We could use the names of false gods "in vain," but would that help to bring about the conversion of those who believe in these false gods? (Hmm, perhaps I should add "o Bama!" and "governementdam" to that list of acceptable alternatives?) I don't think, though, that blaspheming their gods would really weaken their faith - it would only weaken their faith in us.
Our "charity" makes us a group of easy targets, you ever notice? We are easy to ignore and easy to offend without opposition. If a Christian criticizes anyone for their choices, they are told that they are judgmental, bigoted, and uncharitable. Ironic, considering these virtues that we are so painfully short on weren't even considered virtues before Christianity. It was a Christian idea that men didn't judge one another, rather that they leave judgement to God. It was a Christian idea that we love our neighbor, regardless of his status, color, or gender, for the love of God. Before Christianity, equality was an idea unheard of. True, Christianity did not do away with classes or slavery, but it taught mankind the equal dignity of every human in the eyes of God.
Bigoted. Now there's an interesting word. I actually had to look it up. I had a fair idea of what it meant, but I wanted to be sure. According to my handy-dandy iPod dictionary: Bigoted - "having or revealing an obstinate belief in the superiority of one's own opinions and a prejudiced* intolerance of the opinions of others." Hmmm. Sounds like something that can go both ways. Hey, I'll admit there are a lot of bigoted christians out there. And I would say ALL of us have a streak of that in us somewhere - we like to be right, and we like to have our own opinions. But see, there is this little thing called "truth" that not everyone recognizes as even existing. I believe it does exist, and I believe that the Catholic church holds the fullness of it. Therefore, I don't consider myself a bigot. First, because I'm not talking about opinions, I'm talking about facts. If it was merely my opinion that 1+1=2, and I refused to back down from that, I could be considered a bigot. Or, to give a better example, if it was merely my opinion that 7+5-2 x 4 = 4, I could be considered a bigot. However, math doesn't deal in opinions, it is fact. And it is a fact that 7+5-2 x 4 = 4. I could be wrong, though, and say that 7+5-2x4=40, and then I could obstinately refuse to listen to my math tutor explain the order of operations. In that case I would be a bigot.
I would also like to mention that I am not a "blind sheep" following everything the Church teaches just because it says it is right. I consider there to be sufficient evidence for what I believe. I don't understand it all, I admit. But when there is something that doesn't make sense to me, I look for an explanation. After all, I want to make sure I'm understanding what I think I'm hearing. It's been said by many different people in many different ways, but to put it simply, most people hate the Church for what they think it is, not for what it actually teaches. So far, I have found an answer to all of my questions. Prove to me that the Church is wrong, and there is nothing to hold me - I do not look for the honor and glory that comes man, only that of God. Prove my God does not exist, and I have no reason to follow a Church that is false. Ah, but you can't prove it. I know it to be truth.
God Bless,
Rae
*Prejudiced: To quote my then-8 year old brother to my then-10 year old brother: "Your just prejujished. You don't like cocoanut and you haven't given it a fair chance!"
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