Xenophobia in Orthodoxy

[abucs]

Well of course Liberals think Jesus would act like them. This is my point. Liberals are brainwashed to associate compassion with Liberal politics and although it seems nuts to the rest of us, they associate people who oppose Liberal politics as being uncompassionate. I would assume Jesus has not been brainwashed to associate compassion with Liberal politics.

 

[cliveklg]

Well of course Liberals think Jesus would act like them. This is my point. Liberals are brainwashed to associate compassion with Liberal politics and although it seems nuts to the rest of us, they associate people who oppose Liberal politics as being uncompassionate. I would assume Jesus has not been brainwashed to associate compassion with Liberal politics.

Someone needs to reread that whole compassion and feeding and helping the poor thing he taught.

‘which are the most important commandments? Love god, and love you neighbors (IE rest of humanity) as you would be loved. All other commandments are based on these.’

The only one brainwashed here is clearly person with hate and condemnation, bearing false witness (big 10 no no). Which is you.

 

[Rohzek]

I didn’t realize Jesus was a Republican…

 

[abucs]

You are making my case brilliantly.

There is no discussion on the best way to help people.

There is no discussion on which people should be helped.

There is no discussion on the mis-information in the media.

There is the assertion Jesus agrees with you with no discussion.

There is no discussion on how the media influences people to associate compassion with Liberal politics.

Instead because you associate compassion with Liberal politics it MUST be that I need to read the gospels. It MUST be that I hate people.

Even though there has largely been no discussion on what either of us think.

You lead with your emotions and your emotions have been controlled so that discussion is not needed. Others simply hate. Easy to regurgitate and the result of brain washing.

Try having a discussion.

 

[Rohzek]

You are making my case brilliantly.

There is no discussion on the best way to help people.

There is no discussion on which people should be helped.

There is no discussion on the mis-information in the media.

There is the assertion Jesus agrees with you with no discussion.

There is no discussion on how the media influences people to associate compassion with Liberal politics.

Instead because you associate compassion with Liberal politics it MUST be that I need to read the gospels. It MUST be that I hate people.

Even though there has largely been no discussion on what either of us think.

You lead with your emotions and your emotions have been controlled so that discussion is not needed. Others simply hate. Easy to regurgitate and the result of brain washing.

Try having a discussion.

No one said that. We’re just perturbed that you feel the need to blame us Liberals for everything and that somehow our faith is corrupt and illegitimate.

In a thread about xenophobia in Orthodoxy, you went way off topic and began liberal-bashing. Again, it’s not even the topic of this thread.

If you want a serious conversation rather than short spats, then perhaps you should start your own thread about it and give us the initial benefit of the doubt that not all liberals have some sort of corrupted view of their faith.

 

[abucs]

look I have not corresponded with you and yet you would have me saying that Jesus was a Republican, I have the need to blame EVERYTHING on Liberals and that apparently your faith is corrupt and illegitimate.

Now if you look back, apart from me not having responded to you before, none of what you claim is true.

This again makes my point. You are having an emotional response that bears no sense to what was said.

I suggest you spend some time reflecting on why you have made such an emotional response to someone who has not corresponded with you and who clearly did not say what you (emoted).

Part of a heightened emotional response is to act as if you have been offended even if you have to lie to yourself about such pretended offense.

Your emotions are being controlled and emotions trump reasoned discussion.

This built in emotional control stops any criticism of Liberal politics because you emote an attack on Liberal politics as an unfair personal attack on you just as the last poster emoted that I was full of hate and uncompassionate even though no particular issues had been discussed except the criticism of Liberal media.

 

[Rohzek]

It is foolish to listen to someone who will not listen to you. - Hiko Seijūrō

 

[abucs]

It is foolish to listen to someone who will not listen to you. - Hiko Seijūrō

It is incredibly foolish to pretend someone is not listening to you when they have responded directly to what you have said - Abucs.

 

[Starwarsfan2]

Is there xenophobia in the Orthodox Catholic Church , sure, but by God s grace it is less than in the past.

 

[Rohzek]

Sorry Seijūrō, I guess I am a fool.

It is incredibly foolish to pretend someone is not listening to you when they have responded directly to what you have said - Abucs.

You clearly did not listen or care what I had to say. You simply labelled me as emotional and irrational without pointing out specifically where I qualify for such definitions. Just because you responded, it does not therefore mean that you bothered listening. Feel free to disagree with my previous assessments of you. However, you crossed the line by engaging your own confirmation bias in that Liberals are mostly irrational and emotional.

Everything I claimed, in fact, was true. And simply denying it, while calling me emotional does not qualify as listening. It might be easy for you to group me in with the rest of those “dumb liberals,” but actually addressing the merits of my arguments is a much more difficult task indeed. Let’s run down the list:

I, Rohzek, claiming that you said Jesus was a Republican.

I never, in fact, claimed that you had said this. It was joke, because your rant implied that Liberals bear no relation to Jesus in the following statement:

Well of course Liberals think Jesus would act like them. This is my point. Liberals are brainwashed to associate compassion with Liberal politics and although it seems nuts to the rest of us, they associate people who oppose Liberal politics as being uncompassionate. I would assume Jesus has not been brainwashed to associate compassion with Liberal politics.

I, Rohzek, claimed that you blame everything on the Liberals.

Yes, I did use the term “everything” but I only meant it as a catch-all for the your statements about us Liberals:

1.) The Liberals are using the media to brainwash people.

I am far more concerned with the liberal media brain washing their audience and dictating that all who disagree are xenophobic.

Sure, cliveklg inserted an off-topic politically charged statement where it didn’t belong in this thread. But you also decided to keep feeding the fire. Instead of arguing with cliveklg directly, you issued blanket statements about all of us Liberals. Next time, I suggest you either keep silent or take your own advice when combating other people’s arguments/statements:

Try having a discussion.

2.) That Jesus would have nothing to do with Liberal politics.

Well of course Liberals think Jesus would act like them. This is my point. Liberals are brainwashed to associate compassion with Liberal politics and although it seems nuts to the rest of us, they associate people who oppose Liberal politics as being uncompassionate.** I would assume Jesus has not been brainwashed to associate compassion with Liberal politics.**

 

[cliveklg]

There is no discussion on the mis-information in the media.

Oh the hypocrisy knows no bounds with you. And hmm sure there is something about hypocrites in the bible also.

Most important commandments, yet to you, meaningless.

“What you do to the least of my children you do unto me.”

Meaningless to you also.

You are a bigot. Plain and obvious in every way.

 

[cliveklg]

1 John 4:20

“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

1 John 2:9

“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.”

**
Yet he hates his liberal brothers.
**
Matthew 7:5

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 15:7-9

"You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

1 John 2:4
“Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,”

Titus 1:16

“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

Psalm 101:7

“No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.”

 

[cliveklg]

“During the seventh year, let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.” Exodus 23:11

“Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:10

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 23:22
*
“At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied.” Deuteronomy 14:28-29*

Basically commands for societal care for the poor.

If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. . . . If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave." Leviticus 25:25, 35, 39

Which party wants the poor to basically be slaves to the rich?

“However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you.” Deuteronomy 15:4

“If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.” Deuteronomy 15:7

Only a few of the old testament verses. The New has many also…

 

[cliveklg]

*“Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” Matthew 19:21

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." Luke 12:33

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” Matthew 25:35

“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” Luke 18:22*

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18
**
Not told to us once, but 4 times. **
*
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Luke 14:13

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.” Luke 4:18

“So he replied to the messengers, Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.’” Luke 7:22

“‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” John 12:5

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor.” Acts 9:36

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’" Romans 12:20

“All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” Galatians 2:10*

How many times does the bible have to tell us the right thing before you are going to at least try to follow its examples?

Anyone who says the bible isn’t about kindness, charity, compassion, and giving is a liar.

 

[abucs]

How many times does the bible have to tell us the right thing before you are going to at least try to follow its examples?

Anyone who says the bible isn’t about kindness, charity, compassion, and giving is a liar.

Please show me where I said that the bible isn’t about kindness, charity, compassion and giving.

How do you know anything about me ‘at least’ trying to follow the bible’s examples? Why do you presume that I am hateful, a liar and ignorant of Jesus? Why do you feel qualified to dictate to me what my character is without knowing anything about me?

I have spent 7 months teaching the children of Lebanese Muslim refugees, 4 weeks teaching the children of Christian Lebanese refugees, one year teaching the children of Christian south Sudanese refugees as well as teaching the Buddhist (and Christian) east Asian refugees. I have travelled all over Asia and am living in the Philippines now before taking up a teaching position here. Do not presume to know and dictate to me my own character unless you are prepared to have egg on your face.

By the way I gave up a six figure sum salary in I.T. to teach needy children in Asia. Does that qualify in following Jesus’ words in your opinion? Does that give me the right to criticise Liberal media without being called the host of bad characteristics you both imagined in your own head and wrote down here in your posts?

Just like the other guy you insinuate so much because you have an emotional attachment to Liberal politics. That’s why you get so emotional you have to make things up so that then you can call me a liar. The other guy is just as bad as you.

You are both guilty of presuming that an attachment to Liberal politics MUST give you a superior morality and MUST make you a better Christian without even trying to discuss any of the issues to even the slightest degree.

That’s called being brainwashed.

I’ve had it with both of you. Typically you just cannot talk to a certain set of Liberals because they automatically go into their ‘I’m good, you’re not’ routine without knowing the slightest thing or being prepared to discuss the issues.

What a waste of time it is talking to brainwashed Liberal people who presume their own superiority without any commitment to discussion.

 

[Rohzek]

You are both guilty of presuming that an attachment to Liberal politics MUST give you a superior morality and MUST make you a better Christian without even trying to discuss any of the issues to even the slightest degree.

Where did I ever presume that? My whole argument has been to detach a person’s political leanings from the legitimization of their faith. All you have done is bash liberals as emotional tools. I never tried to denigrate your faith unlike you bashing liberals’ faith and cliveklg bashing conservatives’ faith.

Give me the exact quotes where I said such a thing. If you can’t do that, then I suggest that you either abandon the argument or keep silent.

I grew up a conservative, and I didn’t change my political leanings because I went soft in the heart/feels. I just found certain reasoned arguments to be better than the conservative arguments. Perhaps that’s not the case with everybody on their political positions. Perhaps many do bring emotions into it. But I would never stereotype anyone as being an emotional just because they seemed to be on the opposite end of the political spectrum and disagreed with me.