Jump directly to the content
Jump directly to the content
Christians Don't Have 'the Right to Be Stupid'
Ralph Aswang / Center for American Progress / Flickr

Christians Don't Have 'the Right to Be Stupid'


Mar 5 2013
Hey, John Kerry: Religious freedom is no joking matter.

I hope Kerry will learn this as he continues his Middle East tour, which began this week in Egypt, an area rife with protest, political struggle, and human rights investigations. Egypt is a place where protests continue to rock the country, often leaving violence, death, and rape in their wake. I hope he understands that lack of stability here involves the economy, a deeply polarized society, and troubling issues over religious discrimination, extremism, organized rapes, and excessive police brutality. He will face similar issues across the Middle East, particularly in Syria.

Christians who continue to face persecution around the world often look to American Christians to continue to uphold religious freedom and set a standard. Coptic Christians in Egypt have told me that one of their greatest fears is that someday America will no longer be a place where Christians can express and live out their faith as freely as we can now. If that ever happens, they expect persecution to worsen worldwide.

We have to uphold these rights not only for ourselves, but also as a symbol and sign of justice to Christians around the world. Our freedoms are their hope.

Tonyia Martin is a Christian writer currently living in Cairo, Egypt. She is a columnist at http://www.gracecentered.com.

Comments

Displaying 1–10 of 32 comments

audrey ruth

March 13, 2013  9:55pm

Jim, my question about Kerry's statement here --"People have sometimes wondered about why our Supreme Court allows one group or another to march in a parade even though it's the most provocative thing in the world" -- is not a red herring at all; it directly relates to his own comment. How much would you bet that he would never make that statement in reference to a "gay" pride parade? You know the answer to that question, and that answer makes my point. He's not about to touch a political hot potato like that with a 10-foot pole. Dems proved their viewpoint when they booed God at the DNC. You think they would boo 'gays', even if/when they march provocatively in a parade? Yep, you know the answer to that.

Report Abuse

Jim Ricker

March 12, 2013  4:03pm

Audrey Ruth, A irrelevant question (called a red herring) that doesn't address whether or not Americans have the right to be stupid. I also answered your question previously but figured maybe you missed it. What Kerry meant by that is irrelevant. You DO have the right to carry signs, picket and have sit-ins (and a host of other free speech activities) for good or idiotic reasons. Americans take advantage of that right to be stupid quite a bit whether ir is picketing, marching or writing ignorant and foolish letters to the editor or making ignorant comments on the web. IN the context of his whole statement 9video provided below), Kerry was 100% right.

Report Abuse

audrey ruth

March 11, 2013  10:08pm

Jim, about Kerry's statement here: "People have sometimes wondered about why our Supreme Court allows one group or another to march in a parade even though it's the most provocative thing in the world" -- How much would you bet that he would never make this statement in reference to a "gay" pride parade?

Report Abuse

audrey ruth

March 11, 2013  10:06pm

John, it is one thing to acknowledge that about ourselves (and I agree). It is a whole 'nother thing to accuse others of that. But really, Kerry only made clear what Dems in general have made clear for several years now. Good grief, they even booed God Himself at the DNC last year.

Report Abuse

Jim Ricker

March 11, 2013  5:33pm

Sorry but Kerry spoke far less controversially than most people here. Stupid is a good word for what he meant and it matters not what he was thinking when he mentioned posters and such - it is a blanket policy. Personally, I think of those evil, non-Xians at Westboro Baptist along with the "Death to Cheney" folks. Come up with your own group. Plain and simple, we all have the right to be stupid in America and there is no sin in stating the obvious truth while not singling out particular people or groups.

Report Abuse

John Keirsey

March 11, 2013  4:56pm

In comparison to God we are all very, very, very, very, very STUPID. I bet we could multiply the "very" by 10 to the Nth degree, and spell the word Stupid with gigantic letters. Of course this includes the whole world, including me. Jeremiah 9: "23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord." NKJV

Report Abuse

audrey ruth

March 10, 2013  10:33pm

(Reuters) - Secretary of State John Kerry offered a defense of freedom of speech, religion and thought in the United States on Tuesday telling German students that in America "you have a right to be stupid if you want to be. As a country, as a society, we live and breathe the idea of religious freedom and religious tolerance, whatever the religion, and political freedom and political tolerance, whatever the point of view," Kerry told the students in Berlin, the second stop on his inaugural trip as secretary of state. People have sometimes wondered about why our Supreme Court allows one group or another to march in a parade even though it's the most provocative thing in the world and they carry signs that are an insult to one group or another," he added. // If he had used a far less negative / inflammatory word than "stupid", I wouldn't have a problem with what he said. Q: Who do you think he meant when talking about parades and signs?

Report Abuse

Jim Ricker

March 10, 2013  3:38pm

There is NOTHING political about this statement and Kerry was 100% correct. Here is the video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5twSqDZRdiA

Report Abuse

audrey ruth

March 09, 2013  9:12pm

To be fair, a reporter employed by Time or Newsweek magazine, who traveled with the Kerry presidential campaign in 2004, made very similar comments about John Kerry after he lost the election to Bush. I don't know if Pop Seal saw those articles, or not, but his comments echo the ones I read there. In fact, theirs were actually even more acerbic. Dems were very harsh on him after he lost that election. I've wondered in recent weeks if they decided to make it up to him by having him appointed Secretary of State (and if he may run for prez again in 2012 due to Hillary's health problems).

Report Abuse

Jim Ricker

March 09, 2013  9:03pm

How is this a partisan political issue? Americans have the right to be stupid and Kerry is correct. Christians have the (American) right to be stupid. No matter how much I disagee with Kerry on almost everything politically, he is correct here. Truth is truth no matter who states it.

Report Abuse

 *

1000 character limit

* Comments may be edited for tone and clarity.

See All 32 Comments

To add a comment you need to be a registered user or Christianity Today subscriber.

LoginorSubscribeorRegister
More from Her.menutics
Superman Isn't Jesus

Superman Isn't Jesus

Hollywood's overblown superhero-savior parallels.
The Feel-Good Faith of Evangelicals

The Feel-Good Faith of Evangelicals

Are we really as “biblical” as we think we are?
Don't Let Women's Ministry Turn People Into Projects

Don't Let Women's Ministry Turn People Into Projects

The quest for mentorship to benefit us both.
Bless These Hands That Instagram My Food

Bless These Hands That Instagram My Food

Michael Pollan and today's foodie culture make home cooking hip.
Get Instant Access
Christianity Today Magazine
Subscribe now for a year (10 issues) at $24.95 for print, iPad, and instant web access.

International Orders

Include results from Christianity Today
Browse Archives:

So Hot Right Now

Immodesty All Over the Map

Putting breasts in cultural context.

Follow Us

What We're Reading

CT eBooks and Bible Studies