Throughout history, religion has been used to support bigotry and evil in the world. It should have no place in our modern age.
Last Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama made some totally obvious, yet somehow controversial, statements regarding Christianity and Islam.
“Remember that during the Crusades and Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ,” Obama said.
He failed to mention all the evil people do in the name of Christ today, but Obama was correct on the history.
James Thornwell, a Southern Presbyterian pastor from the 1800s, wrote regarding abolitionists, “The parties in this conflict are not merely abolitionists and slaveholders. They are atheists, socialists, communists, red republicans, Jacobins on one side and the friends of order and regulated freedom on the other.”
A conservative Christian accused everyone against his political stance to be atheists and socialists. Sound familiar?
If that still doesn’t convince you Christianity was historically pro-slavery, here are some passages from your beloved Bible.
“The male and female slaves that you possess — these you shall acquire from the nations round about you. You may also acquire them from among the resident aliens who reside with you, and from their families who are with you, those whom they bore in your land. These you may possess,” (Leviticus 25:44-45).
“Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,” (Ephesians 6:5).
Those passages come from both Testaments of the Bible. Clearly, the authors of this fairy tale were pro-slavery cheerleaders.
Now, I know what you might be thinking. “Whoa there, Buster Brown! Jesus was against slavery! I listen to Jesus.”
Actually, Jesus never said anything regarding slavery.
He spoke of servants and how they should be obedient to their masters, but Jesus never said anything about slavery.
The vast majority of historians and theologians agree that the Crusades caused by the Catholic Church. That won’t stop conservative Christians from bashing Obama on that statement too, though.
In response to Obama’s speech, Gov. Bobby Jindal said that instead of a history lesson, Obama should focus on stopping radical Islam.
“We will be happy to keep an eye out for runaway Christians, but it would be nice if he would face the reality of the situation today,” Jindal said. “The Medieval Christian threat is under control, Mr. President. Please deal with the radical Islamic threat today.”
OK, Bobby. We can keep an eye out for “runaway Christians” and stop their radical tendencies. Let’s start with the Catholic Church.
Last year, two cases of child pornography occurred in the Vatican. The Catholic Church told African nations that using condoms wouldn’t prevent AIDS. It’s largely to blame for condemning the LGBT community, and it’s the major reason that women’s abortion rights are being restricted.
If Jindal wants to attack Christianity as a whole, then let’s take action against evangelical Christians. Most of them don’t accept evolution or the big bang theory. They stifle their children’s education and everyone around them.
When exactly should we send the U.S. military to fight off radical Christians? Should we only focus on the Catholic Church? After all, that is the largest denomination.
I’m not trying in any way to defend Islam. It’s filled with delusional followers who promote violence and destruction. Christianity, however, does the same thing.
Before you criticize Obama for his speech, please read one of Jesus’ famous teachings: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye,” (Matthew 7:3-5).
Christianity is destructive, and religions like it shouldn’t have a place in the modern world. If you don’t believe me, read your Bible. It’ll make you an atheist faster than science will.
Cody Sibley is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Opelousas, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @CodySibley.