Photo courtesy of Brett Jordan
I was raised as a Christian and consider myself a Christian because I am a firm believer and try to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and his message of love, forgiveness and compassion.
So imagine my surprise when I get this email about the upcoming Australian federal election from a work acquaintance who is a practicing Christian. The email was written by a Christian Fundamentalist persuading the church community to vote Liberal because of the “evil” agenda that the ALP and the Greens are touting. In the interest of the reader, I have included a cropped version of the email’s main points in bold and my thoughts are written below each point in italics.
There is a huge difference between the parties in their commitment to upholding national values that have been derived from our Judeo-Christian heritage. For example the preference deal between the now atheistically led Labor party and the Greens puts the following values at high risk:
Failing to model Christian marriage and fatherhood in national leadership
Just because Julia Gillard remains unwed and Bob Brown is an open homosexual does not mean they will not do a good job in Parliament and be able to run this country. Look at George Bush. He’s the perfect example of how a married Christian father can totally add more hate into this world with his willingness to send troops because of “weapons of mass destruction.” Give us a f!#@’n break!
Liberalising abortion
Well I believe in a woman’s choice. Yes we can argue this back and forward all you like but I believe in the feminist movement, although I don’t believe in late term abortions. But I still believe in a woman’s choice. If you want to sit and argue, think about women who are raped by strangers or even by their own fathers and tell me where you sit on that subject.
Promoting the homosexual agenda
I’m not homosexual, but that does not mean there is anything wrong with being one even if I was. These Christians make it out like homosexuals decide to be homosexual just to be cool. I’ve had many conversations with my homosexual friends and many of them hid it for a long time, from their family and friends, because they thought there was something wrong with them. If you’re not going to acknowledge there is a homosexual population and their rights need to be heard, than please go away. I don’t have time for homophobs.
Reducing religious freedom through anti-discrimination laws
Ridiculous. Anti-discrimination laws aren’t there to reduce religious freedom. In fact, religious beliefs are protected in the anti-discrimination laws! And we have them for a reason – to protect human rights. Not Christian rights! Go figure.
Undermining the Kingdom principle that marriage is between a man and a woman
I’m sorry but the last time I heard and read, marriage was not something God and his “Kingdom” created, this was something that humans created. And seeing as humans have evolved as a species, than the sanctity of marriage should also evolve. I rest my case.
Despite what is said in the media, the most important issue facing Australia is fatherhood – as we are fast becoming a nation of dysfunctional families. It is fatherhood that binds the Old Testament to the New from Malachi 4:5-6 to Luke 1:17
The most important issue facing Australia is fatherhood? Excuse me? How is that tied into a nation of dysfunctional families? I thought one of the reasons we have dysfunctional families is because parents are so overworked trying to pay their mortgages and keep up the Joneses that they don’t have time to spend quality time with their kids and family and as a result, the kids grow up without the sense of family belonging. This is a systemic problem – not an issue that fathers can’t “lead” their families properly. Go educate yourself and get back to me.
So there you have it. I still call myself a Christian and have faith in the guiding principles that Jesus Christ taught and lived but as you can see, I don’t subscribe to the views of these Christian Fundamentalists. The Christian beliefs I signed up to are vastly different to the ones above. If I was mistaken, and hate, discrimination and ignorance were on the agenda, well I wouldn’t have signed up at all.
Oh and by the way, just to make it loud and clear – I’m NOT voting Liberal.
