Eric Rudolph's Christianity
Did any of you read Eric Rudolph's statement about his bombing activities, and his religious reasons for doing what he did? As a friend says, "It occurred to me that anyone who read the Sermon on the Mount would have serious reservations at the very least in thinking that God wanted them to kill anyone, but that doesn't appear to even have entered this person's thoughts."
How do you view this version of the Christian religion? What, if anything, does it say about Christianity today?
Comments (4)
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If it were just Eric Rudolph, you could just write this whole thing off as an isolated, or even unique nut case. Sadly, there appear to be an awful lot of folks who see things the same way that he does. Don't forget the number of people up in the mountains who cheered Rudolph on and perhaps even gave him material support in his run from the law.
Even isolated nuts are able to do an awful lot of harm, both to the society and to the way the public views the religion. I think it's a shame that the people who do their best to practice Christianity as a peace-loving, constructive religion have to live with destructive things like this.
I guess that moderates in all religions have to deal with this sort of thing. What a pain.
Posted on April 15, 2005 11:54 AM
Have to admit Eric that there were a few "redneck's" etc up here in these mountains that gave aid and comfort to Rudolph but they were very few. They are now shaking in their boots wondering if Rudolph told the ATF boys were he had all his explosives stached. They beginning to worry that they might run across some of them while hunting( weed gardenin or 'shinin) and be blown to kingdom come.
Most of the folks here in the mountains don't stake too much claim in Rudolphs "christianity". for the most part they'd just soon see him strung up from the nearest tree. 99.99% of us are just glad he's finally being brought to trial.
Posted on April 15, 2005 2:35 PM
"What, if anything, does it say about Christianity today?"
Nancy unfortunately there are a handfull of folks who sit on either side of the pew and have given Christianity a bad name, not only here in this country but around the world.
You have those who will preach against anything and everything and those who preach that anything and everything goes.
They all have failed to preach the very thing that Jesus commanded them to preach and that is the Good News of the gospel. They have failed to tell us that "All have sinned and come short....
BUT , GOD LOVES US so much that HE was willing to give His Son , HIS ONLY SON, to die for us so that if WE BELIEVE, we can be FORGIVEN .
When we understand and accept that Good News , then we will certainly Love our neighbor as we love ourselves. And that is the greatest commandment of them all. That pretty well sums up Christianity for me.
Posted on April 15, 2005 2:56 PM
With anything, there is always a wide spanse of belief. Christianity is no different. While I do not prescribe to the brand of Christianity that Eric Rudolph does, that does not mean that one is right and the other wrong. And for the record, I am part of one of the groups that Eric Rudolph's Christianity does not care for.
However, the Christian faith that I practice is one of love. I strive to love as God taught through many ways and means. That, to me, is the core message of the "Gospel." That, LOVE, is the Good News!
When anyone of Christian faith forgets love, then the basic message is gone. Love does not harm or say "but." Love just loves!
Posted on April 18, 2005 11:50 AM