Do you think that the "Christian Right Wing" of the Republican Party has hijacked Christianity?

Well I think you may be onto something here.... I'll have to get back to this question with a better opinion.

No

Probably so. I think when most people hear the word Christian, they automatically think of these people. Much in the same way I'm guilty of thinking of the Muslim radicals when I hear the word Muslim. This isn't fair to the peaceful, non-judgmental, not in-your-face type people who happen to be Christian or Muslim.

Yes. Anyone who co-opts principles for their own negative purposes can be said to have hijacked those principles.

I honestly don't have a clue what that even means

I don't know anything about this. I'm neither a Christian, nor an American, nor a person who finds American politics particularly fascinating. I'm not even entirely sure what is meant by the word "hijacked" in this context.

The explanation seems to suggest that Muslim version of this concept is a foregone conclusion. I've yet to be convinced of that. The explanation unfortunately provides no further clues as to what is meant by "hijacked"...

Sorry I can't help you with this vexing problem.

When I hear the word "Christian", I tend to think of people dragging trees into their homes and decorating them or hiding little chocolate eggs. They wear gold crosses on chains around their necks.

I'm probably not like "most people" though...

I think it's safe to say you're far different than most people!

After reading the explanation, I'm going with 'yes'. Before I read that, I was thinking 'nah, they have been christian before and that is their thoughts on the matter...but when you add the word 'radical' to the equation...

Did you find a better opinion yet? How about mine...or Zang's?

I have nothing to say.

I think they've always been around but maybe they're just getting more publicity from the media these days. I do think they give Christianity a bad name though because they're so extreme about things.

No, but I think fundamentalist Christians have hijacked the Republican party.

Yes, I do. A lot of people judge Christians by these, rather than by the majority, who are nice enough people.

The question seems mixed up to me. I think the "Christian Right" has hijacked the Republican Party... I never really thought about the reverse... that Republicans somehow hijacked Christianity. But, I guess I can see that. I want to believe that, I guess. I'd like to think there are real Christians out there, that actually follow the teachings of Christ. But, I wouldn't involve the Republicans in that, I guess. There are just some Right-wing Christians who have chosen to exert a lot of political power and I think it's hurt the country... maybe it's hurt Christianity as well.

I think the "Christian Right" has hijacked the Republican party. But Christianity is followed all over the world. I doubt that Pat Robertson has any influence on the Archbishop of Canterbury.

I think there are some in the "Christian Right" that, as far as I'm concerned, portray both Christianity and Christians in a rather poor light so in a way you could argue that they have damaged the public perception of Christianity. But only in America.

I don't understand religious or political questions.

No I think modern contemporary Christians have Hijacked christianity.

Jesus was an great person, don't let modern christians interfere with the beautiful truth of who Jesus is.

Yes, I never gave it a thought before, but your right.. I think they have.

I'll take that as a compliment!

No clue, sorry

Yeah, this does make more sense to me.

Not here.
Here = The Netherlands.

Oh please.. say SOMETHING!
Like: I love you Maarten.

Yes those pea brained fundies have hijacked and stolen Christianity out of our Town and Cities and they kill , steal and destroy innocent lives and that religious loony goon Pattty Robertson he is a crook and a thief along with James Dobson of Focus on his Family they all lie and cheat and condemn all of us of simply no wrong doing, I mean what have we done to them?

> I don't know anything about this. I'm neither a Christian, nor an
> American, nor a person who finds American politics particularly fascinating.
> I'm not even entirely sure what is meant by the word "hijacked" in
> this context.
>
> The explanation seems to suggest that Muslim version of this concept
> is a foregone conclusion. I've yet to be convinced of that. The explanation
> unfortunately provides no further clues as to what is meant by "hijacked"...
>
> Sorry I can't help you with this vexing problem.

Hijacked means the Christian Right Wing Republicans have stolen Christianity for their own gain and they do twist scripture around to suit their needs and we are going to hell is what they tell me and you, and talk about Judge and Condemn and getting in your face and beaten up with their Bible , they murder , rape and kill innocent people and they seem to think they are perfect for Heaven we are not going to hell because of what we are doing to other people here on earth

> I don't understand religious or political questions.

Of course you do not, or else you would understand the war in Iraq and why it does not make any sense to have our troops over there getting killed, it is a religious war in the Middle East much like what we have here in America Religious nuts and freaks the control freak fundy who rules and reigns over our lives and think they know it all

How would one go about "stealing" Christianity?

Maybe it would help if there were simply a different word than "Christian" to identify all the sub-sects of Christianity.

I don't believe that the "Christian Right Wing" has hijacked Christianity, nor have radical, fundamentalist Muslims hijacked the Muslim religion ("Muslimanity"? probably not ).

There's nothing there to hijack. I'm not saying that to diss the religions, but the only thing there is the concept that these varying, related belief systems are somehow the same thing. Right wing Christians certainly haven't controlled more moderate Christians belief or worship. There is no meta-Christian council for them to gain control of so that they can make all the Unitarians bomb abortion clinics and murder doctors.

> How would one go about "stealing" Christianity?

As Jesus is my witness, the only way for them to steal Christianity is by passing judgment on other people and condemning people for hurting nobody and having no Love for all human beings, and wrongly accusing you of sinning and saying you are going to hell which is not truth because Jesus came to this Earth because of his Love for you Zang and me Jessica , and Jesus he took all your sins and mine and they were nailed to a Cross at Calvary and the Good Lord died for you and me , and Christianity should be this way instead of beating up somebody with your bible because you do not agree with how they live their life, for it is none of my business what other people desire to do or how that person dresses and I refuse to judge and condemn them if I do not like the way they talk or dress, am I making any sense here? I hope this answers your Questions about stealing Christianity? Christianity say's that Jesus is the Father , Son and Holy Spirit the Trinity and we are not good enough for Heaven without Jesus, and we all can believe in what our hearts are telling us to believe in, nobody can choose your destination where you are going after you pass away and die, and other Christians who may get mean and nasty towards you they have stolen Christianity because they are the ones who take scripture from the Bible and they will use it against you Zang which is very wrong' and the true Christianity accepts all races of people as they are born to be and you are Welcomed in my Church anytime Zang and nobody I promise will bother you at all and they will leave you alone and real Christianity should be this way for gays , lesbians , bisexuals crossdressers and transgendered peoples, the red carpet should be rolled out to all Members on Survey Central and this world would be a better place to live if we love each other and accept people as they are and not try to change that person for your own greed and gain.

After all we are all flesh and blood human beings and we are bound to stumble trip and fall flat on our faces, and we all make mistakes and that is human nature and that is life, if I do not like that other person because he or she is a mental case and I pass my judgment on them and wrongly accuse that person of sinning I am no better then they are Zang, and yes the Right Wing Religious goons like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson along with James Dobson of Focus on his Family these Fundies are so busy attacking others like gays and lesbians and it is deadly wrong to attack others because you do not agree with their life style and how they choose to live their live it is their own business and none of mine, the world is not a perfect place to live in

> Maybe it would help if there were simply a different word than "Christian"
> to identify all the sub-sects of Christianity.
>
> I don't believe that the "Christian Right Wing" has hijacked Christianity,
> nor have radical, fundamentalist Muslims hijacked the Muslim religion
> ("Muslimanity"? probably not ).
>
> There's nothing there to hijack. I'm not saying that to diss the religions,
> but the only thing there is the concept that these varying, related
> belief systems are somehow the same thing. Right wing Christians certainly
> haven't controlled more moderate Christians believe or worship. There
> is no meta-Christian council for them to gain control of so that they
> can make all the Unitarians bomb abortion clinics and murder doctors.

This sums it up right here and you just said it, on how they hijack Christianity like controlling other more moderate Christians? Yes this is the way they operate and steal True Christianity, the True Christianity does not pummel and beat up other people with their bibles and get into their face because of how that person has chosen to live his or her life, we all should be Passing on the Love of God and Jesus and accept that person has they are and nothing more said, and believe me this world of ours would be a much better place to live if their were more people like Sweetly99 and Romkey?

Yeah, I'm familiar with Christianity. Most of my family are Christians. I'm also familiar with the peculiar American take on Christianity. In spite of your lengthy reply, I'm still not sure how one goes about "stealing Christianity" or any other religious philosophy for that matter.

Is it possible that "co-opting" is a better word than "steal"? How about "appropriate", "commandeer", "usurp"...?

> ...Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson
> along with James Dobson of Focus on his Family...

Come on! No one really takes those loons seriously do they? They're like cartoon characters!

> Yeah, I'm familiar with Christianity. Most of my family are Christians.
> I'm also familiar with the peculiar American take on Christianity.
> In spite of your lengthy reply, I'm still not sure how one goes about
> "stealing Christianity" or any other religious philosophy for that
> matter.
>
> Is it possible that "co-opting" is a better word than "steal"? How
> about "appropriate", "commandeer", "usurp"...?

You say co-opting never heard this one before, and when we talk about stealing hijacking Christianity think of it this way: A Semi Truck is coming along and you stop this Truck and order the driver to get out and you have a loaded gun pointed at him and he does what you tell him to do and you hijack his Truck trailer and everything? And stealing Christianity works the very same way by stuffing and filling our churches with hatred and putting in the bad, and taking out which is good and filling up other Christians with evil thoughts for your own gain and power, and taking control of another Christians life and telling them how they should live their lives

> |> ...Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson
> |> along with James Dobson of Focus on his Family...
>
> Come on! No one really takes those loons seriously do they? They're
> like cartoon characters!
>
>

Oh yes they do take them to be serious" And most people that I know fall for this crap and get sucked right in like a vacuum cleaner and you will be brain washed into believing what they tell you? I know perhaps hundreds of people who bow down to Jerry Falwell and give him a blow job if they can and Pat Robertson as well, and do you remember Jim and Tammy Baker who decieved so many people and stole their money and they ended up in Prison and are now out of Prison, look at all the people masses of people who sent them money because they fell for their lies and cute little tricks and get sucked up into this religious cult

Look at this way, if you are weak and real vulnerable to scams and tricks you will believe everything that somebody might tell you, if so and so tells you to jump off the Empire State Building in New York and you will be saved, will you really believe what they are telling you and what your ears hear, and would you obey them and take a flying leap off the Empire State Building to see if you will truly be saved?

> |> ...Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson
> |> along with James Dobson of Focus on
> his Family...
>
> Come on! No one really takes those loons
> seriously do they? They're like cartoon characters!

I know... I agree... but an unfortunate number of people do take them seriously... those people are like cartoon characters, too.

I remember back in the 1970s, my friends and I used to like watching Ernest Angley. We thought it was hilarious. A few years later when Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart were exposed as scumbags, it was almost a disappointment. We had always suspected that to be the case, but it just took the fun out of it knowing for sure...

Yeah, no crap!

> I remember back in the 1970s, my friends and I used to like watching
> Ernest Angley. We thought it was hilarious. A few years later when
> Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart were exposed as scumbags, it was almost
> a disappointment. We had always suspected that to be the case, but
> it just took the fun out of it knowing for sure...
>
>

I do not remember hearing about Ernest Angley and Jimmy Swaggert he is no doubt a character and they all put on quite a show and have a huge audience that really believes every word they are saying, and it does spoil the party if they are exposed as scumbags and the real truth about these Evangelists come out to the Open Public and what we did not know about them the whole entire truth? And people that I know hate me for exposing these crooks and they are ready to stand up for them and put on a show stopper, am I no better then they are? and look at my own sins and they are a Christian doing the work of the Lord decieving others , and would the Lord God decieve you and me and we know the answer is NO? Jesus would never ever hurt somebody or steal from them or even lie to me and you, for God so loved the world Jesus took our place on the cross. Plus God has never turned away somebody from Heaven because of all the junk in their life and of course in our own hearts we do repent in private and before God without any help for me or anybody else and it should be between the Creator and me Jessica Sweetly99 to repent in private and give it all to God, and nobody's business at all not other Christians are responsible for my actions and what I do in my own life and place. I am responsible for only me and same with you Zang and do not belive everything other Christians may tell you? they seem to think they know it all which is not true

> |> |> ...Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson
> |> |> along with James Dobson of Focus on
> |> his Family...
> |>
> |> Come on! No one really takes those loons
> |> seriously do they? They're like cartoon characters!
>
> I know... I agree... but an unfortunate number of people do take them
> seriously... those people are like cartoon characters, too.

They do make pretty good cartoon characters dancing around and preaching' like hey' they have ants in the britches get those ants out of the pants, and it is a show stopper Hollywood should hire them as Actors in a motion picture? I could see it right now fundies in Hollywood and their new Movie save America??

...okay?...

I think people bundle a lot of diverse factions into the term "Christianity". I think they do the same with "Feminism", but that's another rant. Truly, the most vocal and, many believe, offensive factions that declare themselves Christian in the US are firm adherents to the Christian Right Wing (think "Moral Majority"). But I also believe many people (such as me) distance themselves intentionally from that organization because it espouses so many non-Christian viewpoints and opinions.

They just receive more media hype.

yes, yes, yes

I think the Christian Right Wing has highjacked the Republican Party and is in fact influencing public policy. American citizens are going to feel their impact for a long, long time.

I don't know.