I always like the way my dad-in-law boils it down after a lifetime of upbringing by the fire and brimstone Southern Baptists. “There are Christians…and there are churchfolk. Don’t dare get the two confused.”

I’ve been saying a variant of this for years: “I have no problem with Jesus. He seemed like a nice guy. I totally dig his message. It’s all the people doing stuff in his name that scare me.”

See, I don’t even touch the word “Christianity” because I think it’s largely man-made. I’m telling you, it’s possibly the most innovative and influential corporation in the history of the world.

And yeah, there is a materialistic aspect to a lot of churches…which fits in a society where money has become God.

James wrote:

>”Sure, the parading point is a good one. I however you normalize the feelings of injury from charity and why is that? Many people would feel a profound gratitude for such a lavish display of generousity. Of the 25 or more folks they were considering of the gift, I suspect that a variety of reactions would be present.”

Hi James. I’m not sure if I understand the “normalize” point. Yes, many people would feel gratitude but I don’t think it is up to the giver to set the bar as to how that gratitude should be displayed or for how long.

James wrote:

“If you are into Eastern religions, consider that Buddihist monks must go begging to get over their egos. ie get over their pride at being beholding to others.”

You are right. But the onus is on the monk, not the people. Buddhist monks also beg to establish a closer connection between themselves and God. Again, that’s my point. There is more focus on moving closer to God than being beholden to someone else.

James wrote:

“As for African Americans asking God for “stuff”, I don’t know much about them since I am in Canada and most blacks here are middle class. I do know about poor people and their religion is much more embodied than one of the mind. Indeed, if I am cold, I will ask God for a house before I am happy. I think there is nothing wrong with that.”

There’s nothing wrong with asking God for a house. IMHO though, I do feel that if you keep asking for material things and only for material things and if you only focus your praise on the material things you’ve been given, the focus is in danger of being skewed.

James wrote:

“Christians have a variety of different ways that prosperity comes, and I suspect you are arriving at your criticism of Christianity based upon a narrow view of it; likely just a couple American evangelical churches, I guess. Be careful that you do not unjustly extrapolate your experience as the truth. A man I know abandoned the church because his Sunday school was bribing people to come with chocolate bars. I asked him that if he met an exploitive bus driver would he give up public transit!”

Maybe my view is narrow. Maybe not. Memphis is a hotbed of religion, especially for black American churches. What goes on in Memphis religion is usually a good indicator of the view of black American churches in the South, where most black American churches are because the majority of black Americans live in the South.

Also, remember that I am not criticizing Christianity. I’m criticizing how some of the followers display it. Usually, the ones that wear their Christianity on their sleeve are the ones I steer clear of. As you said, it may be due to my interaction with them…which was the point I was making.

James wrote:

“As for the Thompson couple, look at the van they are driving. I come from a working class background and nobody in my neighbourhood had drove such a beast. They ain’t poor and they have $60,000 that would lighten the load of another family. That makes me sad.”

Having a nice car does not mean you’re not poor. It means that the car lot gave you credit. Getting a nice car is easy, keeping it from being repossessed is hard. If you drive through my neighborhood back in Memphis, there is more of a chance than not that you will see a 4×4 or a luxury car parked in front of a house that is in need of repair. One of the problems is that folks will take their income tax return checks and use them for a down payment. Then they struggle through the year to pay the note.

If you are into Eastern religions, consider that Buddihist monks must go begging to get over their egos. ie get over their pride at being beholding to others.

As for African Americans asking God for “stuff”, I don’t know much about them since I am in Canada and most blacks here are middle class. I do know about poor people and their religion is much more embodied than one of the mind. Indeed, if I am cold, I will ask God for a house before I am happy. I think there is nothing wrong with that. Christians have a variety of different ways that prosperity comes, and I suspect you are arriving at your criticism of Christianity based upon a narrow view of it; likely just a couple American evangelical churches, I guess. Be careful that you do not unjustly extrapolate your experience as the truth. A man I know abandoned the church because his Sunday school was bribing people to come with chocolate bars. I asked him that if he met an exploitive bus driver would he give up public transit!

As for the Thompson couple, look at the van they are driving. I come from a working class background and nobody in my neighbourhood had drove such a beast. They ain’t poor and they have $60,000 that would lighten the load of another family. That makes me sad.

So, those folks got a free house then sold it for a profit. If the point is that they should stay downtrodden forever, what was the point of the gift?

I’m a quiet student of other faiths too. Too often “Christians” make my head hurt and my heart heavy.