Deep Thoughts: He’s not a Christian

Sunday, May 31, 2009

He’s not a Christian

George Tiller was murdered in church today. A man walked in and shot him for being a physician who provided abortions. When this topic comes up with my Christian friends, I guarantee I will hear something like this, “Whoever shot George Tiller is no Christian. “

When I mention that Tiller’s murder was a religious execution and a prime example of Christian extremism. They will argue that no true Christian engages in terrorism. When I point to the evidence that suggests that anti-abortion Christian organizations push people to acts of desperation, they will disavow all knowledge of these organizations and further claim that whatever organization they support would never condone murder. It’s all bullshit. By claiming the murderer is not Christian, they step away from any responsibility for the murder. By stepping away from the more radical anti-abortion organizations, they can still protest abortions with a clear conscience. In my heart I know they gave a silent cheer at news of the murder and wrote another check to support the cause.

Vjack has a quote on his blog that is troubling. He picked it off twitter.

Karma is a beautiful thing. Cheers to the hero who sent George Tiller where he belongs...straight to hell.

People write what they feel. I’m tired of appealing to the “good” Christians in an attempt to get them to influence the bad. They won’t do it. We need more blogs like Atheist Revolution focused on covering Christian extremism. I’m up for it. What about you?

R.I.P, George Tiller – Thank you for having the courage to live your convictions.

Technorati tags: Christian Extremism, Abortion, Murder

Comments (20)

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Jack 119p · 828 weeks ago

Thanks! I'm also tired of looking the other way and waiting for so-called moderate Christians to condemn Christian extremism. If they are willing to sacrifice basic human decency in order to preserve some ancient superstition, then I'm done pulling punches.

1 reply · active 828 weeks ago

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Rox1SMF · 828 weeks ago

That's where I'm at, too, vjack. Since all those Christians who DON'T agree with this sort of behavior are acting like pussies, I guess it falls to us to put their feet to the fire. Their Bible (and God) condones this form of "divine justice," therefore it deserves to be held up to scrutiny and shown to be exactly what it is in all its murderous, hateful, bigoted, warmongering glory.

"He's not a Christian" is no longer an acceptable argument, especially when the perpetrator a.) Claims to be Christian and b.) shows him/herself to be operating under the influence of biblical-belief and/or one or another sect of Christianity.

When was the last time anyone read about an atheist or a pagan committing murder and using their worldview as justification? 'Nuff said.

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deleted609912 88p · 828 weeks ago

Dismissing people like this as not being 'true Christians' just exasperates and does nothing to solve the problem. If we must, let's keep pointing this out over and over again.

1 reply · active 828 weeks ago

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Mojoey 107p · 828 weeks ago

I'm in. This one crossed the line.

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Sicovitol · 828 weeks ago

There's no such thing as a true Christian. And that should say it all.

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Jack 119p · 828 weeks ago

It is times like these that I wish I had a "fuck the skull of Jesus" t-shirt.

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Michelle Bell · 828 weeks ago

I am filled with sadness and grief. I had mistakenly thought we had decided to all act like human beings. How silly of me.

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bigjohn756 21p · 828 weeks ago

This smacks of Islam, does it not?

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Baconsbud 96p · 828 weeks ago

"Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice," the group said in a statement. It offered its prayers for Tiller's family, "that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ."

Comments like this always makes me wonder if this is another example of when it is ok to lie as a christian. I would love to have them say instead how they really feel but know they will never do that.

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startasagn 0p · 828 weeks ago

If Operation Rescue was truely a Christian, they would offer support to the family of the deceased, or have their Church or a community of Churches jump in and offer support. Like it or not, he was doing a service to the community and if you want to stop Late term abortions (which I do see as wrong) then you need to educate the people who want to get them. Whether it is through a Doctor in a safe environment or in the ally where both people can die.

While you are at it Christians, stop teaching absense and start passing out Condoms to your youth. You'd solve your own problems over night.

1 reply · active 828 weeks ago

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Rox1SMF · 828 weeks ago

:: if you want to stop Late term abortions (which I do see as wrong) then you need to educate the people who want to get them. ::

You should probably educate yourself about the actual number of and reasons for late term abortions (and you're not alone... the truth has been obscured by fundamentalist propaganda, unfortunately). The ONLY people who "want" to get a late term abortion are those who've been advised by their doctor to do so because continuing the pregnancy endangers the mother's health. I'm pretty confident that NO doctor performs terminations after 16 weeks simply because a woman suddenly decides she doesn't want to be pregnant anymore. Circumstances are usually far more dire and it's a necessary last resort, not something anyone really wants.

We're in complete agreement on the need for comprehensive sex ed. :) Forewarned is forearmed!

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startasagn 0p · 828 weeks ago

I'm a bad speller. ...stop teaching abstinence...

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john_poson26 93p · 828 weeks ago

I have not seen, a Christian “news” site, post one single comment in addressing the murder of George Tiller, which didn’t start out by saying, he was a “mass murderer of children,” and with plenty of their code, implying that he got, just what he had coming. However, I did read one, only saying, “we shouldn’t condone this.”

If these fucktard’s, truly believed they were “ true” Christians, and they were following the “true teaching of Jesus.” then today, they would start plucking out their own eye’s, chopping off their own hand’s, and pulling their vile-little tongues out, through that big fucking cock-hole, in their faces

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john_poson26 93p · 828 weeks ago

Randall Terry on the George Tiller assassination

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08C9O_4BbcA

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mysticdave · 828 weeks ago

It is blogs like yours that have inspired me. I joined the Athiest blogroll a few months ago, and have really enjoyed all of the posts. I don't know if you are interested or not, but i was passed an award from a blogging friend, and i enjoy your blog so much, i thought i would pass one along to you as well:)http://www.mysticalpoetryandpolitics.com/2009/05/...

1 reply · active 828 weeks ago

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Mojoey 107p · 828 weeks ago

Well that made my day. Thank you. I"ll be sure to pass it on to deserving blogs.

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Christine Vyrnon · 828 weeks ago

I agree. I get seriously tired of christians not claiming other christians. Both sides, extreme and watered down, like to claim the other doesn't understand the true spirit of jesus, holy spirit and the bible. I have no patience for the argument that a "true christian" wouldn't kill a doctor. Nor do I have any patience for the argument that he had it coming. Generally speaking, my patience has grown tissue paper thin for all christians, and I'm talking Scott tissue thin, not Charmin.

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GB1 · 828 weeks ago

I can't believe the crap I have been reading about this. Everything from hatred towards his church (claiming that they're not "real" christians) to cheering from the crowd.
Oh, and not to add to the debate here, but late term abortions are often a cruel necessary end to a pregancy gone horribly wrong.

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Healthy Fitness 14p · 827 weeks ago

Any rational person, believer or not, ought to be appalled by this senseless murder in the name of God. According to Randall Terry, Dr. Tiller "was a mass murderer and, horrifically, he reaped what he sowed." Actually, Terry’s movement is reaping what it sowed. It’s no wonder that Terry’s movement is, in his own words, becoming "steadily politically irrelevant." By refusing to condemn vigilante action, leaders like him tacitly encourage it. How about giving a statement reminding his followers that God commands "thou shall not kill" or even quoting Matthew 26:52: "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."

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Anonymous · 744 weeks ago

As a Christian visitor to your site, all I can say is how disgusted I am with the man that killed the abortion doctor! God does NOT say that murder is okay, ever, and that includes the murder of people with whom one might morally disagree. I am a Christian; I believe that Jesus Christ came to Earth to die and remove my sins.

HOWEVER. This does not mean that I condone the actions of this idiot! It's like Muslim extremists that perform acts of terrorism--yes, they do so in the name of that religion, but that does not mean that all people in said religion believe it or condone it. Please, don't blame God for the idiocy of people that misrepresent Him in this way. This murderer (not the abortion doctor, the guy that killed him) deserves full justice, and I hope he gets it.

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