The BNP ask, What Would Jesus Do?

Wrong on so many levels.Saddened but not suprised.

I have a feeling Jesus would spoil his vote

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

I'd suggest this one for the Religious humour thread if it wasn't so shocking. It's very worrying when a cause like BNP starts latching onto Jesus as a model to promote their particular brand of racism. Still, they are currently such a joke of a party (will tough economic time see growth in these type of parties?) that this feeble attempt at garnering votes is suitably ham-fisted.

I'm not in the least bit surprised. Christianity has been mauled and misused by countless groups. No doubt we'll see some ignoramus in the future cite this as a reason not to be christian too.:rolleyes:

One possible insult to take from this, is that they probably chose a group that they thought would be stupid enough to fall for their propaganda. Lets just hope they're wrong!

So the question goes: What would Jesus do? Well, I'm guessing that he would vote Greens, and most defiantly not the BNP.

Vote Greens?? How very dare you:) Somehow I don't think Jesus will be a democrat when he returns:)

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

a gay, black, red-haired, balding, left-handed, disabled, non-English Jewish female candidate -

Hey, I know her didn't know she was going for public office!

robindch wrote: »

What I'd also like to see is mainstream condemnation of dishonest idiocy like creationism, the religiously-inclined anti-global warming asshats and the strategy and tactics of a distinctly Orwellian, one-man political operation which has unfortunately received significant coverage in Ireland since it was set up 18 months or so ago.

Why are you wishing for what already is?

Mainstream 'Christianity' already opposes creationism, receives as dogma the idea of man-made global warming, and is mostly pro-EU superstate. Robin, you are blood-brothers with them - all you lack is a vague belief in a Inter-Faith God. :pac:

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Upon reading about the attempts to conflate a racist agenda with Jesus' message I would hope that every CoE Vicar (or his denominational equivalents) worth his salt would have spat out his morning cup of tea in a fit of horror, surprise and amusement.

Still, it does beg the questions: should the larger denominations (particularly those with political sway) speak out against political parties? Or should they keep it more general - so as not to be seen to take sides - and simply condemn in appropriate behaviour such as racism?

Having had to think through the same issue, but with a different subject, here in Northern Ireland, let me give you my penny's worth.

I think it unwise to enter party-political commendation/condemnation. No party is going to be perfect, and all parties are likely to have some good policies. We should stick to commending/condemning policies on their moral basis, and only on that. There is no place for the church commentating on the relative merits of economic policies, even if we are sure some are better than others. Only where they step over the moral line should we intervene.

Racism is a moral issue. So too is economic, national and religious oppression. However, it is not the church's duty to interfere in the affairs of the State - we are only to warn our fellowman of his error and God's judgment that will follow if it is not repented of. We are not called to tell men how to vote or who to vote for - just to tell them what policies are immoral. They have to make up their own minds on how best to effect good morals.

So no commendation/condemnation of the BNP, New Labour, Conservatives, etc. Just commend/condemn the immoral policies, and if they happen to be held by any party, so be it.

The BNP seem to be a safe case for an exception to the above, but that is not so. Their racism is not unique in its immorality. What are we to say about the anti-Semitism of other parties who would be strongly left-wing? Or the pro-abortion stance of most of the parties?

Finally, we need to be sensitive to the needs of those likely to vote for the likes of the BNP. Most of these voters will not be racists, but will be in desperation about the take-over of their neighbourhoods by non-natives who aggressively seek to impose their culture on the original inhabitants. If the BNP are the only ones willing to speak up for their concerns, no wonder the main parties feel threatened.

The latter would be better off trying to bring order to illegal immigration and the protection of every peaceable citizen. Decent natives will have no problem welcoming immigrants who strengthen the moral tone and liberties of our country. The Church should not be seen as ignoring the real concerns of the ordinary citizen in order to prove how 'tolerant' it is.