Do You Speak Christianese?

Posted by majestic on September 29, 2011

John Blake reveals the doublespeak code words and phrases that Christians use to convey hidden meanings to one another, for CNN:

Can you speak Christian?

Have you told anyone “I’m born again?” Have you “walked the aisle” to “pray the prayer?”

Did you ever “name and claim” something and, after getting it, announce, “I’m highly blessed and favored?”

Many Americans are bilingual. They speak a secular language of sports talk, celebrity gossip and current events. But mention religion and some become armchair preachers who pepper their conversations with popular Christian words and trendy theological phrases.

If this is you, some Christian pastors and scholars have some bad news: You may not know what you’re talking about. They say that many contemporary Christians have become pious parrots. They constantly repeat Christian phrases that they don’t understand or distort.

Marcus Borg, an Episcopal theologian, calls this practice “speaking Christian.” He says he heard so many people misusing terms such as “born again” and “salvation” that he wrote a book about the practice.

People who speak Christian aren’t just mangling religious terminology, he says. They’re also inventing counterfeit Christian terms such as “the rapture” as if they were a part of essential church teaching.

The rapture, a phrase used to describe the sudden transport of true Christians to heaven while the rest of humanity is left behind to suffer, actually contradicts historic Christian teaching, Borg says…

[continues to CNN]

Posted in: Christianity, Language, Religion

http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Yes, the babble has been translated (often badly) many times. Do you suppose no errors in interpretation were ever made. Do you think that no one ever “adjusted” what was written for political, personal, or other reasons? (But “For a good cause”)

Even a few verifiable historical events tossed in as an attempt a credibility doesn’t make anything else true.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

You give one example, in the image, I’ll provide a few more. Christianity is a lie, has been lying even now, and attracts liars, as we see here.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Speaking of ignorance of logic, your post should be used as a perfect example.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

How is the questioning of Rick Perry’s faith being anti-semite? Or has Perry suddenly switched religions and I didn’t notice?

You are undoubtably the most ignorant, illogical person I have seen on here.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

I am sure your camps would be filled with atheists, gays, non-whites, and anyone that did not totally conform to your personal idea of what everyone should at least profess to believe. Luckily for you, it wouldn’t have to include hypocrites, fools, or liars.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Again, what a liar you are. Perhaps you ignored the 60 minutes piece on the persecution of a young atheists school girl because she would not participate in an illegal school prayer after basketball games.

Perhaps you are ignorant of Sunday “blue laws”. Maybe you didn’t know about the tax-free status od religions and how even the dues members pay are tax-deductable?

OK that’s a lot of ignorance, but, based on your own statements, it doesn’t sound like too much for someone that ignores anything that doesn’t agree with his own sick, twisted, world view.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Keep in mind that christians love to play the persecution card. That’s ironic as they have been the ones most guilty of persecuting others. Even the pilgrims who supposedly came to the new world to “escape religious persecution” were escaping persecution by other christians. When they established their own society, they immediately began their own programs of persecuting others.

Christian/persecutors/hypocrites are all so intertwined, their meanings seem identical.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Pretty sure you don’t believe in truth, free speech, or rational thinking. No, you are not my buddy.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

When it comes to smug, condescending arrogance, no one can match christians. If christians are frequently “bashed” maybe it is simply someone presenting facts that you don’t like. They are still facts and, as always, I challenge you to prove they are wrong.

That’s the unpleasant thing about facts, they don’t go away and they don’t change, no matter how much you dislike them and whine about them.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

I’m sure your abilities of perception are faulty as your comprehension deficit seems huge. Fortunately, most people on here recognize your failings. It is a continual source of amusement so you must forgive those who ridicule you. After all, you earned every bit of it. You should be proud of that accomplishment as you seem to have little else to sooth your ego.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

The major complaint I have is that all theists wish to enact their personal beliefs into laws for everyone. You don;t have to shut up at all. I have been told to “just shut up” many times by christians, but my thinking is different.

If you can convince others of the truth of your beliefs by using verifiable facts, logic, and rational thinking, good on ya, mate. Just don’t use public money to do it, proselytize in public schools, or pass your thinking into laws for everyone.

When I consider how many times I have asked you and many other theists for proof, logic, or rational thinking and have never received any of them, even once, it’s no surprise you have to resort to underhanded means to force your views on others.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

I have traveled the world. Besides seven US states, I have lived in The Netherlands, Quebec, and now Brazil. In addition, I have traveled in Mexico, to Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and many other places.

Where christians are persecuted, it is in totalitarian theocracies like Iran. Ironically enough, a totalitarian theocracy is exactly what many christians want to establish in the USA. If that happens, the persecution of gays, atheists and believers in the “wrong” sect of christianity will make the muslims look like a model of tolerance and restraint. Don’t think so? Then reflect upon the witch burnings, the inquisition, family planning clinic bombings, and the entire era known as “the dark ages”.

Those are all facts. Disprove them if you can. Ignore them as we expect.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

What you choose to mislabel as hate and name-calling are no more than simple statements of observed facts. If the facts make you so uncomfortable you are forced to lie about them, perhaps you would feel better in a totally christian site. At least there, no one would question unsubstantiated statements, outright lies, and myths. After all, those are the foundation of that religion, so they are expecting those things.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

He’s making it up from the delusional depths of his mind. When you don’t have any facts to support your position, you must distract, delay, deny, and distort. Sadly, he isn;t even very good at those things. Should we give him an “E” for effort?
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Who said anything about hating christians? Every time I have seen that mentioned, it comes from you. Could it be that, deep down, you recognize the evil and folly of your beliefs? If so, kindly refrain from projecting your innermost disgust with yourself onto others.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

WHat speaks volumes about you is that, despite being asked many times to either prove what you say is true or prove what I say is not. But, being an intellectual and moral coward, you choose to ignore legitimate questions. That explains why you are personally viewed with such contempt and disdain by rational people.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

“half truths being sold as solid fact.” That precisely defines religion and every post you have ever made. When are you going to answer the challenge of providing proof that I am not right or that you are right?
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Then you are saying that makes it right? That the majority has as much right to suppress the minority and the minority would have to suppress them if the circumstances would be reversed?

Come to think of it, that’s probably exactly what you think.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Again, the only one to bring up hate is you. That’s not surprising, christians have practiced hate, intolerance, and discrimination more than any other group in history. Admittedly, the Islamic faith is trying hard to catch up, but they are outnumbered and haven’t as much experience. They do seemed to have learned very well from the christian persecution they have had for so long, though.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

What philanthropic work? No church has ever done anything for anyone unless they could tie it to proselytizing and recruiting.

Again, you label “hate” what are no more than observed facts. But truth and fairness have never been christian values for you have they?
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Defends himself? How? By continually making ridiculous statements, evading direct questions, and being an example of everything foolish and silly about christians?

I think I’ll send some of your posts to some christian friends for their opinion. Would you like to hear what they have to say? Probably not. LMAO!
anti-crowley

Much not be much going on in Brazil huh Jimmy? Be nice now or we’ll take away your social security.
anti-crowley

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO….not to your friends, okay I’ll do whatever you like Mr. Jimmy.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

I will be nice to you when you stop running away, changing the subject and actually answer a question. How about you accept my offer of a free trip to Brazil?

You couldn’t take a lollipop away from a 5 y/o. If he said “Boo!” to you, you’d wet your pants and fall down whining, “Don’t persecute me any more!”

Be a decent human being for just once in your life and answer a question. Where is your proof of anything you have ever said?

Or, Have you always been a liar with no personal ethics or courage? Or did you learn it along with your religion? The two seem to go together quite well. That isn’t hate as you wish to label it, just an observation of the facts.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

I will be nice to you when you stop running away, changing the subject and actually answer a question. How about you accept my offer of a free trip to Brazil?

You couldn’t take a lollipop away from a 5 y/o. If he said “Boo!” to you, you’d wet your pants and fall down whining, “Don’t persecute me any more!”

Be a decent human being for just once in your life and answer a question. Where is your proof of anything you have ever said?

Or, Have you always been a liar with no personal ethics or courage? Or did you learn it along with your religion? The two seem to go together quite well. That isn’t hate as you wish to label it, just an observation of the facts.
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Do you never get tired of demonstrating what an arrogant asshole you are? Apparently not. But then, maybe you are simply too stupid to do anything else?

If you want to do something I say, you can improve the average IQ and moral decency of the human race. First, go to a very high cliff….
http://slrman.wordpress.com James Smith

Do you never get tired of demonstrating what an arrogant asshole you are? Apparently not. But then, maybe you are simply too stupid to do anything else?

If you want to do something I say, you can improve the average IQ and moral decency of the human race. First, go to a very high cliff….
Anonymous

I don’t know a single Christian that would be willing to talk to me.
Anonymous

I don’t know a single Christian or bless,ed couple of them that would ever be willing to talk to me.
Anonymous

It’s ok to call it what it is from the language I think most are at least used to adult language. Puberty ? I have no idea. Bleeding virgins I understand.
Anonymous

And Jesus said let that which is without sin be used against her (a prostitute) Evidence that is obtained illegally can’t be used in a court of law. Why does it have sin attached to it. Don’t use the truth but reject it.Even crimes that require the death penalty in that century and this one.
Anonymous

My last comment on this. What the hell does religion have to do with god I’ve never seen the two of them together. Christianity : They got kicked out and the first thing you see them doing is building altars and burning things. Is this maybe the start of religion? What religion was there before that?
N2itaway

When I was involved with evangelicals I came to call this type of language that of “personal piety”, not for your benefit, but to show status in the hierarchy of holiness. “I’ll pray for you” means “I am one holy MF” or “God spoke to me” means “Move to the back of the bus, looser.” The passive-aggressive and narcissitic elements of orthodoxy literally made me sick, and now it is making our society sick as well. Flee from these halls of oppression, ye sheep, for the knife is being sharpened as you kneel…
Contentedkyrie

Perhaps you may recall that tax deductions for charitable donations is based on social responsibility, which takes some of the weight off of welfare programs for community needs. Tax deductions for athiests are also fully available. Please note that a person can donate to libraries, colleges and hospitals and get full tax benefit (i.e. tax deductible). So, if a religious person wishes to donate to a religious organization, please note that the income of the person was taxed just like the income of the nonreligious person taking advantage of the same tax laws.
http://profiles.google.com/coachellaboy Scott Remington

All religion is a CHOICE. ALL of them.

Do You Speak Christianese?

more disinformation

more disinformation