r/RadicalChristianity • u/oneryarlys68 • 4d ago
Study
When they attack you because of you not being a Catholic or Orthodox or because you do not have a degree . Remember the Pharisees thought Peter and John were uneducated. While we are not Peter or John it does not mean we dont know what we are talking about.
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u/Xalem 3d ago
If you are being attacked by your fellow Christians, don't assume you are right and they are wrong. Recognize that in the diversity of Christian experiences, their values, their knowledge , their teachings are somehow missing in your assessment of the world.
Best bat is to admit that you are a Protestant lay person (or whatever) and ask them to give a short synopsis of what you are missing. If you are lucky they may reply with a phrase or a term that you can look up and get great insight into another way of being a Christian. You may even reshape your thought process to incorporate these new values and knowledge. If nothing else, perhaps you learn a way you can clarify your language so that Catholics or Orthodox understand your perspective better.
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u/blindyes 3d ago
"Recognize that in the diversity of Christian experiences, their values, their knowledge , their teachings are somehow missing in your assessment of the world."
"admit that you are a Protestant lay person (or whatever)"
These statements conflict with Christian virtues of humility, charity, and unity by relying on condescension, gatekeeping, and presumptive judgment. Assuming someone lacks an understanding of Christian diversity violates biblical warnings against making swift, critical assumptions about another's heart.
Demanding someone "admit" to being a "lay person (or whatever)" uses identity labels to diminish their perspective, directly violating warnings against factionalism and status-seeking.
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u/Xalem 1d ago
"Recognize that in the diversity of Christian experiences, their values, their knowledge , their teachings are somehow missing in your assessment of the world."
"admit that you are a Protestant lay person (or whatever)"
These statements conflict with Christian virtues of humility, charity, and unity by relying on condescension, gatekeeping, and presumptive judgment. Assuming someone lacks an understanding of Christian diversity violates biblical warnings against making swift, critical assumptions about another's heart.
You seem to have gotten this backwards. This isn't advice I give to someone who is wrong, this is the advice I give myself. So, I strive to recognize that if someone is calling me out, saying, "You don't understand, because you aren't one of us", they may have a point, and since I am not Orthodox, or Catholic, or a woman, or Hispanic, or . . . or . . . or. I might need to hear their perspective.
Demanding someone "admit" to being a "lay person (or whatever)" uses identity labels to diminish their perspective, directly violating warnings against factionalism and status-seeking.
I suggested you admit that you are an outsider to them (like not an Orthodox or whatever) and that means you are allowing them to make their case. Since (I presume) everyone is a Christian in the discussion, then you share a lot of values and beliefs. I would encourage you always to find that commonality touchstone. That becomes easier to do once you have said, "I value your perspective on this issue, what am I missing?" The interlocutor might have deep insight into why your argument fails, or she might have an objection based on some idea only held by, say, Catholics, or whatever. However that question is answered, you have opened a path towards the two of you getting past condescension, gatekeeping and presumptive judgement.
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u/blindyes 19h ago
I refuse to make concessions to groups that gatekeep truth or divide people into outsiders, nor will I assume their authority gives them a monopoly on being right. Using identities like 'women' or 'Hispanic' as convenient examples masks the real issue: a system where powerful, privileged men continuously tell everyone else that 'they know better.' Suggesting we simply hear them out or perform humility by acting as if they are somehow closer to the truth ignores this obvious power imbalance and treats systemic condescension as valid authority.
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u/Xalem 10h ago
Who said anything about concessions? Who said anything about groups that gatekeep? Who said monopoly on being right? I was speaking about how you engage with individuals who have their own perspective, likely built on years of experience being a Catholic, or an Orthodox, or some other denomination. Catholics, for example, are quite a diverse group, and individuals have all sorts of views on the Pope and hierarchy. The point is to start the conversation, and that means you have to listen to others.
Now, I could be wrong on this, and wrong on my interpretation of what you were saying. But, you tell me.
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u/p_veronica 3d ago
Amen. It's a sad fact that people can spend years in a seminary and still not know what the Gospel is.
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u/SunbeamSailor67 3d ago
Jesus wasn't Catholic, or Orthodox, nor did he have a degree, in fact Jesus abhorred the hypocrisy of religion.
The kingdom of God is within You...not in any religion.