Bachmann: Jesus is coming soon, so we should convert all of the Jews

[Crumpets]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/259504-bachmann-jesus-is-coming-soon

The latest from former Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Geez.

[/]

She should run for President.

[Consciously Unconscious]

She says that she wants to share the Bible and bring people in... It's not like she's talking about forced conversions.  I know Bachmann has many other problems, but wanting to share your beliefs with other people, especially when they're about something like salvation, is not a bad thing.  The bigger deal is the tendency of evangelicals to say that we're living in end times. 

[Angel of Death]

Remember when she led in the primary polls?

[Landslide Lyndon]

Truth be told, she is looking kinda tame compared to the nuts that serve in congress currently.

[RFayette]

She says that she wants to share the Bible and bring people in... It's not like she's talking about forced conversions.  I know Bachmann has many other problems, but wanting to share your beliefs with other people, especially when they're about something like salvation, is not a bad thing.  The bigger deal is the tendency of evangelicals to say that we're living in end times. 

[DC Al Fine]

She says that she wants to share the Bible and bring people in... It's not like she's talking about forced conversions.  I know Bachmann has many other problems, but wanting to share your beliefs with other people, especially when they're about something like salvation, is not a bad thing.  The bigger deal is the tendency of evangelicals to say that we're living in end times. 

Bleeping dispensationalism. But yes, there's not really anything that controversial here.

[DavidB.]

She has always been a retard, but still I'm disappointed in her saying that Christians should proselytize among Jews. I, for one, totally support Israeli laws preventing that, and I think it shows a profound lack of morality to attempt this. Shameless.

[DC Al Fine]

I am Reformed and our end times theology is quite different, but this sort of thing is extremely common among "broad" Evangelicals. I've encountered it plenty of times up here in Canada, so I assume it's fairly common in the USA. Perhaps this is another example of how we are getting more atomized, but I'm a bit surprised that some folks are surprised that some people think this.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

A certain socialist Jewish carpenter has been in the news a lot recently.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

I can't believe this incompetent woman had a chance at the Presidency last time..

[ag]

She is Christian, that is what Christianity is about. Next: a Jew does not eat pork.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

A certain socialist Jewish carpenter has been in the news a lot recently.

Ivanka Trump? Busy building Daddy's empire.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

She has always been a retard, but still I'm disappointed in her saying that Christians should proselytize among Jews. I, for one, totally support Israeli laws preventing that, and I think it shows a profound lack of morality to attempt this. Shameless.

I think she's an idiot, but is it really immoral to share one's sincere beliefs so long as one does not do so in a coercive manner? Moreover, from the snippet I listened to, it seemed her point was that non-Christian Jews aren't irrevocably damned and thus should be proselytized to in the same manner as any other group. When one gets down to it, Christianity is a form of Judaism, albeit one far more comfortable with conversion and preaching to the world than rabbinic Judaism is.

[afleitch]

She has always been a retard, but still I'm disappointed in her saying that Christians should proselytize among Jews. I, for one, totally support Israeli laws preventing that, and I think it shows a profound lack of morality to attempt this. Shameless.

I think she's an idiot, but is it really immoral to share one's sincere beliefs so long as one does not do so in a coercive manner? Moreover, from the snippet I listened to, it seemed her point was that non-Christian Jews aren't irrevocably damned and thus should be proselytized to in the same manner as any other group. When one gets down to it, Christianity is a form of Judaism, albeit one far more comfortable with conversion and preaching to the world than rabbinic Judaism is.

I refuse to believe that. Name one funny Christian comic...

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

She has always been a retard, but still I'm disappointed in her saying that Christians should proselytize among Jews. I, for one, totally support Israeli laws preventing that, and I think it shows a profound lack of morality to attempt this. Shameless.

I think she's an idiot, but is it really immoral to share one's sincere beliefs so long as one does not do so in a coercive manner? Moreover, from the snippet I listened to, it seemed her point was that non-Christian Jews aren't irrevocably damned and thus should be proselytized to in the same manner as any other group. When one gets down to it, Christianity is a form of Judaism, albeit one far more comfortable with conversion and preaching to the world than rabbinic Judaism is.

I refuse to believe that. Name one funny Christian comic...

Yeshua bin Miriam comes to mind.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Obviously Bachmann is terrible and a lunatic (I knew this well before most people here even knew who she was) and this was really badly worded and sounds as crazy as possible.

But there is absolutely nothing wrong with Jews converting to Christianity, provided the usual disclaimer that it's done out of free will and no threat of force, etc. which in 2015 would almost certainly be the case. To basically being willing to take in everyone except Jews would itself be anti-Semitic. I suppose there could be someone who believes in that because of dual-covenant theology, but I don't think any denomination today adheres to that, at least to the level where they prohibit Jewish conversions. To do so would itself be discriminatory.

[ag]

Obviously Bachmann is terrible and a lunatic (I knew this well before most people here even knew who she was) and this was really badly worded and sounds as crazy as possible.

But there is absolutely nothing wrong with Jews converting to Christianity, provided the usual disclaimer that it's done out of free will and no threat of force, etc. which in 2015 would almost certainly be the case. To basically being willing to take in everyone except Jews would itself be anti-Semitic. I suppose there could be someone who believes in that because of dual-covenant theology, but I don't think any denomination today adheres to that, at least to the level where they prohibit Jewish conversions. To do so would itself be discriminatory.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in it from either the Christian or secular perspective. But, I am afraid, you will find that most Jews are very uncomfortable with it. I myself fully recognize that there is absolutely nothing wrong there, and that conversion is an individual decision - but, still, I need an effort to swallow it each and every time the issue comes up. Nothing "Judeochristian" about it.

[Mr. Reactionary]

I'm disappointed in her saying that Christians should proselytize among Jews. I, for one, totally support Israeli laws preventing that, and I think it shows a profound lack of morality to attempt this.

If she thinks a bad fate awaits non-believers it shows a profound lack of morality to NOT attempt this. Would it somehow reflect better of her to just say "stoopid joos deserve their fate"?

[RFayette]

She has always been a retard, but still I'm disappointed in her saying that Christians should proselytize among Jews. I, for one, totally support Israeli laws preventing that, and I think it shows a profound lack of morality to attempt this. Shameless.

Disagree.  What's immoral is not presenting the Gospel of Christ that redeems and saves.

[Goldwater]

She has always been a retard, but still I'm disappointed in her saying that Christians should proselytize among Jews. I, for one, totally support Israeli laws preventing that, and I think it shows a profound lack of morality to attempt this. Shameless.

Eh, I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one. The way see it, people have a right to try to convert people to their religion, assuming they are doing so peacefully of course.

[Ban my account ffs!]

If Israel banned allowing American Christians to potentially proselytize there, it would probably dampen support among American Christians for Israel enough to severely threaten the U.S./Israeli relationship.

Already people are nervous that the relationship is basically "U.S.A... you give us everything we want... and we give you... verbal abuse in return and laugh behind your back"

[Famous Mortimer]

If Israel does away with freedom of religion, we might as well let Hamas take over.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

If Israel does away with freedom of religion, we might as well let Hamas take over.

😏 Even I, one of the more anti-Zionist posters here, think equating Israel with Hamas is silly.

[DavidB.]

I think she's an idiot, but is it really immoral to share one's sincere beliefs so long as one does not do so in a coercive manner? Moreover, from the snippet I listened to, it seemed her point was that non-Christian Jews aren't irrevocably damned and thus should be proselytized to in the same manner as any other group. When one gets down to it, Christianity is a form of Judaism, albeit one far more comfortable with conversion and preaching to the world than rabbinic Judaism is.

Given the historical reality of coercion, persecution and forced conversions, it is inappropriate for Christians (and for Muslims, btw) to try and convert Jews. This is something Jews all over the world are still very conscious (and wary) of. Also bear in mind that America is unique in the sense that converting is far more common and considered far less of a "big deal" than in most other countries, and to some extent this also applies to converting to Christianity as an assimilated, non-active Jew.

I also don't agree with the idea that Christianity is a form of Judaism.

If she thinks a bad fate awaits non-believers it shows a profound lack of morality to NOT attempt this. Would it somehow reflect better of her to just say "stoopid joos deserve their fate"?

Yes, that would be better, at least they would leave Jews alone. Should I be happy that I am considered "worthy" of being converted? Thanks, but no thanks.

In reality, however, I think it would be the best if Christians would accept these people if they become Christian through free will, but just not engage in actively proselytizing Jews.

Disagree.  What's immoral is not presenting the Gospel of Christ that redeems and saves.

You know, this is what I don't get. I don't believe in Christianity or in Islam but I'm perfectly okay with the fact that people practice and believe in these religions. That should be mutual. Why is it ok to actively try and lead people away from their traditions? It is really the height of disrespect, especially considering the incredibly privileged position Christianity has in the US and in much of Europe (Israel is kind of a different situation of course).

If Israel banned allowing American Christians to potentially proselytize there, it would probably dampen support among American Christians for Israel enough to severely threaten the U.S./Israeli relationship.

Already people are nervous that the relationship is basically "U.S.A... you give us everything we want... and we give you... verbal abuse in return and laugh behind your back"

Israel is not some sort of colony whose resources can be used and whose supposed "savage" people can be converted to Christianity, you know. The current relationship between the US and Israel is extremely unhealthy, for both partners -- but mostly for Israel as it is the weaker partner. I am for a relationship based on equality and principles, and against Israel taking any US aid, so I absolutely agree that the situation should change.

Also, if American Christians genuinely only support Israel if they can proselytize among the Jewish people, which is something I absolutely refuse to believe by the way, then it is better if they stop supporting Israel, for if this is true, their attempts are exactly the same as in the past: they are in a strong position (in the US), Jews are in a weak position (in Israel), and by converting to Christianity Jews would become strong; therefore it would be profitable for Jews to leave their ancestral traditions and their communities. This mechanism, a mechanism of oppression and inequality, would be exactly the same as in Germany, 1850. Proselytizing among Jews means actively engaging in attempts to spiritually destruct the Jewish people, which is the height of immorality.

Eh, I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one. The way see it, people have a right to try to convert people to their religion, assuming they are doing so peacefully of course.

In principle I agree with you, and even if I consider it extremely immoral and disgusting I don't think it should be illegal to proselytize among Jews in the Western world, but Israel is kind of a different case. It is the only Jewish state and at least in Israel, Jews should be safe from attempts to spiritually destruct the Jewish people. But of course our perspectives on this issue are radically different

If Israel does away with freedom of religion, we might as well let Hamas take over.

Yes, because the only thing Hamas would prohibit Jews and Christians from doing is proselytizing