Evangelical Christians-not Muslims-are the real national threat

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Religion is dangerous, and I’m not talking about Muslims in America, but the ultra-conservative Evangelical Christians in America.

The Religious Right is dedicated to the recruitment of souls.  This is their priority and their goal.  Nothing else has meaning in their twisted paradigm. Their fear is that America might be looking at a more secular future, and that scares the hell out of them.

Several years ago I was a victim of an Evangelical Christian, a girl friend who was truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing and I apologize to wolves everywhere.  This person used her position in my life to attempt to manipulate me into joining the Army of the Lord.  She attempted to convince me that I needed mental help (OK but that’s another story) and insisted that I seek not a mental health professional, but her pastor.  Her focus was on brainwashing me into joining her cult.  She even went so far as to have a fellow Jesus Jumper call me at home on several occasions to convince me to “pray” with him.

It goes without saying that for me, God is not an option.  I find the entire idea of bearded old men sitting on clouds, and ancient preachers rising up to heaven after being crucified to death, ludicrous.  The nonsense contained in the bible is just that.  It’s gibberish written by ancient old desert dwellers and I  find such rantings dangerous to our society, especially the most impressionable, our children.

Christians are dangerous to America not Muslims madmikesamerica.com

The hypocrisy rampant in American extreme Christianity is beyond the pale and almost impossible to grasp in its commonality.  The Crazy  Christians will try to convince you that it is “other” religions that are dangerous and warlike, while they, in fact, are the real enemy of the American people.  They also believe that Atheists are the enemy of the Lord and therefore the enemy of the people

Read this story from Salon:

If you have the stomach to listen to enough right-wing talk radio, or troll enough right-wing websites, you inevitably come upon fear-mongering about the Unassimilated Muslim. Essentially, this caricature suggests that Muslims in America are more loyal to their religion than to the United States, that such allegedly traitorous loyalties prove that Muslims refuse to assimilate into our nation and that Muslims are therefore a national security threat.

Earlier this year, a Gallup poll illustrated just how apocryphal this story really is. It found that Muslim Americans are one of the most — if not the single most — loyal religious group to the United States. Now, comes the flip side from the Pew Research Center’s stunning findings about other religious groups in America (emphasis mine):

American Christians are more likely than their Western European counterparts to think of themselves first in terms of their religion rather than their nationality; 46 percent of Christians in the U.S. see themselves primarily as Christians and the same number consider themselves Americans first. In contrast, majorities of Christians in France (90 percent), Germany (70 percent), Britain (63 percent) and Spain (53 percent) identify primarily with their nationality rather than their religion. Among Christians in the U.S., white evangelicals are especially inclined to identify first with their faith; 70 percent in this group see themselves first as Christians rather than as Americans, while 22 percent say they are primarily American.

If, as Islamophobes argue, refusing to assimilate is defined as expressing loyalty to a religion before loyalty to country, then this data suggests it is evangelical Christians who are very resistant to assimilation. And yet, few would cite these findings to argue that Christians pose a serious threat to America’s national security. Why the double standard?

Because Christianity is seen as the dominant culture in America — indeed, Christianity and America are often portrayed as being nearly synonymous, meaning expressing loyalty to the former is seen as the equivalent to expressing loyalty to the latter. In this view, there is no such thing as separation between the Christian church and the American state — and every other culture and religion is expected to assimilate to Christianity. To do otherwise is to be accused of waging a “War on Christmas” — or worse, to be accused of being disloyal to America and therefore a national security threat.

Of course, a genuinely pluralistic America is one where — regardless of the religion in question — we see no conflict between loyalties to a religion and loyalties to country. In this ideal America, those who identify as Muslims first are no more or less “un-American” than Christians who do the same (personally, this is the way I see things).

But if our politics and culture are going to continue to make extrapolative judgments about citizens’ patriotic loyalties based on their religious affiliations, then such judgments should at least be universal — and not so obviously selective or brazenly xenophobic.

As an Atheist I have been the victim of a number of subtle attacks by the “true believers.”  I have been cursed and given the cold shoulder at neighborhood functions.  At first the reception was warm, and it wasn’t until I made it clear that religion was not for me, and I had no intention of joining a church, that the warmth disappeared to be replaced by a cold contempt.

Fortunately I do have a public platform and am able to explain why I eschew organized religion.  Since I do, being a good Atheist, I delight in responding to these scurrilous Christian attacks.

About Post Author

Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.
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Bartow-Joe
12 years ago

Do any of you actually converse with any Muslim Americans? My biggest problem with them, is that they charge premium cigarette prices when I go to buy the generic cigs. We should throw them all out the country to lower cigarette prices.

12 years ago

The difficulty lies really in the fact that the Muslim population in their great majority do not want to make compromises with the Christian Authorities (and not at all with laic Authorities)and when they do it, it is because they cannot do differently. We have to mention this because all the Muslim population cannot dissociate politic, civil and religious problems. In France we should be totally a laic country then a law of 1905 divides religion and state affairs. The Muslims men and women constrain us to think differing then they have other priorities but those priorities are all assimilited with the religion and they are most sensitive. A wrong word or a wrong sentence and immediately one have the Association of human Rights or others in front then they go immediately to Court even finally to the European Court. We have the liberty of expression but the satiric European newspapers know now they have to be careful with their Muslim population in France, Denmark, Germany or England. Nevertheless even now with the international communications no newspaper wants to capitulate. They fought in the last centuries to be free and they don’t want to be muzzled again.
The way of living of the Muslims is first of all dictated by the Quran which is totally in contradiction with our modern life at least for all the European Christians. And they don’t understand in public offices, schools, transport means that the religion there has nothing to do. In hospitals no male doctor can examine a Muslim woman even for their teeth. The man has always to be there and sometimes the women wears the Niqab which makes the medical statement more complicated because they refuse also to take it out. They want swimming pools for men and swimming pools for women. Even there they are all dressed when they go into the water.
There are of course moderated Muslims but never the moderated ones would condemn the exactions of Moslems done in Europe or in their origin countries.
This global attitude makes me really sceptical and let me think that nothing good is coming in the future in this part of the world.
Considering the long list of their comminatory requirements, as you said, the disaster should be programmed in 10, 20 or 30 years!
I think the US government, even if it never talks about it, pays strongly attention that such difficulties never reach the States. That’s why surely your green card remains so difficult to get!
Chris

12 years ago

How about the danger of pseudo-evangelicals and election year converts like Gingrich. He said we needed to return to “traditional relgion.” So, does that mean I need to slaughter a bull this Sunday?

http://brettcottrell.blogspot.com/2011/11/newts-traditional-relgion.html

Seriously, it’s hard to have rational discussions with zealots. Luckily, what the discussions lack in reason, they make up for in absurd humor.

12 years ago

Dear Mike,
I just read your article mentioned above and I can tell you following:

————-
In the United States as Jacques said the Muslims represent only a very tiny minority and it cannot be a problem considering then the percentage in your country with this religion does not overpass 0,5% and if I do remember it could be much lower.
IT IS NOT A PROBLEM IN AMERICA and if this religion wants to survive they have to compromise with the American Christian authorities and they do it of course.
Islamophobie cannot come in your country then you are able to smother the problem immediately, this to give a slight answer to Salon.
This word is more convenient in the countries when the percentages of the muslims are much higher for instance in France (about 13 to 15%), Germany (about 8%), Great Britain (about 10 to 12%) etc… Those percentages have to be revided sure but it gives an idea that the problems there are much more different.
The fact that the Evangical Christians are divergent that the other Christians could bring some difficulties but the culture basis is the same.
In France on Friday some streets of Paris, Marseille or other cities are totally blocked and no cars can go through because the Muslims do they prays on the streets, in canteens they want to eat halal, everywhere even in the schools, they don’t accept our History because their is different. (Some of our school teachers want to change our own History only to avoid problems).
Small examples but these Muslim community demands could fill 2 long pages, . In France there are, Jews, Indus, Chinese, African people of every country but only with the Muslim community there occur such problems and the legal differences to the French (German, English) and European courts happen every day.
The General Charles de Gaulle, President of the French Republic between 1958 to 1969 said one day: The Christianity and Islam are like oil and vinegar, if you mixed them together they get separated.
Do believe that the mentioned Evangelical problem is not a probleme at all then there is also the ecumenism to try to plan the differences between Christians. Have you ever heard that with the Muslim culture?
If you look in Irak, Egypt, Algeria, Saoudit Arabia, Iran, Syria you can watch what the Christian minorities are extremely suffering for the time being.
I think USA will never have those divergences.
Chris

Ty
Reply to  DENIS Chr.
11 years ago

Chris, you’re an ignorant person. You obviously speak from your perception, and not as a scholar of history. First of all, Muslims were sold as slaves here for 245 years.Watch “Roots”, you’ll see what I mean. Saudi Arabia was created by the British, and is protected by Israel and the C.I.A. Remember the Gulf War? 15,000,00 Muslims were killed in the Crusades, by Christians, and another 20 mil. in the slave trade. Okay, look up algorithms, Algebra, tooth paste, soap, Arabic numerals, steel factories, sugar mills, first universities, and paper mills of Syria. That’s what those mean Muslims gave the West!!!! Not 35,000,000 deaths, like Christianity did, to them. And don’t get me started on the Jewish victims of Christianity, and the Indians , who lost lands and millions of lives too, to them good ol’ boys, with their cross and rifles!!!!

Chris
Reply to  Ty
11 years ago

Ty,
I didn’t know that I am an ignorant person but everyday one learns something new.
Anyway you don’t have to mix everything in your exposure concerning scholar of history. There are differences between black people, arab people and their religions. “Roots” concerns black people which had also islam but not the all the arab world. In the contrary Islam arabic people were in their History since the “Hegira” always considered as the invaders (Asia, Africa and Europe). In their History they had also slaves and for instance for centuries the jews were considered as “dhimmis”.
Since the “Hegira” there were plenty of wars between Muslims and Christians and I can’t say which one could defend the “truth”. There were simply wars, normal wars.
I have much respect for Al-Khawarizmi born about 783 or Abu-‘Abdollâh Mohammad Khuwârizm the fathers of Algebra and mathematics.
But it was the Islamic golden age (Abbasids) , open towards the world and not dogmatic as it is to-day which allowed at that time great reflections of the best Islam people.
Since the time where the Islam changes, the to-day Islam stagnates and is more or less to-day totally conservative preventing all evolutions in our modern world.
Except the Literature and Peace Nobel, the Islam world remains inexistant concerning new discoveries nowadays. This is really a pity!
The tooth pasta was known by the Egyptians (long before the Hegira)and soap the same. Steel factories stood in China and after Europe long before the arab world which didn’t know coalmines.
The universities were known long time before “the Hegira” and paper mills have been found not only in Syrian but also in Palestinia and Israel. Indian found the sugar mills but the arab world made a big industry of it and gave a strong expansion, this always at the Islamic Golden Age.
Instead of looking the differences why don’t you think for instance at a Oecumenism which would approach the two religions and would bring a peaceful life together? For that some sourates of the Coran should be changed surely or interpreted differently by the wise men of the Islam?
Or do you think it is impossible??

After so long time Madsmikeamerica send me your response to-day. That why you become my opinion only to-day!

Jacques
12 years ago

This is good Mr. Mad, very good as a matter of fact, but you are not completely accurate. Although the Muslims represent a tiny minority in America it is only for now. Like the Mexicans, they have established a presence, and like the Mexicans their population will continue to grow. Don’t think they have the best interests of the United States at heart.

Alex See
Reply to  Jacques
12 years ago

First of all there is no border to allow “Muslims” to easily flow into our nation. Second, your compairing a religion to a race already makes your point seem invalid and you a little stupid. Lastly, I’m not sure what interest you assume they have in mind for the US but theirs won’t be any worse than the rest of our population, probably less, the American dream for foreigners from impoverished nations is to just succeed in providing a comfortable life for their family and themselves. Unlike most of us who would throw morals or “teachings” out the window for our one shot at the top, what ever that may be.

Jymsjameson
12 years ago

I guess these people having read Mathew 6:6. Lol, christians, you get all butt hurt just because someone has different views you think you’re being oppressed, even though you’re the majority of the U.S!

Jess
Reply to  Professor Mike
12 years ago

Yuo should start a regular hate mail feature, once a month or so, we can then see the idiots out in the open and mock them mercilessly, then choose the best of the hate. Retract their email addresses. That’s just my opinion for what it’s worth and it would be a fun way to spend a couple hours 🙂

Marvella G.
12 years ago

I think you guyhs are sacriligious because Jesus is Lord or all the universe, and not the muslim god of anywhere and who isnt real anyway. You are going to Hell with the devil. Our god died for us in rome and his blood was on the ground and we are all good not dangeruos at all. You athesists will rot in hell with your famlys..

mandibular
Reply to  Marvella G.
12 years ago

god i hope this is parody

Jeremy1981
12 years ago

In my experience all religious are monuments to hypocrisy at one time or another. They preach and pray then lie and play. All religion is dangerous man.

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