tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009348.post110977486607702457..comments2023-11-02T07:47:10.433-04:00Comments on Vindicated: ClosureKylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14641068117855718120noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009348.post-1110558694452959472005-03-11T11:31:00.000-05:002005-03-11T11:31:00.000-05:00I don't think that definition of "patriotism" is u...I don't think that definition of "patriotism" is universal. Also, I still find "loving one's homeland" to be a problematically abstract concept. Love usually implies some kind of loyalty, doesn't it? If you sum that up in a "will to fight injustice," that's great, but I still think that's an insufficient definition.<BR/><BR/>Peter made a good point in regard to "honest attempts to be faithful to the witness of scripture." What's most dangerous is the unexamined patriotism - whereby, however you define it, that patriotism is not subject to critique by the Christian tradition.Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14641068117855718120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009348.post-1110406193774865382005-03-09T17:09:00.000-05:002005-03-09T17:09:00.000-05:00I would like to offer a distinction. Love of one'...I would like to offer a distinction. Love of one's homeland, aka patriotism, is not intrinsically at odds with Christianity. Nationalism-the doctrine that your national culture and interests are superior to any other (www.dictionary.com) is a problem, and is not compatable with the universal church. Patriotism leads one to fight injustice to the point of death within one's country, whereas nationalism seeks to impose a series of beliefs on another people, merely because they are one's own. <br /><br />Does this in any way help?Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09447515439101470359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009348.post-1110031684161188812005-03-05T09:08:00.000-05:002005-03-05T09:08:00.000-05:00"I actually suggested concrete ways that one might..."I actually suggested concrete ways that one might “support” U.S. troops as a Christian, without betraying Christ."<br /><br />What one suggests in response will be shaped by one's views of the relationship of church and state and where one come's down regarding pacifism and just war and, if one embraces just war, if one thinks the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been just.<br /><br />I write that horribly long sentence to say that I can imagine a number of different responses one can make and not betray Christ. Not all responses can be equally correct, but they can all be honest attempts to be faithful to the witness of scripture. I am arguing for expressions all along a quite stretched out continuum --from protesting to being in a rifle company.<br /><br />Cheers, PeterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4009348.post-1109804717480417192005-03-02T18:05:00.000-05:002005-03-02T18:05:00.000-05:00You should have allowed comments on your "Baptists...You should have allowed comments on your "Baptists and Brian McLaren" post. 'Nuff said.Not here anymorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04608981139259503155noreply@blogger.com