why do so many christians react to things like the Ted Haggard scandal....?

Question

why do so many christians react to things like the Ted Haggard scandal as if it says nothing about faith and say that, if anything, it emboldens and strengthens their faith?

it really says something when so many of the top people in evangelical, organized religion are entrenched in
drug scandals,
sex scandals (homosexual or or otherwise),
blatant tax fraud
and investment fraud.

doesn't the irony of it all almost makes you think that god was trying to give us a subtle message that he thinks that we should not get so caught up in "organized, politicized religion" and mindlessly worshiping dogma and focus more on loving our fellow man?

Answer 1

I'm a Christ follower and I agree with you. And I'm also in a prayer group. ;) The most important thing is to love God. The next most important thing is to love others. Mindlessly worshiping dogma is a waste of time and energy.
I'm going to again recommend a book called "The End of Religion: Discovering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus" by Bruxy Cavey.

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Peace, Love and thanks for a great Q.

Answer 2

Who's Ted Haggard? I'm a Christian, but apparently I'm out of the loop.

Many top people in evangelical organized religion may be caught up in scandal but in reality they are a minority of the whole of Christianity. Does the misdeeds of a handful of military personnel represent the military as a whole? Do we call all Democrats racist's and bigots because it was Democrats that started the klan and authored the Jim Crow laws?

We are told "by their fruits you shall know them". Just because someone claims Christianity that doesn't mean that it is the life they live.

Answer 3

i really dont' think it's all that common, it's just that when it happens, it's highly publicized. simply put, it sells. the same thing applies to professional athletes. most professional athletes don't take steroids, but as soon as one gets caught, the whole world hears about it, and the stereotype of the steroid-induced, musclehead professional athlete is reinforced.

the people you speak of hold a certain amount of power, and we all know that power corrupts, not to mention the fact that a lot of pastors are put in a position where they can no longer to relate to people, and i believe that weighs heavily in most of these sex scandals.

for the most part, i'll stay away from the part about ''organized, politicized religion.'' organized religion is necessary to a degree, and it was also commanded of us through fellowship. just like money though, it's what we humans do with it that's evil.

and yes, we should always focus more on loving our fellow man. always.

edit- thomas, i love the way you spell the word ''idiot.'' things like that speak volumes...

Answer 4

Wow, I believe that is a slippery slope argument you are making there. The same argument can be made about any other religion as every religion from Atheism (yes it is a religion) to Judaism to Islam to Hinduism and Buddhism have or have had individuals who are in positions of power who have done things contrary to their religious beliefs. It reflects on the character of the individual and may affect the image of the religion. One cannot attribute the acts of a few individuals and apply them to a religion of millions as a whole. it is all stereotypes. Organized religion like anything else requires the individual to use free agency, even though it may not always be taught that way by some.

Answer 5

As you say, it drips with irony. It's easy for Christians who "fall" to rely on the forgiveness of their god to make them whole again. On the other hand, humanists actually take responsibility for their actions in advance.

Of course, they're not subject to the same constraints on morality, since they only have to worry about actions that hurt others, while Christians have to worry about stuff like self-abuse :).

P.S. to that_guy_drew: Don't be a snot. Try to use actual reason when criticizing someone like Thomas who you disagree with. It's absolutely lame to jump on someone because of a typo. (Let he who is without typo's cast the first stone. :))

Answer 6

for the reason that while did hypocrisy count on a political place? And who says that one and all evangelicals are interior the pocket of the Republican social gathering? i'm proud to call myself a professional-existence, evangelical Democrat, pretty for the reason that "professional-existence" and "Democrat" are no longer often used interior the comparable sentence. So if i will help dispel the different stereotypes approximately Christians, please enable me comprehend and that i would be chuffed to realize this.

Answer 7

Who is Ted Haggard?

Answer 8

Oh yes. Christians will agree. They say things like "that is why I am not into organized religion." Then the will ask you to form a prayer group and it all starts all over again.

Answer 9

Ted Haggard is role model of a true christian... real foolish iedot.

Answer 10

He gives X-ians - in particular the Moderates - a bad name.

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