@Finn dAbuzz,
Finn dAbuzz wrote:As a Christian, you are somehow more qualified than others to criticize your fellow Christians?
No, sir. That is not what I meant. I simply meant that I was not an atheist or some other non-Christian who would view Christians as being outside of the tribe, so to speak; and I certainly recognize there are many non-Christians who don't have an antagonistic or hypercritical attitude toward Christians. I don't know if that makes any sense. I can see how you would misunderstand me.
I'm not in the business of looking down on other people. I've got more than my share of shortcomings and sins I still have to deal with. A very close friend of mine, who has been a deacon of my congregation, voted for Trump, as did his wife and (I assume) all four of his children. Even though I voted for a third-party candidate instead of Donald Trump, we still have a lot in common. We just don't talk politics; or, rather, I don't bring them up because doing so wouldn't accomplish anything positive. His older son was recently hired as a speechwriter by the Arizona Republican Party. I disagree with his political views; but his employment is an honor, and he's entitled to do what he pleases.
The criticisms I've expressed are of a historical nature. Ralph Reed, whom I cited in my previous post, is a white evangelical himself, has been intellectually courageous to point out the strong support for Jim Crow, historically speaking. I commend him for it. Most members of our various tribes don't care to air their dirty laundry or even acknowledge it exists.
By the way, the great American conservative writer Russel Kirk during the 1950s or '60s accused many, if not most, German conservatives of having supported Hitler. He said they were blinded by the Nazis' emphasis on traditional family values. I don't believe Kirk was endorsing liberalism by making these observations. Obviously, I commend him as well.
