Did you catch this from the Senate yesterday morning?
A Hindu chaplain's prayer was interrupted by Christian true believers. Here is the story from CNN. Watch the video here.
Chaplain Rajan Zed, left, and Sen. Robert Casey looks toward the Senate's public gallery during the protest.
I caught it. And if they were trying to save his soul, they pretty much guarenteed that he'd go in the other direction, or any direction other than Christianity.
ReplyDeleteSeriously -- if someone feels that they alone have the absolute truth, all the answers, and access to the greatest source of love, shouldn't we be able to tell that based on their behavior? Even Paul was polite with other worshippers in Acts 17. He preached, yes. BUt he reached them on their level, rather than ramming it down their throats. Absolute truth should make one humble, not obnoxious. Otherwise, the truth is too dominated by ego.
Absolutely disgraceful.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the Sgt. at Arms maced a few of them. If anyone was wondering why Christians are so widely hated, now you know.
These Fundis slander Jesus with every word from their lying mouths.
I might have to blog on this too, John. You don't allow the kind of language that I feel is needed here.
;)
Thanx for bringing this to my attention.
tn420 wrote:
ReplyDeleteHopefully the Sgt. at Arms maced a few of them.
I don't agree with or condone disruption of the prayers, but tn420's advocacy of violence is sadly typical of his modus operandi.
I commend John Shuck for having some standards of decency on his blog.
You should be happy,
ReplyDeletemace is far less brutal than fashioning a whip out of rope and whoopin' on some Republicans in the Temple.
You're so right, tn420!
ReplyDeleteMacing the Christians is even more merciful than what happens to Christians when they simply try to meet for private prayer in India, or have a press conference addressing Hindu violence against Christians, or just try to live their lives in peace. If only we could be happy pluralists like the Hindus.
I just wish we could live like the peace-seeking Indians in the largest democracy on the planet rather than in this Christofascist Republican Theothugocracy.
[NB: I've had lots of Hindu friends and none of them acted this way. But I can't stand it when people point to Christians protesting - a constitutionally-protected right - and overlook the violent abuses heaped on followers of Christ by all the other religions.]
Chris,
ReplyDelete** But I can't stand it when people point to Christians protesting - a constitutionally-protected right **
There is a difference between protesting and being flat-out rude and indulging in uncalled for behavior. What did their behavior accomplish, other than painting a negative portrayel of Christianity? How would this possible make anyone intersted in Jesus, if this is an example of what his followers do?
I am not ignoring that abuse happens to Christians -- abuse happens to followers of all religions, by followers of different religions. But I am calling the protesters on the fact that they are not living up to the standards they want everyone to follow. If they have been reading the prayer and Hindus interupted them, I have no doubt they'd be irate.
I do hope they were not maced, as not only is that an 'eye for an eye' approach, but it would just feed into the protesters persecution complex. Yes, complex. Those protesters weren't persecuted. If persecuted, much worse things would have occured to them than simply being removed from the room.
I think Heather makes some good points. By all means witness to the Gospel ... but not by interrupting prayers offered before the US Senate. Obviously Christians are persecuted in other countries, including by Hindus, but that doesn't justify the behavior of these protestors. The only possible justification would be if the Hindu cleric had somehow been involved in anti-Christian persecution ... I think that's highly unlikely.
ReplyDeleteThe bigotry of these yahoos is truly disgusting--but not surprising.
ReplyDeleteNice try on reframing the topic, folks..but no cigar.
ReplyDeleteThe issue has nothing to do with Christians being persecuted world wide and everything to do with the fact that these imbeciles give Christianity the negative image amongst the secular world that it has.
Unless of course we consider that such behavior could be the primary reason that Christian are so persecuted. Ya think??
So, you go to a country dominated by other religious beliefs, tell them they're all going to hell unless they believe as you do, and you expect no one to get mad? LOL
When these pretenders learn some respect for the beliefs of others, and maybe a little respect for the constitutional mandate of freedom of religion (they violated that of the chaplain), perhaps they will find themselves a little less "persecuted" one day.
I'll bet Rajan Zed prayed for all three of them.
Presbyman,
ReplyDelete**The only possible justification would be if the Hindu cleric had somehow been involved in anti-Christian persecution ... I think that's highly unlikely. **
I think I see where you're going with this. It would be comparible to the Senate asking a known war criminal to speak before it, or invite the criminal to be an ally. In that case, I would fully expect people to be up in arms (metaphorically) and protest, and not let the war criminal speak. To me, that is just protesting because one is speaking out against wrong behavior for allowing someone with that viewpoint to be backed by our Senate.
Heather,
ReplyDeleteMy point was that Muslims can blow us up and they're deemed protesters against the powers of empire of "freedom fighters." Christians can be mocked six ways to Tuesday and nobody bats an eye. But when some Christians peacefully (though very rudely) protest, we label them extremists.
I don't think they should have been in there yelling. Pray for the Congress - that's a faithful option. Write about it, etc. But to call them extremists just for being obnoxious? It goes beyond what's supportable.
tn20 - Christians may tell people that they are in danger of hellfire, but at least we don't try to send people into it prematurely! (caber tosses aside)
Uh, Chris....
ReplyDeletetn20 - Christians may tell people that they are in danger of hellfire, but at least we don't try to send people into it prematurely!
As nonsensical as this statement is, I'll try and decipher it.
Which "Christians" are you referring to? The real ones like Jimmy Carter, MLK, etc...or the lying sudo-christians like Pat Robertson, Falwell, and the three goons in the Senate halls? Lumping Christians into one category as though we were all the same is what the Atheists do so often.
No one is "in danger of Hell fire" because Hell Fire is an analogy used by Jesus to refer to being left out of God's love. It related to the fact that prisoners were often tossed into the flaming dung pits outside the walls of Israel. There is no actual "pit of burning sulfur".
As far as "sending people to Hell prematurely", perhaps you'll be so kind as to clarify what you're trying to say.
Being cryptic doesn't aid understanding.
Chris,
ReplyDelete**My point was that Muslims can blow us up and they're deemed protesters against the powers of empire of "freedom fighters." ** Deemed protesters by who? I don't label them protesters, I label them terrorists.
**But when some Christians peacefully (though very rudely) protest, we label them extremists.**
Peacefully? Not based on the language they used, which was calling the prayer a "prayer of the wicked" and an "abomindation in God's sight. Were this even 500 years ago, I have no doubt that those protesters would be using more than just words to stop the prayer, because the words they used expressed that attitude.
Well said, Heather. I wish I had the pure heart you have and your talent for euphemism, but somebody has to be the one to remind these Mullahs that if they pull the tiger's tail too hard they may just get bit.
ReplyDeleteActually, if not for the second amendment rights we enjoy, those American Taliban representatives would be beating you up in the streets for not covering your head or stoning you for having the audacity to speak your female mind.
Religious fanaticism is religious fanaticism. Which religion it rears it foul head in doesn't matter. Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc....all have their Taliban and all Taliban must be contained for the good of all decent people.
That was purely comedic to me for some reason. The dude gets interupted before he prays (that is broken up), then he starts to pray again and it happens again - I don't know how you felt - but I had to laugh...you can't write a funnier script.
ReplyDeleteBut this was quite shameful for the Christian faith - this behavior was purely rude and nothing more...after I laughed I was later appalled. But if Christians want to beoome laughing stalks - have at it.
As for me and my house - we will laugh at this charade and will not let this determine our faith. If I ever hear this firsthand in my community I will talk to the people hurling comments of judgment - and ask them to leave. But all this did - was give the Christian faith more reason to look bad (which is not part of our faith mandates).
I did some research after hearing about this sickening story on the radio, and I found out that Mr. Zed (who is part of a group of chaplains of different denominations and faiths that regularly visits area hospitals) is on the board of a group raising money to build a Hindu temple in Reno. I sent them a check.
ReplyDeleteThe full text of the prayer, as transcribed in the Congressional Record:
Let us pray.
We meditate on the transcendental Glory of the Deity Supreme, who is inside the heart of the Earth, inside the life of the sky, and inside the soul of the Heaven. May He stimulate and illuminate our minds.
Lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. May we be protected together. May we be nourished together. May we work together with great vigor. May our study be enlightening. May no obstacle arise between us.
May the Senators strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world, performing their duties with the welfare of others always in mind, because by devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of life. May they work carefully and wisely, guided by compassion and without thought for themselves.
United your resolve, united your hearts, may your spirits be as one, that you may long dwell in unity and concord.
Peace, peace, peace be unto all.
Lord, we ask You to comfort the family of former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson.
Amen.