So, just what are we talking about?

[Occhidiangela]

I've been to Maine
I've been to Spain
I've been to Spokane
I've been 'round the world three times
Seen two county fairs and a goat f**k
I've seen everything but the wind
Been everywhere but the electric chair
I've even seen a blind lesbian do a back flip into a pool of creamed corn
And have even seen a bear sh** in the woods (Yes, I was using binoculars!)
But I aint nevah
Seen nuthin'
Like the cornfusion about "Christians."

Makes sense, there are only about 2000 flavors.

On boards and in discussions all over my land, there is great gnashing of teeth and rending of garments about

Christians.

The appelation is almost used the way nigger, dago, mick, or spic once were, as a perjorative epithet. That pisses me off, mightily. I know too many good and wonderful Christians to accept that there is any validity to the vitriol that "they" are subject to in far too many minds.

Lately, I have gotten rather tired of all that crap. And what kills me is

I am not, nor have I ever been, a card carrying Christian.

So, why defend Christians? I can't. Why speak on their behalf? Because most Christians I have ever met, with a few egregious exceptions, are folks I want as my neighbors. Folks I love to be around. Folks who are worthy of my respect.

So what does it all boil down to?

(No, this is not the Tanqueray talking, this is me, from the heart, taking a risk on a very delicate topic, religion. All you Muslims, your message is at the end.)

Why the post? I saw two dear friends of mine, one a Catholic and one a Baptist, today, as we sucked a few cold ones down after a rigorous 18 holes (I putted like I had Cerebral Palsey and was buying) damned near come to blows over

The Passion of the Christ

A film all three of us had seen within the past few weeks. My comments on that product of the film industry are elsewhere on thie forum. My Baptist friend was the one who took the position, to my utter disbelief and dismay, that "The Passion" was tatamount to a documentary. My Catholic friend saw it more as I did, as an interesting way that one man told the same old story in the current Hollywood style: High Ketchup Count. And the two of them sat there in the 19th hole, eyes starting to harden and glisten, as they disagreed on point after point. I was appalled. *DOH* Stupid, Stupid, Rogue, for having brought it up.

It took what little diplomatic skill I have to slowly get us off the topic and to realize that what started as a "whattya think" struck a hell of a nerve.

Christians: "can't live with them, can't shoot them," but I want them as my neighbors.

What does it all boil down to?

The Golden Rule
The Ten Commandments (some better than others)
Some very good advice on a simple, clear, and very effective way to deal with the massive uncertainty of everyday life
A belief that there is something bigger than ourselves
An acceptance that "it is not all about you" with the ironic complementary concept that "you have a special relationship" with The Creator.

and

and this is a big and

See Robin Hobb's Farseer books for a neato look at this

Sacrifice.

Giving of yourself, even if it hurts a bit, to make the world, or just your neighbor's life, a bit better, today, with such means as are wwithin your power.

So, what's with all the rest of this stuff?

Form/substance > 1. Ritual > Word.

My daughter's voice teacher is my favorite kind of Christian. "Whenever two or more of you will gather in His name . . .' that's her path. Her Faith is an impressive and powerful thing to see, to witness, and to experience on a personal basis. It is a, no kidding, good thing. And she wears it as naturally as her own hair.

I did a year or so of Bible study with some "born again Christians" back in the 70's, enough to learn that the Word and the Ritual and All That Other Baggage too often get confused.

Last month, I had to write to a memeber of Congress regarding the alleged unfair treatment of a Messianic Jew. (That is a brand of Christian, I found out thanks to the work involved.)

All I can really say is

There are those who walk the walk, and those who talk the talk, and those who stumble and fall in a puddle of mud. (Muddy Rogue here, in truth.) In my own life, I can honestly say that my own attraction to the Word has been due to my interaction from those who simply walked the walk as best they could. Incredible people. Paragons of good example. (Those of you with children will understand, to quote BIll Cosby.)

And then I see the vitriol leveled at these good people. It makes no sense to me.

Oh, and for the Allah gang: Plaigerism. The Koran is more boring a read than the Bible. How's that for infamy?

Cheers.

Rogue who is probably gonna burn in Hell-- if there is such a place.