wait, that's my line.

It just goes on like that, she quotes Michael Medved, insults a few people, but I think you get the jist: If you don't believe exactly as she believes, and you don't keep your damn(ed) mouth shut about it- you're persecuting christians.