Religious nutters

It seems that when the ABC high priests are not standing infront of some truly inspirational paradigms , the sheep are seen to be .
It's true that one of the most cutting arguments against following a good cause .....of any kind, is the bleeting noises made by the unthinking people who tag along. ( Motherhood blah blah, for example ,particularly on some commercial current affairs shows )
Bleeting noises are enough to make anyone cynical, but so is sledging the sheep - Jesus after all could love them . Why can't we ?
Feine is certainly not alone in finding it difficult to think that something good could be happening inside a church - in his talk with the theology parliament rep to come to Melbourne in November -"Ok, say we take you seriously, BUT " he implies "how do you deal with the crazzies?"
Its a very natural big question. C.S.Lewis addresses it as best as one can in the Screwtape letters. Followers of Christ throughout the centuries have learnt that sometimes it not only the crazzies but " the very visible churches" which stand in the road of following Him. The concept of "the invisible church" is a very strong Christian tradition that attempts to deal with that paradox.
Mind you ,its easy for Feine to focus on those people - you never see "a normal christian" on the TV-- do you? You have to meet one to know they exist ! Sort of like reverse discrimination - until they become Presidents or something.
Unfortunately to be a Christian you have to be a bit "crazY '- its true . "you have to be a bit crazy to be a christian" I thought the spokesman might have said" . Christians too, ask why God doesn't seem to make it easy to believe.He clearly doesn't!
Wherever you, the reader , are on this , unthinkingness , is still something, in my mind , that offends . I would put it next to ungodliness in an adult, but their are still children and sheep around ; we need to educate them , as best we can.
We have believed until recently in education .Sheep are easily led - like in earth care issues there is often more heat than light in the crowd that gathers .

To sledge the sheep is often not to help the sheep . Rememember when YOU were a teenager - more passion than sense .But who wouldn't prefer to preserve their passion when it can clearly lead to the peacable fruit of a great job. Who wouldn't take their passion and help them run with it?
Theology talk, like green talk , paradoxically, is very rich with thinking and carefully applied actions. Its not threatening at all, unless you are afraid of words and ideas. Unless you want to be a sheep of a different kind?
Lets not get distracted then --- the subject of your or my/ insanity is a big one for another day .
Focusing on the followers, rather than the leaders, or the surface matter and not the substance ( theology) is to miss the chance to think.
( theology has implications-- focus on that ) .eg question What is it about christian theology that stops support for acting out terrorism - apart from "annoying type talk terrorism " ( not my wordsmate ) ???? What is about following Jesus that limits the revenge mentality that breeds bullying?

Can any one of us thinking aussies identify with those unthinking worshipful Michael Jackson lovers .....who ignore the real michael jackson?

If we care about reality and acting effectively with real compassion , we will think about what we say and reject a lot of what is said by " the sheep" . Well intentioned , maybe, but not well targeted . No use criticizing your teenage children for their enthusiasm - try to build on it .They are, for all their faults, the new conservationists .
If we are going to go somewhere together ( better earthcare for example) we will ALL be "followers" - we can agree to disagree and to discuss. Thats the democratic vision - unity in diversity- Making the west more effective .
Moving on then - If we are going to tackle other faith fanatics with thinking , we need to do tackle the talk not the perosn - take their theology seriously - If you know the balance between punishments and rewards theory in any theology , you can start even a green enthusiast thinking- and thats healthy for everyone. Share the rewards, .....as well as the fears ?

To focus on the sheep in the crowd is to miss the point. God loves em , so why can't we? Jesus got well beyond the handicaps , capturing the wonder of the reality that " you can even love sheep "
He said it , and He said it so well . Wow .
How can we mere mortals capture such paradigm shifts? Religious nutters- only God Himself could love them!