David Richards, a Tennessee pastor, was convicted of multiple felonies after repeatedly raping his 14 year old daughter. The young girl described the rapes in detail, adding that she hates and wants to destroy her own body and will remember what her father did every day of her life. She added she has no doubt he would rape another girl, given the chance. Because of the nature of the crimes, the prosecution recommended the maximum sentence of 72 years. The judge imposed a much lighter sentence of 12 years on the grounds that the rapist was a "good Christian". Lest anyone think this was because he was repentant - no, the rapist said he had no idea why he was going to prison as he had done nothing wrong. He blamed his daughter for the rapes. About 30 parishioners came to court to support the rapist. The town is pretty solidly united in favor of the rapist and against the victim (want to ask again why victims don't report?) So my questions: How can a man who rapes his daughter and blames her be called a "good Christian"? I am Jewish, but I know Christians believe all (nearly all) sins can be forgiven through faith and repentance. In this case there is no repentance. Is there any conduct that disqualifies a person from being a "good Christian"? Is it Constitutional for a judge to impose a lighter sentence on a defendant because he/she is Christian? Would a Jew, Muslim, atheist, Buddhist et al who raped his daughter get the full 72 years?
There is nothing constitutional, moral or even remotely acceptable about it. The pastor was evidently a card carrying member of the local good ol’ boy club and was treated as such. The judge and prosecuting attorney are scum for making excuses on behalf of a monster, and should be sitting next to him in prison. Ones credibility as a spiritual person is negated when they throw morals out the window. Too many religious people think making appearances at church is some kind of get out of hell free card, and proceed to be fucking dicks all the time.
That is heinous. He blamed his daughter? What a sick son of a bitch. That judge should be removed from the bench. Nothing like some corrupt southern good ol' boys
My answers: 1. Your first question delves into theology that goes beyond any few paragraphs I could write here, but here's my understanding of the main points: First, there is no such thing as a "good Christian". Jesus said "No one is good--except God alone." That's the basic precept of Christianity; that all are sinners and that only through God's grace can salvation be granted. That said, Jesus also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The Bible says that sins will be forgiven if you accept Christ as your savior and acknowledge that his death on the cross covers your sins. That said, it's understood that there is to be a turning from sin that occurs with the acceptance of the gift of salvation. Not that we become perfect, but that we try to live our lives in a way that honors him and that we ask forgiveness and try again when we fall short. You can't expect salvation if you go on living your life in an ungodly way. As it says in Hebrews, "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." 2. No. It's not constitutional to consider religion in determining guilt or the appropriate sentence.
Really....? Like... Really? It's funny to me how people like to parse things... It's pretty simple to say she wasn't thinking about whether or not we can parse the saying "Good Christian". After all wasn't Job a "Good Christian"?: She was saying how can he be CALLED a "Good Christian"? You know by other "Good Christians" where the meaning of Good Christian is the description of Job. You know, the devout, righteous man about whom God made a bet with the devil and basically killed all of his kids and ruined his life in the process?
Again its rhetorical. Christian implies good. Some would call thus sick bastard a "bad christian". He isn't christian at all.
This kind of government favoritism towards any religion is unconstitutional! As for the other question...as an atheist I would say there are good people who happen to be christian, but no such thing as a "good xtian."
The Book of Job was written 600 years before the birth of Christ and was an ancient story already when it was written down. So, no, Job technically wasn't a Christian. Really.
He was a follower of the God of Abraham. His decedents are Christian but there you go again parsing things. Maybe you can try to answer the damn question.
Not to derail the conversation, but in many cases calling somebody "a good ____" is damining with faint praise. EG - it's like saying "that guy's OK - for a (insert racial slur of choice)"