Alex Newman writes from Sweden: ” But the picture that emerges is far more complex than the simple-minded caricature of a “conservative Christian” being painted by much of the media. In fact, Breivik essentially admitted in his writing (not to mention his deeds) that he was not actually a Christian at all in the true sense. “(ed my emphasis)
Anders Behring Breivik. “If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God then you are a religious Christian, Myself and many more like me do not necessarily have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God. We do however believe in Christianity as a cultural, social, identity and moral platform.” “Christianity is the ONLY cultural platform that can unite all Europeans, which will be needed in the coming period during the third expulsion of the Muslims. This makes us Christian.”
This is typical of Christianity. Whether they belong to a religion or a culture, Christians have an amazing ability to deny guilt and, as it were, exempt themselves from guilt for actions done in their name.
St Augustine and Apostle Paul may have been terrible misogynists but they were not “true Christians.” The slave masters of the South and the murderous crusaders of Europe .. they too were not “true Chrsitians.”
I have many dear friends … Europeans and Americans … who claim no responsibility for Sarah Palin, Jim Crow, or WWII … because, my friends insist, that they, themselves, are “not Christians.”
I am proud of my German friends who accept the guilt for the Shoah as part of their pride in being German. They consider this the German thing to do.
As an American, I take a very similar stand .. I am responsible for slavery and Bush’s wars.
As an American Jew, I too have a Christian heritage. I think all American should do the Christian thing and accept our guilt for what we, as a Christian society, have done. Breivik IS “our” problem too.