Chris Frandsen wrote:
My wife suggested this. I always go along with her ideas:-)
learner
Begin forwarded message:
Hey! Let’s circulate a request for common courtesy and civility
between individuals and groups with opposing ideas.
I don’t know about you, but I have become increasingly concerned
about the verbiage and rage Americans are expressing to and about one
another. Verbal abuse and physical attacks send a damaging message
of hostility to our youth and demolish our image to the rest of the
world.
We can and will disagree, which makes us stronger if we remember
that we are all Americans. It’s acceptable to disagree—to not even
like one another (including our president). Let’s not confuse
freedom of speech with human decency. Just because an action is
legal does not make it ethical.
Bottom line—We profess to be a Christian nation. It is appropriate
to ask, “What would Jesus say and do?” I imagine he disagreed with
the actions of those cheating tax collectors and adulterous women he
befriended. Yet, we have no record of him calling them names,
swearing at them, or making degrading comments. Amazingly, we even
have evidence that Jesus loved his enemies.
The challenge is to disagree with dignity, intelligence and
respect. If you think this is a worthwhile message, please forward
it to others.
I respectfully disagree. Not in appealing to people to be respectful in
disagreements, but in appealing to the religious "What would Jesus do?"
to do so. Rationality promotes calm debate. Sadly, religion is not
conducive to rationality. Rather religion and religious belief promotes
the irrational and rejection of the rational (IE:
Creationism/Intelligent Design vs Evolution). No, appealing to ones
irrational beliefs doesn't promote rational debate.
Oh, as for an example of Jesus not "respectfully disagreeing", call to
your recollection what Jesus did to the vendors in the temple. I
believe it had something to do with shouting, throwing over tables,
smashing merchandise and even wielding a whip. It's been a while
though, so I may be a little cloudy on the details.
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