Thursday, April 07, 2005
Philosophy: The Disengenuous Forgiveness of Brian Nichols
Ann Coulter's recent column on Brian Nichols and Ashley Smith was interesting. It was interesting because it proves one of the most overlooked dangerous aspects of Christianity that exists: disingenuous forgiveness.
To get the ball rolling, I can't help but comment on the tone that Coulter takes about the role of women in society. I personally loathe just about every bit of vomitous tripe that comes casually spilling from the hideous mouths of most self-styled, testicle-chopping "feminists." But listen to what Coulter writes:
"The escape and capture of Brian Nichols shows women playing roles they should not (escorting dangerous criminals) and women playing roles they do best (making men better people)."
One of the things that women do best, according to Coulter, is "making men better people." That's right, women, of all the great things you can do, make sure you remember that up there among the most important is prostrating yourself to the men of the world! When Coulter writes idiotic things like this, she freely hands mortar shells to the feminists she hates so much.
Well, on to Christianity. Most of the country is now aware of what Brian Nichols did, and some are now becoming aware of what Ashley Smith did. If you aren't, then read Coulter's column. Brian Nichols, having killed a few people, having every police officer withing a 200-mile radius on a death-hunt for him, and having his name, image, and exhaustive list of atrocities continuously displayed on every local and national news media knew that his options were running out. He was going to get caught, and the pressure was high.
Ashley Smith, Nichols's prisoner, calculated a way to launch herself into immortal Christian fame. She would minister to the most famous "bad guy" in present Christendom.
So she read from him from the newest protestant tract, The Purpose-Driven Life, and from the Bible. She made him a deal. It was long and drawn out, but here it is in its simple form:
"You will become a star and people will love and forgive you. If, and only if, you convert to Christianity."It's a pretty good deal for Nichols. Sure, he still has to go to prison, and he may still lose his life. But he was going to get that anyway! What she was offering was a boat-load of attention and love from a public that was keenly aware of who he was. And, for Christians, it's very clear why it is in their best interest for Nichols to accept the deal. If he becomes Christian, then Christians receive two valuable things out of the deal.
1. They get to use his conversion as evidence of the "transforming power of Christ." Coulter even goes as far to call it a "miracle," which is, to Christians, "proof" that miracles (and, by extension, their god) exist.
2. They get to show the world how morally superior they are for forgiving a human such as Nichols.
So there is massive self-interest for Christians in the Nichols conversion. Dare I call it "selfishness"?
But what does scripture say about forgiveness? Let's go to the words of Jesus himself to find out:
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Mat 6:14-15Jesus says this immediately after he teaches the Lord's prayer to the disciples, just in case the words of Christ aren't powerful enough in this instance. In any case, there is no room for confusion. Christians are supposed to forgive "men" because if they don't then their sins will not be forgiven. So much for "the blood covers all." Apparently there is an important stipulation: Jesus's blood will wash away all of your sins ... IF AND ONLY IF you forgive men their sins.
Note how we have heard so many people on the radio say rather bluntly that they will NOT forgive Jane Fonda for her communist-pleasing, and-and-comfort-to-the-enemy-giving antics during the Vietnam war. Did the Christians of the world righteously bring up Matthew 6:14-15? No, they were silent at best, in punitive agreement at worst.
So take the Christians' forgiveness of Brian Nichols with a Jupiter-sized grain of salt. They forgive him because they get something out of it -- two important somethings, specifically -- and not because they are being true to their scripture. They are, in fact, following one of the unwritten rules of their religion: the end always justifies the means when it comes to gaining converts to Christianity.
Myself, I do not forgive Brian Nichols. He chose to live like an animal, he deserves to die like one. For that matter, I don't forgive Jane Fonda, either. Let's round it out by my saying that I also don't forgive Ann Coulter for her stupidity and her mendacity.
To get the ball rolling, I can't help but comment on the tone that Coulter takes about the role of women in society. I personally loathe just about every bit of vomitous tripe that comes casually spilling from the hideous mouths of most self-styled, testicle-chopping "feminists." But listen to what Coulter writes:
"The escape and capture of Brian Nichols shows women playing roles they should not (escorting dangerous criminals) and women playing roles they do best (making men better people)."
One of the things that women do best, according to Coulter, is "making men better people." That's right, women, of all the great things you can do, make sure you remember that up there among the most important is prostrating yourself to the men of the world! When Coulter writes idiotic things like this, she freely hands mortar shells to the feminists she hates so much.
Well, on to Christianity. Most of the country is now aware of what Brian Nichols did, and some are now becoming aware of what Ashley Smith did. If you aren't, then read Coulter's column. Brian Nichols, having killed a few people, having every police officer withing a 200-mile radius on a death-hunt for him, and having his name, image, and exhaustive list of atrocities continuously displayed on every local and national news media knew that his options were running out. He was going to get caught, and the pressure was high.
Ashley Smith, Nichols's prisoner, calculated a way to launch herself into immortal Christian fame. She would minister to the most famous "bad guy" in present Christendom.
So she read from him from the newest protestant tract, The Purpose-Driven Life, and from the Bible. She made him a deal. It was long and drawn out, but here it is in its simple form:
"You will become a star and people will love and forgive you. If, and only if, you convert to Christianity."It's a pretty good deal for Nichols. Sure, he still has to go to prison, and he may still lose his life. But he was going to get that anyway! What she was offering was a boat-load of attention and love from a public that was keenly aware of who he was. And, for Christians, it's very clear why it is in their best interest for Nichols to accept the deal. If he becomes Christian, then Christians receive two valuable things out of the deal.
1. They get to use his conversion as evidence of the "transforming power of Christ." Coulter even goes as far to call it a "miracle," which is, to Christians, "proof" that miracles (and, by extension, their god) exist.
2. They get to show the world how morally superior they are for forgiving a human such as Nichols.
So there is massive self-interest for Christians in the Nichols conversion. Dare I call it "selfishness"?
But what does scripture say about forgiveness? Let's go to the words of Jesus himself to find out:
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Mat 6:14-15Jesus says this immediately after he teaches the Lord's prayer to the disciples, just in case the words of Christ aren't powerful enough in this instance. In any case, there is no room for confusion. Christians are supposed to forgive "men" because if they don't then their sins will not be forgiven. So much for "the blood covers all." Apparently there is an important stipulation: Jesus's blood will wash away all of your sins ... IF AND ONLY IF you forgive men their sins.
Note how we have heard so many people on the radio say rather bluntly that they will NOT forgive Jane Fonda for her communist-pleasing, and-and-comfort-to-the-enemy-giving antics during the Vietnam war. Did the Christians of the world righteously bring up Matthew 6:14-15? No, they were silent at best, in punitive agreement at worst.
So take the Christians' forgiveness of Brian Nichols with a Jupiter-sized grain of salt. They forgive him because they get something out of it -- two important somethings, specifically -- and not because they are being true to their scripture. They are, in fact, following one of the unwritten rules of their religion: the end always justifies the means when it comes to gaining converts to Christianity.
Myself, I do not forgive Brian Nichols. He chose to live like an animal, he deserves to die like one. For that matter, I don't forgive Jane Fonda, either. Let's round it out by my saying that I also don't forgive Ann Coulter for her stupidity and her mendacity.
