Do those Christians who deplore the death threats levelled at the British "teddy bear" teacher...?

Question

... think that the death threats directed towards John Lennon for saying in 1966 that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus were equally disgusting?



(Yeah, sorry, it's another bloody teddy bear question. But I don't think this one has been done yet.)

Does it do Christians any favours to suggest that a Christian succeeded in whacking Lennon for his remarks? We tend to give Mark Chapman the benefit of the doubt for being crazy. I'm surprised Christians would respond to THIS question with the slightly smug-sounding observation that Chapman's was he work of the Lord well done...

Answer 1

Yes, I do..and the threats against abortion clinics, and the attacks on synagogues, and mosques..ALL evil is evil...no matter who it is against!

Answer 2

I haven't bothered to read the other answers, so I may be (I hope I am) repeating what someone else has said, but yes - death threats against anyone for something like that are disgusting. Neither Lennon, Salman Rushdie, nor that teacher were harming anyone. One could argue that the teacher was not intending to insult Islam while Lennon was intending to insult Christianity - that makes no difference. Lennon was expressing an opinion. Civilized people don't threaten others for that.

Answer 3

Those were fanatical Christians.

Similar to the fanatical Muslims in Sudan.

The only difference was that Lennon was being facetious and in no way meant to offend Christians.

This sadly was another instance of Political Correctness, this time perpetrated by the religious right.

Answer 4

What's so bad about naming a Teddy Bear the most common name in the world? She didn't even name it anyway - the children in her class did...

And yeah, calling yourself bigger than Jesus is a bit egocentric - but I don't think that should result in death threats either.

They're not the same circumstances at all, however.

Answer 5

Lovely little Teddy bears are known as toys play thing for the Westerners, but in some parts of the world it is not known as lovely little Teddy bear or a play thing ,so Teddy's are not seen passionately as we do in the west . don't forget different society's different cultures , what's acceptable to one society it is not acceptable to other society . each society has there own ways, beliefs and values when it comes to religion...
so really we mustn't get upset as to what happen ,,

Answer 6

It's about the same thing....John was simply stating that the Beatles, at that time, were more popular than Jesus - which they were. The bear was named after a student in the class. But somehow, a fanatic blew things waayyy out of proportion, in both cases.

Answer 7

Not all Christians are like that though.I know MANY wonderful Christians who truly are what they say they are. We cannot generalize about a whole group of people. One thing I can say,however,is that the affairs of religion should COMPLETELY be separate from the affairs of the goverment. This is the best possible solution.

Answer 8

Yes, that was equally disgusting.

And I thought Mark Chapman was a fan?

Answer 9

Come to think of it, John Lennon and Jesus were philosophically on the same page, but Lennon was a much better guitar player.

Answer 10

well the christians actually followed through on their threats, and murdered john.

so in that sense, they were worse.

[edit]

and until chapman murdered lennon he was in most respects a typical - even a model - christian.

Answer 11

That was back in 1966. And the answer would still be yes. Jesus never threatened anyone and by definition Christians follow Jesus.

This is such a no-brainer.