Washblog

people of faith: n. phr. 1. Christians. 2. Republicans. (reader comment)

Ok, but you have to remember that, for many on the right, "Christian" does not include any of the following:

• African Methodist Episcopal Church
  
• The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
  
• Alliance of Baptists
  
• American Baptist Churches in the USA
  
• Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
  
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  
• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
  
• Church of the Brethren
  
• The Coptic Orthodox Church in North America
  
• The Episcopal Church
  
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  
• Friends United Meeting
  
• Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
  
• Hungarian Reformed Church in America
  
• International Council of Community Churches
  
• Korean Presbyterian Church in America
  
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
  
• Mar Thoma Church
  
• Moravian Church in America Northern Province and Southern Province
  
• National Baptist Convention of America
  
• National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
  
• National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
  
• Orthodox Church in America
  
• Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA
  
• Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
  
• Polish National Catholic Church of America
  
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
  
• Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
  
• Reformed Church in America
  
• Serbian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A. and Canada
  
• The Swedenborgian Church
  
• Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch
  
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America
  
• United Church of Christ
  
• The United Methodist Church

ALL of these churches have been been calling for an immediate cease fire and a brokered peace since hostilities began in the Middle East, through the National Council of Churches (NCC).  Reading through that list, you'll notice most of the major Protestant and Orthodox denominations.

There is also a very interesting article on their web page entitled "Denying Muslims rights is not a religious value"

http://www.ncccusa.org/interfaith/lullcolumn.html

There are many other churches that are actively supporting efforts for peace, but for various reasons have not joined the NCC.  (A good example of that would be the Roman Catholic Church.)

When you hear those on the right decrying "Liberal Churches", the list above is what they're talking about.

Still, Westboro Baptist is not on the list.  (They are not part of any of the Baptist Churches listed.)  Maybe that is who they're referring to as Christians.  

It does annoy me when my friends on the left are willing to buy into the definition that the far right has for "Christian".  We don't let them (as much as they'd like to) define the words "morality" or "values", but for some reason, many seem willing to let them define "Christian".

Before anyone comes out asking why we aren't doing so more strongly, I would point out that we are.  It doesn't get a lot of news coverage, and that is very frustrating.  Still, I can't entirely blame the media.  After all, "Christians Pray for Peace" isn't much of a headline, and when we organize marches and rallies, we tend to invite everyone (not just the Christians).

Still, if you want to get a sample of what we're doing, try Googling "Christian peace rally Iraq".

I think that the millions of members of the churches listed above might have some difference of opinion with the far right as to what constitutes "Christian".

by jbarelli on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 04:53:17 PM PST

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