Burnin' in Hell (and other easy topics for dinner conversation this Thanksgiving)

Nicky! I knew you had it in you... I only hammer on you so much because I expect a lot out of you.

Mr. Kristof hits on the Left Behind series in his latest column. The Left Behind series is one of those huge phenomenons on the far right that they all know about like the back of their hand but the rest of us know virtually nothing about... kinda like the code phrase of "Dred Scott" meaning "Roe v. Wade."

Anyway, as Kristof informs us, this series is hugely popular with the evangelicals because, well, they get a "Get out of Hell FREE" card:

The "Left Behind" series, the best-selling novels for adults in the U.S., enthusiastically depict Jesus returning to slaughter everyone who is not a born-again Christian. The world's Hindus, Muslims, Jews and agnostics, along with many Catholics and Unitarians, are heaved into everlasting fire: "Jesus merely raised one hand a few inches and . . . they tumbled in, howling and screeching."

Nicky appropriately points out the inherent zealotry of this view point and how it is rather hypocritical to denounce similar beliefs of Muslim zealots, etc. Of course, the evangelicals howl at such comparisons and delicious irony because... well... they are right and the Muslims are wrong... don't you see!?!

No, I don't.

Look, I am a Christian... I believe that the way to salvation is through my belief in Jesus Christ as savior (although I also share some traditional Catholic beliefs in that good works are important as well). But I don't necessarily think that someone who doesn't hold those beliefs is definitely going to hell... it just isn't my place to say, and quite frankly I don't understand why so many people are so quick to judge.

I do believe that I should profess my beliefs and witness, but that I should mainly do so via my actions and by being open to discussion of the topic. But when you start blatently telling people that they are simply wrong in matters of faith and belief and that they are riding the Hell Express, you simple defeat your purpose. Very few people are going to listen to you, and many more are going to get turned off to the idea of Christianity as a whole.

I know what is right for me, and I think it is possible to share that with people without telling them that they are wrong... it is not a binary situation. Why can't evangelicals accept that? I think ministry would be a lot more effective that way...

P.S. Getting back to part of the original topic, it appears that the publisher of the Left Behind series has picked up a new competitor series which asserts that Revelations was all about Nero and early Christiandom... LaHaye and Jenkins refuse to debate the issue with their new rivals. Interesting.