Rosie O'Donnell denounces "radical Christians"
Posted November 10, 2006
An al-Qaida leader in Iraq reportedly mocked President Bush this week and vowed to kill more Americans in the Middle East. "We haven't had enough of your blood yet," a man identified as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir said on a taped message obtained by the Associated Press. Mr. al-Muhajir said he has 12,000 volunteers who have vowed "to die for God's sake."
But it's Jesus freaks in Jersey, not Islamic jihadists in Iraq, that seem to worry comedian Rosie O'Donnell. She recently said that“radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like the United States.”
Question of the day: Are "radical Christians" a threat to the United States?
Archived Comments
Rosie O'Donnell hates anyone who disagrees with her about her lesbianism's morality, immorality, or a-morality, and instantly compares them to terrorists. But she's the one spewing violence. Suppose people really believed what O'Donnell says, and acted on it? They would head out into the streets, kill or jail all the conservative Catholics and Protestants, and take our children away. That's what you do to terrorists, right? And I believe O'Donnell would be thrilled if that ever really happened. She's the one who yearns for oppression and violence to be inflicted on people who disagree with her. It's shameful that anybody gives her any credence.
yes, they are. Radicalism in any form, no matter what religion it pretends to speak for, is dangerous. Killing in the name of your religion is wrong, no matter if it's for Jesus, Allah, or Buddha. Islamist radicals killing and rioting for "offensive" cartoons and western intrusion is no different than radical Christians killing abortion doctors and "heathens" who don't see the world the way they do. The world is not black and white, and these simple minded, brainwashed radicals are a danger to civilized society, regardless if they go to a church, a synangogue, or a mosque. it is when we break down the walls of dogma, religious indoctrination, and bigotry that the violence will stop. Until people stop believing that their way is the only way, the death and destruction will continue.
I'll put aside the small number of "radical Christians" willing to murder doctors and blow up clinics, the greatest threat to our nation from within is the "radical Christians" who insist upon imposing the "literal" word of their sacred books on the vast majority of Americans who are willing to work together to construct a society in which all peoples and cultures can prosper and find peace. Their "my way or Satan's highway approach" makes tolerance of differences impossible. In their values, if not all of their behaviors, they are most like the radical Islamicists that they hate and fear.
Of course they're a threat. These are the people who are setting up pseudo-military installations in rural America so that they can take this country back in Christ's name. They're psychotic, plain and simple. I'm a Christian myself, but see anyone who goes to the farthest reaches of anything instead of being sensible about it as being a threat to anyone who doesn't believe what they believe.
I'm not willing to kill anyone because they don't believe the same thing I do, that's what makes me a sensible person. Anyone who thinks we should shed blood in God (or Allah's) name has completely missed the point of what the Bible (and Koran) teaches.
People like Rosie are a threat to the culture of the U.S. It is these people who cannot fathom what it must be like to deal with people in other lands with completely different worldviews. Instead, in their instinctive need for control, they lash out at fellow Americans with statements that are patently ridiculous.
And why not? They think their words carry weight and that now they are "doing something". All the people around them tell them that their words sell and hence they have their talk shows. Little do they know that those words are really just a low-cal frivolty and nothing more than bluster in the wind.
Hi Frank:
Yes, radicals of any stripe can present a "threat," although the question is incomplete, because the next question would be, "A threat to whom or to what?"
Most people will only take the question to mean, "Are radical Christians a threat to me?" Emphasis on me.
Ask the question in some Moslem sectors, "Is radical Shiite religion a threat?" and the answer would likely be, "No." Ask the same question in a Sunni sector you might get a different response.
So, the answer to the Rosie question is, "No, of course radical Christianity is not a threat -- TO MOST OTHER CHRISTIANS." However, that is not to say that radical Christianity is benign. Radicals of whatever stripe can be a danger to civilized nations.
Does Ted Haggard count as a radical Christian?
I suspect Rosie's point is that many Americans see the bigger threat to their families' well-being and daily lives comes from rhetoric and politics driven by radical Christians seeking conservative Christian dominion. You have secular, tax-paid public schools attended by children of many or no faith(s) that are putting up 10 Commandment displays. You have radical Christians demanding philosophical issues like faith and creation being taught as science in science classes. You have millions of gay/lesbian couples who are now written into state constitutions as second class citizens...the first such constitutional limiting rather than expansion of rights since slaves were listed as less than a full person and prohibition was placed in the constitution. You have churches pushing bills to refuse health insurance, domestic violence protections, anti-bias protections, and parenthood to gay families. You also have pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions for patients. There are businesses refusing to serve various patrons simply because of who they are. Then you have people using their faith to try to stop scientific exploration of stem cell research that could cure millions of Americans with chronic diseases. Perhaps worst for many Americans is the daily rhetoric of demonizing liberals, gays, people of other faiths, moderate Christians, etc. as evil. When you have ministers saying things like "oh, it is not right that they beat that gay man to death but he kind of had it coming since he was such a sinner", then you have to ask who is a bigger threat to your life: Islamic terrorists or ministers basically telling their congregations that it is ok to abuse certain types of Americans? Imagine if there was a constant barrage of legislative bills, political ads, and statements by public figures lambasting Christians as terrorists the way gays/lesbians like Rosie have endured in recent years? You don't see the same virulent rhetoric against the divorced/adulterers, liars, abusers of the elderly, thiefs, or fornicators that are actually listed in the 10 Commandments. For the Americans targeted by anti-Christian intolerance, I suspect you would find that, like Rosie, there is a greater concern about the daily attacks on their families by radical Christians than the spector of terrorist attacks by radical Muslims.
I would have to know a good bit more about what constitutes "radical Christianity" befoe I could make an intelligent response to this question. There is no doubt for me that there are elements of the Christian community that make sustaining a democratic, diverse and accepting society much more difficult. Whether they are dangerous and comparatively more or less dangerous than Isalmic radicals is a more difficult question.
Poor Rosie; she is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot!
I am thankful for every solider who fights for each Americans right to freedom of speech. They fought and died for Rosie Odonell's right to say whatever she pleases. However, they fought for my freedom -not to listen to her and the freedom not to buy anything the advertisements of her show the view. As a Christian--not sure just what her idea of radical is, but I can say that I will stop watching the view or any other show that she may be in.
Uh,,,Jim Jones...David Koresch...
Radical Religious Partisans of all faiths are a threat to the liberty, safety and security of the United States and its residents. Religious zealots must find a way to content themselves with living their lives according to their beliefs without trying to have Congress and the 50 state legislatures codifying those beliefs into laws that require the rest of us to live as they do. The USA is a democratic constitutional republic, not a theocracy. Laws in this country must be constitutional, not Scriptural. The law of land is the Constitution of the United States, not the Bible or the Koran or the Articles of Catholic Faith or The Junior Woodchuck's Guidebook (my favorite text). Radical Religious Partisans are requested to attend your houses of worship, say your prayers and sing your hymns, but please keep your religious faith and practices to yourselves. Thank you.
I hate to give audience to an idiot, but it seems necessary. We define radical in many ways. Someone who dresses in full body paint for a meaningless ball game or waits outside a theater or shop for days just to get the first ticket or item (PS3) new on the horizon. These people are not any more dangerous than the average person. It is not radical Christians that condemn people or create warped communities, it's the psycho's with warped minds. Let's not forget that Jesus, the apostles, Mother Theresa, the Pope, and many of the models of Christian behavior were and are undoubtedly "radical Christians". These people were and are "hard-core" to say the least. The difference (among the many) lies in their desire not to categorize or condemn, but to embrace and reform. Jesus, Himself, condemned behaviors even to the extent of whipping the money changers in the synagogue and destroying their wares. He condemned the leaders of the synagogues and challenged their beliefs. There is nothing wrong with condemning behaviors that one's culture or faith deems immoral or un-Godly. It is the duty of every Christian to do so. It is not, however, the right of every Christian to condemn the individual. Let's not judge the masses of devout, loyal, faithful Christians because by some chance a few of them might exhibit psychotic behavior. Like it or lump it, that's just how it is!! God Bless! (Is it ok to say that? Did I offend? Too bad!)
Lots of good posts, really get you thinking, Is the problem here lack of education, no tolerance for other beliefs. I supposed if somebody threatened me or my family in the name of God and attemted to do harm to me and me family, I would retaliate with equal or greater force. The one thing I am sure of is that, I would be asking God to guide me as I would in my mind, become a warrior through Him. Do this make me a radical? Seeking only to protect my family from harm. Not enough info for this one for me.
I think that "radical" can be a good or bad thing. The Jesus of the Bible (the real Jesus, I believe) was quite radical. To the Pharisees he was radically compassionate and loving to the poor and outcasted sinners, This was a good radical, although offensive to some.
To his followers, Jesus was radical. He called them to stop trusting in their own works (obeying the Law) to earn God's favor; instead to trust that Jesus would earn their salvation for them. Jesus still called them to obey and be his witness in the world, but not in order to earn salvation; rather because they had already receieved it by grace (a gift). That is a good kind of radical.
David Koresh, the Pope during the Crusades, etc. all have their "radical" actions condemned by the very Bible that they quoted (i.e. bad "radical"). So the question is "are these 'radical Christian'" interpreting the Bible correctly?"
Then the real problem becomes clearer: O'Donnel doesn't like the God of the Bible. Instead, she seems to have created God in her own image (Genesis paints the picture in a different order). Her "God" likes the things that she likes and hates the "sins" that she hates. Her "God" submits to her will and her preferences. She then gets mad when someone else's God disagrees with her God. I don't think that's very tolerant. ;)
I believe the one true God has told us concretely what is good and what is sin. I must submit myself to His authoritative Word--the Bible--and that will result in good for the world, because God is good.
I'd love to meet all these "radical" Christians you're all so afraid of. Jim Jones? David Koresh? Their antiBiblical theology defined them as non-Christians. They were cultists. But of course, you already know that. You know they weren't Christians; but admitting it would ruin the propaganda. The U.S. militia nuts aren't Christians, either.
There are a few "theonomists" here or there, but they're marginalized, confined to certain extreme Presbyterian sects.
Secular humanists invent these imaginary "radical Christians", or pretend that the handful of loonies as if there were vast armies of them, in order to justify the persecution of Christians. Buddhists and Hindus around the world are far more violent and oppressive toward Christians than the reverse (the whole image of Buddhists as peace-loving pacifists is phony; go see how rottenly the Buddhist majority treats Christians in Sri Lanka). Secularism, atheism, and New Age-ism gave us the Nazi death camps, the Soviet mental hospitals, and Tiannemen Square.
Literalists and fundamentalists of any stripe are a threat to freedom and democracy. Their attitude is that 'We are right and everyone else is wrong.'
Their let their lives be determined by books written by men that have a political agenda. They call these books 'sacred scripture'.
They refuse to acknowledge inconsistencies, errors and contradictions in their respective 'sacred scriptures'.
They are negative nannies wanting to tell everyone else how to live. If they can't persuade someone to believe their line, then they turn to government to enforce their own political agenda.
Religious fundamentalism repudiates American values. They don't want liberty and justice for all. They don't want government to care for human life and happiness, and not their destruction.
Religious fundamentalists don't want to establish justice nor do they want government to secure the blessings of liberty. Liberty is a threat to their literalist, fundamentalist view.
Well guess what Rosie? "Radical" Christians are the only ones going to Heaven! The rest of the lukewarm sinners are going to split hell wide open!
Now Yabba Dabba Doo that!
Rosie doesn't like Rosie. Now this may seem very harsh but let's call it like it is. She is a fat, unattractive lesbian and her false bravado is just a cover for a long held sense of self loathing. How, do I know this? Oh, I guess I would feel that way if I were her. Things really aren't that complicated folks. Instead of minding her own business she is getting back at all those people who made fun of her when she was a poor, fat lonely little girl. I would pity her if she didn't do so much damage with her venom.
Lisa: How exactly are soldiers in Iraq right now fighting for Rosie's right to free speech?
Another Al Qaida tape that cannot be (and will not be) independently verified. Has anyone heard of false flag operations? That is when intelligence sources plant false and misleading information to make others think that someone they would like to blame for political purposes, did it. Folks you were lied to about WMD and you were lied to about Hussenin's connection with the terrorists. You were lied to about a lot of things. The American mind has been so twisted around that it is having it's own rights stripped away and thinks this is to stop the terrorists. How many terrorists attacks in this country in the last 5 years? Zero. Statiscally one stands more chance of being killed by lightening than from a terrorist. It's mind manipulation and brainwashing. Wake up folks.
Radical? As in radically practicing "love your neighbor as yourself"? Now that would shake up our society, wouldn't it? Scary!
Seriously, other than a few harmless "nuts", show me a plan for world dominance by murder and intimidation by any significant group other than radical Islamists? No Christian group entices recruits for homicide missions with promises of scores of virgins in paradise! Our Western values of tolerance and guarantees of religious freedom are derived from Christian values. These values have created an open society that even allows someone like Rosie to freely express her radical views, something that she would dare not do in Iran! It is just patently absurd to compare the incredible threat posed by radical Islam to our very existence as a nation to any other religious group! Rosie, your own conscience may convict you, but don't take it out on innocent Christian believers through your irrational, outrageous, and baseless comments!
ummm... folks?
rosie o'donnell does not speak for anyone other than rosie o'donnell.
not sure why anyone gives a flip.
I respect the idea of what she's trying to get across, but I don't like her delivery and I don't like her equating radical Christians with radical Muslims.
And to someone else who posted, her being a lesbian shouldn't be an issue, quit being a caveman and join the 21st century.
And the fact she is a lesbian explains, in a very obvious way some of her disdain for religion. Large portions of Christianity are always condemning gays and lesbians so how can you possibly expect a gay or lesbian to react differently?
Keep our religious practices to ourselves? Love your neighbor as you love yourself, give alms to the poor, respect all life, respect the rights of others to choose for themselves, honor God through many good works, serve others, harm no person, take not that which is not yours, live each day in the full glory of God... maybe we should keep these religious practices to ourselves... I mean, what good has ever come from being a "decent" Christian? When laws are in place that require the use of taxes, then we all have the right to reject the laws. If you are going to use the money I earn for sinful purposes, then I shall have a say in how it should be used. You're welcome!
Allen: With it being so close to Veterans Day, my comment about freedom of speech was written with my own father in mind. He fouht in WWII when he was a mare lad of 16. We all have had that right since we were released from British atthority many long years ago. That right gives each and everyone of us to say whatever we please, whenever we please; no matter how stupid or indefferient it may sound to others. Many Thanks to all Veterans out there. I love and cherish what you did for me - always
...So if so-called "radical Christians" are a threat to the United States, then maybe we should take a look back into history and see the reason this country came about. This country was founded by Christians who wanted to be able to practice their faith freely. The Constitution and Declaration of Independence were founded on Christian principles and written by Christian men. If that's a problem for people, then they need to really think of how good they have it here in the States b/c of that desire of our founding fathers. Go to another country NOT based on a Christian foundation and see what freedoms you enjoy. I've lived in an Asian country and believe me, we have it so great here I can't even begin to tell you how grateful we should be! So if someone feels that Christians are a "threat" then maybe they should take a deeper look inside themselves. Maybe, just maybe it means it's time for them to change their worldview.
"The Constitution and Declaration of Independence were founded on Christian principles..." Laura
How so? This ought to be good!
There are only two willing to die for us, The SOLDIER and Jesus Christ!
Bart, have you ever heard the phrase "In God we trust".
Jesus Christ was a caveman? He gave unconditional support to the Old Testament laws.
Bart, have you ever heard the phrase "In God we trust".- perplexed
Yes I have... which appears no where in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.
Next!
See that's the problem Jack. People want to think that God has changed with the times. He's hip to new things like faggotry and lesbianism. I've heard people say that if Jesus was here today, He would be marching in every gay pride parade to promote tolerance and love.
PHOOEY!
Read about the BILLIONS of people God killed in the Bible and you will learn all about His "tolerance."
God doesn't share your thirst for other people's damnation. The judging that God does, He does without pleasure. God speaks about His distaste for destruction in the last four verses of the prophet Ezekiel, chapter 18. There's a difference between stern judicial severity that human evil requires, and mere frothing, punishment-hungry rage -- a distinction you don't grasp.
The twist-with-the-wind depravity of the liberal, atheistic Saducee and the hate-filled hypocrisy of the ranting Pharisee are equally nauseating to men of good conscience.
Jack you lukewarm coward! Put the versus in perspective. Those versus concern those who repent!
What about the verses where God is described as laughing at the calamity of the workers of iniquity?
There you go. Your god. A poor old man who just cries and cries when he kills billions of people. He just wants to be loved so bad. BOO HOO!
GET REAL!
What about those verses? Where in the Bible does one find anything describing God laughing at anyone's misfortunes no matter what they'd done??? He is not a wimp who just wants to make a friend and cries when they don't return that love. He just loves them even more.
confused, your name speaks for itself!
PROVERBS 1
24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26I also will LAUGH at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
PSALM 2 4He that sitteth in the heavens shall LAUGH: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
MALACHI 1
1The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
3And I HATED Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness
Hosea 9
14Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I HATED them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
16Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
Get it in your head... GOD HATES PEOPLE! Not just the sin! He sends the SINNER to hell! It is the sinner that is tormented with fire and brimestone in the prescence of The Angels and in the prescenece of Christ!
God only loves His ELECT, His SHEEP! He does not love the reprobates who are the goats!
Shut your smart mouth and pick up a Bible and READ IT! READ IT! You goofy woman!
Bart: my interpolation of the Bible is somewhat different than yours for example: I reads all of Proverbs 1--not just part of it. I believe the writer of the proverb was talking about wisdom--wisdom laughs when fools do not fear the Lord as stated in verse 29. I also, believe that the Psalmist in Psalms 2:4 was protrayiing what he thought God's reaction could be--for we have no way of truly knowing what God was feeling. Malachi 1:2--but Esau I hated,... on may occasions in the OT the verb-hate- actually meant --not to choose. In other words I think he was really trying to say "I chose Jacob, I did not chose Esau." He laid waste to Esau's descendents land because they did not want their heritage or to follow God. Finally in Hosea 9: I believe the verb to hate here should mean to reject. I believe the writer was saying in a sense God was rejecting the House of Israel--divorcing her. I also believe that no matter how many times a person reads the Bible that unless they pray that the Holy Spirit teaches the meaning, they will always be confused about just what the Bible says. That they will be in a spiritual blindness as in 2 Corithians 4
Well, Lemonhead Lisa, I guess you can say that I HATE your "interpolation" of the Bible as a twisted perversion of what is written in plain English.
Poor old God. He's just a poor speaker!
Well Bart: as Caleb would say thanks for the upgrade from sourpu-- to lemonhead must mean I either hit a nerve or got something right. But come on really --Poor old God, He's just a poor speaker--someone's gonna knock you in the head for that one. Just what are you going to say one day standing before God on judgement day? or do you not believe in Judgement, or quite possibly you think you might be all alone in heaven, cause the rest of us are going to Hades? wait that would be judging us. Isn't there something the Bible about how you will be judge according to how you judge others--I'm not the expert, I just know there are anlot of passages in the Bible about Judging.
Hey, listen, Lisa -- trolls belong under the drawbridge, ignored and forgotten.
Check out my blog. There's a good post called "Having The Right Enemies" (or something like that) that applies here. I originally wrote it about a hyperCalvinist, white supremacist website that ridiculed me because of my on-line opposition to something called "kinism." (and there's a provocative topic for Frank Lockwood to feature! Kinism). The fact that some bilious racists at Little Geneva hate me because I said that the Bible says nothing against interracial marriage gives me a picture about myself that I'm OK about. It's the same here.
Editor's note: "Kinism?" First I've heard of it. I'd better read your post.
Jack: thanks for the backup. I looked up your blog, could not find the one on kinism, but will keep you on my favorites list so I can read your stuff too
I find it interesting that the pot is calling the kettle black. To equate Christians with Muslims who vow to kill anyone who is not Muslilm, is not in any way , shape, or form a close representation of where an honest Christian is today.
To be a Christian is not too say we, I, hate gay people. I am a licensed minister whose ministry is to the gay people, who are hurting and know in their hearts that their lifestyle is wrong.
If it weren't, there wouldn't be the feelings of guilt and shame that comes as a part of the lifestyle. I have not seen gay relationships to be honestly monogamos. For twenty years I've seen men and women acting like their in a very large "candy store" and they are wanting too have a little "taste" of all of this candy.
God does not "hate" homosexuals, only their sin. If he were to allow, or overlook the gay movement of today, he whould have to forgive Sodom and Gomorrah.
There is a God Shaped vacum, placed in mankind that only God can fill. You can't do it with sex, whether gay or straight.
I see the "gay movement" bashing" anyone who disagrees with them and what a misnomer and use of the word "Gay." Little about gay lifestyle is GAY! As an intelligent person, you must admit that you are doing the very things you are accusing the "Christian" of doing. The movement lies, defames, is often violent, and obnoxious. You, by the very nature of your actions, alinate people. You often are guilty of laying it at the feet of Christians your own fear, insecurities, and pre-judgement of anyone who believes homosexuality is wrong.
From Genesis to Revelations,
God makes it clear that the end of anyone who goes into eternity living in that lifestyle will not spend eternity with HIM in HIS HEAVEN. Jesus came the first time as a lamb, and will come the second time as the Lion of Judah. The free will that was given us at creation is what will keep us from spending eternity with him. We each have our own choices and homosexuality is a "CHOICE." We can CHOOSE TO "COME OUT' of homosexuiality.
The always in our faces with your lifestyle is more than a little offensive. I used to enjoy the View, but find it increasingly more and more offensive. You are an intelligent and talented comedian. I confess that I think you often push the envelope of good taste. Joy as well. To be funny, you don't have to sacrificwe good taste!
I congratulate you on giving love away to children who may not have been able to have that in their lives without your willingness to take them. However, even secular authorities acknowledge that children need to have the "father" & "mother" figure in their lives. As in married... God did not say to Sally and Sue, or Tim or Jim to go and populate and subdue the earth. God ordained relationships, from the begining of time, was, has been, and will always be on one man and one woman.
At the risk of sounding trite, I will continue too pray for those caught in this horrible sin. Like evolution, nothing evolves "upward," only "downward." To often, those caught in this sin, in their effort to satisfy their needs, only bring more degraduation on themselves rather than the reverse.
I know many gay people who are extremely nice. I can say that I honestly like them. They are fun to be around and do things with. It is only their sin that will seperate you in the end. God's word asks what fellowship does light have with darkness? God's word has no gray shades. Sin is sin, good is good, and we will be judged by our actions and beliefs by an eternally just God. I must admit that I am glad that it is God who is doing the judging.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. R. L. Gurden
It is obvious that Rosie O'donnell is a tyrannt who thinks she has the right to defame anyone she feels like and not take the consequences of her actions. She is an adult with no boundaries. Her brother a homosexual also. No one is forcing Christianity on her. Yet she is forcing her perverted homosexual lifestyle on everyone around her. I don't watch the view, but while passing abc I happened to catch a few moments of her ranting in a manic tirade. It is obvious that abc and the bravo television networks have a pro-homosexual agenda. And abc an, anti-family, anti-christian agenda trying to suppress what this nation was founded. We're not stupid, but they do deceive the uneducated. Those that are unaware of our country's history. They slander, exaggerate, spread propaganda about anything protecting family values and marriage, how evil can they be. To destroy our country and our families is their goal. Don't buy from their sponsors and boycott their station. These are ridiculous out-of-control abusive people.
Why yes, of course. Especially with all these "dirty bombs" we're making in our cellars.
Oh, wait.