Amid all the controversy about the Islamic Community Center near the former WTC, the theocratic Republican hate against a Muslim religious site in Murfreesboro, TN has been largely ignored. Is it authentic Christianity or just another manifestation of Republican Supply-side Jesus (not the real one)?
In Murfreesboro, first there was the fire:
A spokeswoman for an Islamic center whose proposed expansion has sparked vehement opposition says a fire that damaged construction equipment at the site has frightened Muslims in the Nashville suburb.
"Everyone in our community no longer feels safe," Camie Ayash told the Daily News Journal in Sunday’s edition. "To set a fire that could have blown up equipment and, God forbid, spread and caused damage to the neighbors there … When (officials) called me this morning, I started crying."
The fire early Saturday morning at the site of the proposed Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was being investigated by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Sheriff’s department Lt. Randy Groce told the newspaper it was unclear "exactly what we’ve got here," and declined further comment.
The incident marks the latest twist in an increasingly volatile debate surrounding the efforts of the local Muslim community to build a much larger house of worship. The proposed center on 15 acres would include a mosque, a multi-purpose facility, sports facilities, a pavilion and a cemetery, and serve approximately 250 families…
Inserted from <Boston Globe>
Here’s some local news footage: (H/T Think Progress)
Then there was the gunfire:
Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a complaint about shots being fired Sunday afternoon near the construction site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The report came just hours after a fire of suspicious nature damaged construction equipment at the site.
A group of congregation members was at the site looking at the damage done to construction equipment by the fire overnight when they heard nine shots fired from two directions.
The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. The congregation members reported hearing six shots coming from one direction, and about three minutes later they heard three more shots from another direction, said Saleh Sbenaty, a congregation member and university professor…
Inserted from <13WMAZ>
Here are two views on other religions:
"I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol."
–Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin
If to be a Jew means to say with all one’s heart, mind and soul Shma` Yisrael, Adonai Elohenu Adonai Ahad; hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One, not only today I am a Jew, I have always been one, Mr. Pearl.
If to be a Christian is to love the Lord our God with all of my heart, mind and soul, and to love for my fellow human being what I love for myself, then not only am I a Christian, but I have always been one Mr. Pearl.
–Imam Rauf
This brings up an interesting question: who would you want building a house of worship in your neighborhood?…
Inserted from <Daily Kos>
Rauf is the Imam of the community center in Manhattan. Isn’t it ironic how much more Christian the Muslim is than the general?
Jesus never preached hatred. Therefore it’s evident on its face that the above hatred does not represent authentic Christianity, and does represent the pseudo-Christianity of Republican Supply-side Jesus. Republican Supply-side Jesus isn’t real. He is a human invention and serves to justify war, hatred, bigotry and greed.
So, as an authentic Christian, I ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus honored a faith that was different from his own. Therefore, I believe the authentic Christian response is to honor the faith of authentic Muslims. We don’t have to agree with it, just like they don’t have to agree with ours. For that matter, you don’t have to agree with mine, and if you don’t, I honor your faith, including faith in nothing, as long as you don’t try to shove it down my throat.
And, as an authentic Christian, I ask myself, how should I deal with the followers of Supply-side Jesus? What would Jesus do? First, I defend their right to believe whatever they want, with the caveat that their beliefs end at the tip of my nose. In his day, Jesus dealt people just like the followers of Republican Supply-side Jesus. They were religious hypocrites who insisted that they were holier than everyone else, insisted that everyone believe exactly what they do, and controlled everyone’s behavior by enforcing piety codes. They were called Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus opposed them. So I oppose them too.
24 Responses to “Murfreesboro Hate: Authentic Christianity or Supply-side Jesus?”
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Things are going according to plan. How these main people in media who are behind this can justify dividing our country over these issue is so disgustng.
It wouldn’t be quite as dramatic if our side would fight back as hard but they won’t.
I agree, fly. That angers me, but I’m fighting.
“I ask myself, how should I deal with the followers of Supply-side Jesus?” Buy them some c-4 and teach them how to make suicide belts. Seeing as how they have already started down the terrorist trail may as well help them go all the way.
What I find funniest of all is most of these old bastard protesters against (name your hated group) 50 years ago were the flower children and the peace love and dope generation, now all grown up into adulthood.
Mark, I few of us peace and love folks stayed pure. 🙂
Others may call them Pharisees, but I have a much more accurate, modernized term for them-Jesusistanis. They are Osama with a cross.
JR, I use the term Pharisees and Sadducees, because it resonates with sane, authentic Christians.
A reasoned and well written post Tom. Just in my lifetime I have seen Christians down here in the south go from very imperfect people but open to change to close-mined sheep, frightened of every enemy both real and imagined.
My only guess behind this surreal and Dark Age-like behavior is not only the fearmongers on Fox but a general if not subconscious understanding that the world is changing and they have no ability or desire to adapt to it. I guess the same could be said of extremist Muslims seeing the world moving on without them. The only possible answer I have in all this is that bridges with the more rational and intelligent people on all sides will need to be built so we can ride this insanity out.
If we don’t, if we cling in fear to our own little groups we will allow the insanity to ultimately infect us all.
Beach, I agree. Al Queda is Islam’s version of the Tea Party.
“I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol.” LOL.
As funny as that is, I like this one even better:
“Jesus built my car / it’s a love affair / mainly Jesus and my hot rod…” (Ministry, Psalm 69)
If anyone’s God is too small, it’s Supply-side Jesus, as his grace is limited to a small group of hating fanatics.
Disgusting.
Jon Stewart did a piece on this mosque last week and the person speaking was Cami, the spokesperson for the mosque. These people have been at that site for 30 years. Damn that person who did that to intimate those people. I’d welcome them next door to me more than the evangelicals.
So would I Lisa.
I think Matthew 7:15 covers all those folks mendaciously claim God is on their side while actually promoting hate rather well:
I’m sticking with my preferred term for all such ilk as “Talibangelical christianists”
I think Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin fall under the title of “false prophet…”
They define it!
Love it!
Didn’t the Nazi Wehermacht have belt buckles with the motto “Gott mit uns.” God is on our side.
Looked it up on Wiki, and the slogan goes back to the Roman Empire. You can follow the phrase through history by checking every despotic regime. Seems to be a pattern here.
Marva, I vet it goes back much firther than that.
We saw similar hatred 45-50 years ago during the civil rights marches. Some of those who sing most loudly in the church choir every Sunday and who shout to proclaim their “Christianity” for the world to see are hyporitical Pharisees who are every bit as hateful, insecure, intolerant, backward, and ignorant as the most rabid Taliban or al-Qaeda member. They are NOT Christians, and it is no surprise they are modern-day Republicans.
Good observation, Jack. They poured out of their churches to burn black churches.
We did it again, my friend. The sign, “Christian Love – Yes. Islamic Hate – No.” Says it all about these poor, scared, misguided souls.
Citizen K left their web site address and sent them an email. I’m doing likewise. Another reader volunteered to sit out in the parking lot in her car during prayers on Friday night at her local mosque. She is not a member of any particular faith. I’m sure the Center would appreciate any and all emails of support.
http://www.icmtn.org/
I can almost see Murfreesboro out my back window. The people in my state don’t always make me proud. S
Leslie, Tennessee needs millions more of you.
It just boggles my mind how people who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus can be filled with such hateful ignorance – this is precisely the reason why I do not attend church as often as these so-called “Christians.”
That’s why I use Al Franken’s term. He is the one who coined Supply-side Jesus.