[Vision2020] boycotting & religion

[Paul Rumelhart]

Keely,

I don't like the idea of boycotting people based on their religious 
choices.  You think that Doug Wilson is arrogant and evasive.  I can see 
that.  They believe that he is helping them to interpret the Bible and 
their religion in a way that they believe is true.  Boycotting people 
who believe this and tithe to the church *is* boycotting for religious 
reasons.  The fact that you find this particular religion more odious 
than most is beside the point.  I could care less about the 10% that 
they give to the church.  Why deny them the 90% you otherwise would have 
given to them? 

You've made a choice to not give money to people who give a small amount 
of it to Doug Wilson, and that's fine.  Why urge others to do so en 
masse?  Let people make their own choices.  My choice, for example, is 
not to care what religion the people I do business with follow, nor what 
the character of the people are that they give some of their money to.

I don't like the divide that is growing ever larger between the people 
of this church and others in the community.  I don't think it's healthy 
for Moscow.  I disagree with both the boycotting of Christ Church-owned 
businesses and the practice that I've heard mentioned of Christ Church 
members being urged to patronize only those same businesses.

I disagree with their theology as much as or possibly even more than you 
do.  When it comes down to it, they are just a bunch of everyday Joes 
trying to make a living.  I propose going out of our way to welcome them 
into the community, while holding an extremely firm line on forbidding 
them to change any of our laws to favor the ideals of their church.  I 
propose this, actually, for people of all religions - not just Christ 
Church members.

Paul

keely emerinemix wrote:
>
> I've been reading some of the Daily News letters to the editor and 
> comments from my letter regarding Francis Foucachon's objection to 
> boycotts "based on religion."  He is horrified by the Christ Church 
> congregant-owned list, and it appears a lot of folks are angry about 
> my publicly stating that I won't patronize businesses owned by Doug 
> Wilson's followers.  They call is "religious bigotry."  It isn't.
>
> I would remind people that I am a Trinitarian, evangelical Christian 
> with a high and conservative view of Scripture, so it certainly, in 
> this case, isn't about Christ Church's religion.  I care absolutely 
> not at all about the religious beliefs, or lack thereof, of those who 
> own businesses in our town.  I care about their behavior, and it is 
> properly called "behavior" to follow and support financially a man who 
> has, in the name of the religion he and I both share, elevated 
> arrogance and evasion, not to mention prejudice, to an art form.  My 
> behavior in response to the behavior of following such a man?  I'll 
> act in a way that ensures that not a dime of my money goes to support him.
>
> It really is that simple. 
>
> keely
>
>
>
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