You’ve seen these, right? They make me mad. Why? Because they don’t really mean what they say.
Let’s break it down. We’ll call each worldview by the letter it’s supposed to represent. So:
- C = Islam
- O = Pacifism
- E = “Gender equality” (=the LGBT agenda)
- X = Judaism
- I = Wicca / Pagan / Bah’ai
- S =Taoism / Confucianism
- T = Christianity
And let’s assume a very broad definition of “coexist”: living together without calling for the destruction of each other. Here are the problems with that:
- C wants to kill E, X, T, and (by implication) O. If they achieved the world they wanted, I and S would also no longer exist.
- O doesn’t allow for effective resistance or defeat of C.
- E stands in direct opposition to C, X, and T, and accuses those who speak against them of hate speech. Also, they’re trying to edge X and T out of public schools in favor of their own agenda. (They’re afraid C will be offended, so they get less trouble.) E is actually very, very intolerant.
- X’s existence is threatened not only by C but also by O, who invariably supports C over X.
- I and S are statistically insignificant and are mainly on there to complete the bumper sticker.
- T is who the bumper sticker is really arguing against, but poses no physical threat to any of the others.
Historically, T has brought about more tolerance– “coexistence” if you will– than any other movement. But the kind of “coexistence” the people who make this sticker envision is one where at least X and T are completely marginalized.
UPDATE: My wife reminded me that I was supposed to mention this: Worldview issues aside, on a purely graphics basis, this bumper sticker is awesome.
November 5, 2009 at 2:26 am |
Christianity has not “historically brought about more tolerance.” Think Christian Crusades, Puritan hate in early America and modern day crusades on all sorts of “difference”. Christianity is not a religion of tolerance.
Coexist is a movement that just strives for acceptance regardless of religion. That’s the point.
November 5, 2009 at 8:26 am |
The Crusades were 600 years ago, and Christians who had nothing to do with them have been apologizing ever since. The Puritans came here to escape religious persecution and pretty much invented the idea of religious tolerance.
Also, you’ve illustrated my point that this movement is actually very intolerant. It’s certainly not tolerant of Christianity, as your hate-filled distortions demonstrate.
November 14, 2009 at 1:37 am |
The prayer of Martin Luther just before the Diet of Worms in 1521: “O God, send help.”
November 16, 2009 at 8:49 pm |
[...] Read Jake’s problems with this ‘tolerance mentality’ HERE. [...]
November 25, 2009 at 3:53 pm |
Janet,
The intolerance, violence, self-righteousness, and sinfulness of Christians does not prove that Christianity is itself intolerant, violent, et al or untrue. Likewise, virtuous pagans and kind humanists don’t make the beliefs they espouse good or prove them to be true. In fact, the sins of Christians only prove the truthfulness of the Christian doctrine of human sinfulness.
Certainly Christianity is not a religion of tolerance if by “tolerance” you mean “acceptance.” Likewise, the tolerance you practice does not even meet the impossibly high standard to which you hold confessing Christians. I assume you do not accept Jesus Christ as the God-Man who is the only way to God? According to the standard you seem to set, that makes you intolerant. Jake made a similar point.