The flip side of Islamic fundamentalismSPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: When Polish student Michael Gromek, 19, went to America on a student exchange, he found himself trapped in a host family of Christian fundamentalists. What followed was a six-month hell of dawn church visits and sex education talks as his new family tried to banish the devil from his soul. Here's his story.
"When I got out of the plane in Greensboro in the US state of North Carolina, I would never have expected my host family to welcome me at the airport, wielding a Bible, and saying, 'Child, our Lord sent you half-way around the world to bring you to us.' At that moment I just wanted to turn round and run back to the plane. My Half-Year of Hell With Christian Fundamentalists
Mark Alexander
12 comments:
No, JudahQ, I am calling neither you nor Heather Christian fundamentalists. That's for sure! But I can tell you that if these people had come to the airport brandishing a Bible at me, then I would have had exactly the same reaction as this poor guy! I would have wanted to do a runner!
I drink alcohol, and I cartainly wouldn't take kindly to someone telling me that the Devil was in me for doing so, or some such nonsense. In fact, I know what I'd tell such people: I'd tell them exactly where to get off!
After all, didn't Jesus drink wine in that wedding?
Or at least, if He didn't drink it Himself, then He made wine out of water for others to drink.
Hmmm
That doesn't sound terrible.
I agree with judahq, I have never met anyone like this. The label of Christian fundamentalist is wrong. They sound/acted like members of a strange cult.
I have been in a Baptist church as an invited guest and never saw anything remotely like the behavior he described.
As bizarre as his experience was, it still beats being hosted by a radical Islamic family.
He owes it to future exchange students to report his experiences so others won't be sent to the same place.
Heather:
As bizarre as his experience was, it still beats being hosted by a radical Islamic family.
I'd pass on both!
True religion is not shown with one's words, but with one's deeds.
JudahQ:
A Biblically literate Christian does not force Christian belief or observance on anyone.
As I mentioned to Heather, Christianity is shown in how one lives and behaves. Being a Bible-puncher is not my idea of the mark of an observant Christian. Actions, as they say, speak louder than words.
I have known Christians, mainly chapel-goers, who have been too narrow to enjoy a drink. Doing without a drink doesn't make one a better person; and enjoying one certainly does not mean that one is guided by the Devil.
I cringe when I hear people speak about people being guided by the Devil anyway. It smacks of Middle-Age-thinking, as far as I am concerned. It belongs in the same category as telling children that when there is a thunder storm, it means that God is angry with them!!! Such claptrap!
Pour me a glass too, will ya Mark? :D
Certainly! Are you sure you want only one? :-)
"I have known Christians, mainly chapel-goers, who have been too narrow to enjoy a drink. Doing without a drink doesn't make one a better person; and enjoying one certainly does not mean that one is guided by the Devil."
~~~~~
If drinking were verboten Jesus wouldn't have turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. (John 2)
The Bible says "don't be drunk with wine"---not to abstain. This quote is sometimes taken out of context to prohibit all drinking. If you read the entire chapter of Ephesians 5 in which it's found (v.18) you will understand what is meant by this verse. Romans 14 is also an excellent guide as to how one should act.
~~~~~~
"True religion is not shown with one's words, but with one's deeds."
~~~~~
I am SO MUCH in agreement with you on this Mark--You are in complete agreement with James, Jesus' brother, who had much to say about faith being dead unless shown by actions. James 2 is one of my favorite passages of scripture.
One of the most influential scriptures in my life is Jeremiah-- 22:15(b)-16, what is yours?
Heather:
Perhaps one of the most influential parts of the Scripture in my life has been Matthew 5, 1 - 16.
I should think that this has been the most influential part for me.
If drinking were verboten Jesus wouldn't have turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. (John 2)
Exactly! I couldn't agree with you more.
Mark - Unfortunately these Christians are the equivalent Muslims "fundamentalists" that want to impose their values on the rest of us. Cult-like, they use psychological violence to beat down their victims.
Although not the norm, This kind of Christian is attempting to make inroads into American politics. Their ascension to power would be difficult for all Americans who most like would resist, and in their zeal, it is possible they resort to the same kind of violence we see with contemporary jihadists and historical Islam and Christianity, as zealots of all stripes believe that the ends justify the means.
It would be as much a crime to allow them to drive the Conservative agenda in the United States as would be to allow Islam to do so.
What a perfect assessment, Eleanor!
I am a practicing agnostic from an Evangelical Christian family, and I never experienced anything like this, nor did anyone in my congregation. Plenty of these people drank, although they were discrete about it.
I am still close with many deeply religious members of the congregation I grew up in, and they are some of the best people in the world. Occasionally, I swill some beer with them. And lets not forget that Jimmy Carter is a Evangelical.
Yes, there are plenty of religious kooks in America, but there are even more non-religious kooks on the left end of the socio-political spectrum, if we want to count heads. Germany is full of kooks - I lived there as a private citizen and can comment on their "fruitcake factor" from personal experience.
Of course, Der Speigel would focus on some odd sector of American society. Can anyone remember anytime in recent history when Der Spiegel ever wrote anything positive about the US? Imagine if Time or Newsweek would write some article on the Germans, where they are depicted as goose-stepping Nazis.
Welcome, Kathmandu!
Thank you for your very interesting comment. It made me laugh when you said thet Germany has its share of "kooks" and then you comment on the Germans' "fruitcake factor" ...
if we want to count heads. Germany is full of kooks - I lived there as a private citizen and can comment on their "fruitcake factor" from personal experience.
What exactly do you mean? Could you elucidate?
Post a Comment