NYT Kristof - Who really gives a sh!t about the Third World?

[scandal 951]

Good read!

Op-Ed Columnist

Learning From the Sin of Sodom

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Published: February 27, 2010

For most of the last century, save-the-worlders were primarily Democrats and liberals. In contrast, many Republicans and religious conservatives denounced government aid programs, with Senator Jesse Helms calling them “money down a rat hole.”

Over the last decade, however, that divide has dissolved, in ways that many Americans haven’t noticed or appreciated. Evangelicals have become the new internationalists, pushing successfully for new American programs against AIDS and malaria, and doing superb work on issues from human trafficking in India to mass rape in Congo.

A pop quiz: What’s the largest U.S.-based international relief and development organization?

It’s not Save the Children, and it’s not CARE — both terrific secular organizations. Rather, it’s World Vision, a Seattle-based Christian organization (with strong evangelical roots) whose budget has roughly tripled over the last decade.

World Vision now has 40,000 staff members in nearly 100 countries. That’s more staff members than CARE, Save the Children and the worldwide operations of the United States Agency for International Development — combined.

A growing number of conservative Christians are explicitly and self-critically acknowledging that to be “pro-life” must mean more than opposing abortion. The head of World Vision in the United States, Richard Stearns, begins his fascinating book, “The Hole in Our Gospel,” with an account of a visit a decade ago to Uganda, where he met a 13-year-old AIDS orphan who was raising his younger brothers by himself.

“What sickened me most was this question: where was the Church?” he writes. “Where were the followers of Jesus Christ in the midst of perhaps the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time? Surely the Church should have been caring for these ‘orphans and widows in their distress.’ (James 1:27). Shouldn’t the pulpits across America have flamed with exhortations to rush to the front lines of compassion?

“How have we missed it so tragically, when even rock stars and Hollywood actors seem to understand?”

Mr. Stearns argues that evangelicals were often so focused on sexual morality and a personal relationship with God that they ignored the needy. He writes laceratingly about “a Church that had the wealth to build great sanctuaries but lacked the will to build schools, hospitals, and clinics.”

In one striking passage, Mr. Stearns quotes the prophet Ezekiel as saying that the great sin of the people of Sodom wasn’t so much that they were promiscuous or gay as that they were “arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16:49.)

Hmm. Imagine if sodomy laws could be used to punish the stingy, unconcerned rich!

The American view of evangelicals is still shaped by preening television blowhards and hypocrites who seem obsessed with gays and fetuses. One study cited in the book found that even among churchgoers ages 16 to 29, the descriptions most associated with Christianity were “antihomosexual,” “judgmental,” “too involved in politics,” and “hypocritical.”

Some conservative Christians reinforced the worst view of themselves by inspiring Ugandan homophobes who backed a bill that would punish gays with life imprisonment or execution. Ditto for the Vatican, whose hostility to condoms contributes to the AIDS epidemic. But there’s more to the picture: I’ve also seen many Catholic nuns and priests heroically caring for AIDS patients — even quietly handing out condoms.

One of the most inspiring figures I’ve met while covering Congo’s brutal civil war is a determined Polish nun in the terrifying hinterland, feeding orphans, standing up to drunken soldiers and comforting survivors — all in a war zone. I came back and decided: I want to grow up and become a Polish nun.

Some Americans assume that religious groups offer aid to entice converts. That’s incorrect. Today, groups like World Vision ban the use of aid to lure anyone into a religious conversation.

Some liberals are pushing to end the longtime practice (it’s a myth that this started with President George W. Bush) of channeling American aid through faith-based organizations. That change would be a catastrophe. In Haiti, more than half of food distributions go through religious groups like World Vision that have indispensable networks on the ground. We mustn’t make Haitians the casualties in our cultural wars.

A root problem is a liberal snobbishness toward faith-based organizations. Those doing the sneering typically give away far less money than evangelicals. They’re also less likely to spend vacations volunteering at, say, a school or a clinic in Rwanda.

If secular liberals can give up some of their snootiness, and if evangelicals can retire some of their sanctimony, then we all might succeed together in making greater progress against common enemies of humanity, like illiteracy, human trafficking and maternal mortality.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

A growing number of conservative Christians are explicitly and self-critically acknowledging that to be “pro-life” must mean more than opposing abortion.

At long last. There's hope after all, is there?

[scandal 951]

Apparently no VJers give ashit about the Third World. I knew AJ didn't, now I know the rest of us don't either.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Was there a mind reading I missed?

[jundp 191]

Rather, it’s World Vision, a Seattle-based Christian organization (with strong evangelical roots) whose budget has roughly tripled over the last decade.

A growing number of conservative Christians are explicitly and self-critically acknowledging that to be “pro-life” must mean more than opposing abortion.

I love World Vision and if I ever leave teaching, this is where I'd want to work.

I have also always found it interesting that the Catholic church is constantly criticized by other Christians, yet there are so many amazing social justice and/or social outreach programs which stem directly from the Catholic church. I realize World Vision is non-denominational, but one of the reasons I like it so much is because of it's non-judgmental approach to community and world service.

[scandal 951]

I love World Vision and if I ever leave teaching, this is where I'd want to work.

I have also always found it interesting that the Catholic church is constantly criticized by other Christians, yet there are so many amazing social justice and/or social outreach programs which stem directly from the Catholic church. I realize World Vision is non-denominational, but one of the reasons I like it so much is because of it's non-judgmental approach to community and world service.

This was an eye opener for me. I tend to associate the historical Catholic Church with its bigotry of past centuries (forced conversions, persecution of Jews and minorities, etc.). And the modern Church makes its way into the popular press mostly for views regarding abortion, contraception, female priests, homosexuality, priest sex scandals, and interference in politics by insisting that faithful parishioners should not vote for candidates who don't support the Church's stance on such issues. Hence I can't say that I have a very favorable view of the Church on the whole.

It's nice to see positive things being said and done by the Catholic church as well as by evangelical Protestant churches.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

For most of the last century, save-the-worlders were primarily Democrats and liberals. In contrast, many Republicans and religious conservatives denounced government aid programs, with Senator Jesse Helms calling them “money down a rat hole.”

Somebody is rewriting history again.

[scandal 951]

Somebody is rewriting history again.

Hmm.. why, was Helms misquoted? Nope, apparently not!

http://www.history.com/topics/jesse-helms

Helms served as the Senate Agriculture Committee chair (1981–87) and as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (1995–2000). In the latter position, he supported military governments in Latin America, actively opposed arms control, and fought against nearly all foreign aid programs, claiming that such efforts were analogous to “pouring money down foreign rat holes.” Portrayed by his critics as a demagogue, an extremist, and a bigot—he famously opposed the creation of a national holiday in honour of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bill, you owe Mr. Kristof an apology.

[Danno 1,228]

This was an eye opener for me. I tend to associate the historical Catholic Church with its bigotry of past centuries (forced conversions, persecution of Jews and minorities, etc.). And the modern Church makes its way into the popular press mostly for views regarding abortion, contraception, female priests, homosexuality, priest sex scandals, and interference in politics by insisting that faithful parishioners should not vote for candidates who don't support the Church's stance on such issues. Hence I can't say that I have a very favorable view of the Church on the whole.

It's nice to see positive things being said and done by the Catholic church as well as by evangelical Protestant churches.

Generally people hear what they want to hear, and writers write most often what people will "want" to read.

Who wants to read or write about Christians ... especially judgmental ones who are actually doing deeds to heal and help people?(while the reader is not)

And so the deceptive myth that Christians are only concerned with building Crystal Cathedrals persists.

DId you know there are so many Christians interested in serving in the third world countries, that middlemen type services will set you up to go to various places to spend your summer or vacation.

IN times past the poor were all around us and the Church had a unchallenged roll in serving them but now in 2010, it is getting harder and harder to even find a genuine poor person in this country.

Social services has covered so many bases the best you can hope for is to find someone who has fallen through the cracks or, is just above those services or has some addiction.

Trust me, I know what I am talking about on several fronts.

When one goes to the third world countries one finds real poverty. PLaces where a school would never be built is not for the volunteers and the money they bring (mostly the money, they can hire cheap labor).

PLaces where naked children sift through trash looking for something to eat And shelter is plastic sheet walls about the size of my bathroom with old signs or scraps of something to form a roof.

When you live in those areas for a short time, you tend to funnel your money out of country to get the most bang for your buck. I know a guy who goes to Cuba once a year he collects all kinds of stuff to bring and pays the extra baggage he comes back with nothing but a toilet bag, he even leaves a suite of clothes each time. Cuba is not that poor but he loves the people and he is committed to them.

My Wife and I are trying to formulate a plan whereby we can do these things on a long term basis in about 6 or 10 years.

[Niels Bohr 72]

So, i'm a secular liberal eh...I do have to agree with his last paragraph.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hmm.. why, was Helms misquoted? Nope, apparently not!

http://www.history.com/topics/jesse-helms

Bill, you owe Mr. Kristof an apology.

Not at all! Jesse spent his Senate career as a staff member in 1950, working for his two predecessors, both Democrats.

[Ali G. 37]

Generally people hear what they want to hear, and writers write most often what people will "want" to read.

Who wants to read or write about Christians ... especially judgmental ones who are actually doing deeds to heal and help people?(while the reader is not)

And so the deceptive myth that Christians are only concerned with building Crystal Cathedrals persists.

DId you know there are so many Christians interested in serving in the third world countries, that middlemen type services will set you up to go to various places to spend your summer or vacation.

IN times past the poor were all around us and the Church had a unchallenged roll in serving them but now in 2010, it is getting harder and harder to even find a genuine poor person in this country.

When one goes to the third world countries one finds real poverty. PLaces where a school would never be built is not for the volunteers and the money they bring (mostly the money, they can hire cheap labor).

PLaces where naked children sift through trash looking for something to eat And shelter is plastic sheet walls about the size of my bathroom with old signs or scraps of something to form a roof.

When you live in those areas for a short time, you tend to funnel your money out of country to get the most bang for your buck. I know a guy who goes to Cuba once a year he collects all kinds of stuff to bring and pays the extra baggage he comes back with nothing but a toilet bag, he even leaves a suite of clothes each time. Cuba is not that poor but he loves the people and he is committed to them.

My Wife and I are trying to formulate a plan whereby we can do these things on a long term basis in about 6 or 10 years.

Danno every now and then you hit the nail with a post, this is certainly one of them. The billions donated by Christians often goes unnoticed. And I am not talking about money alone but the countless hours upon hours of their time they donate, by means of volunteering, with many doing so in third world countries; which goes unnoticed.

Your comment in the red is also why I have a bone to pick with those in the ghetto here, who claim they are screwed over by society. Rubbish. They have 100 fold the opportunities that people living in conditions you describe have. It's also why I am against illegal immigration as Mexicans get to hog the immigration process, while those from other countries miss out.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Booyah

[Niels Bohr 72]

My organization isn't Church related. Doesn't need Church to help out.

[alienlovechild 75]

The American view of evangelicals is still shaped by preening television blowhards and hypocrites who seem obsessed with gays and fetuses. One study cited in the book found that even among churchgoers ages 16 to 29, the descriptions most associated with Christianity were “antihomosexual,” “judgmental,” “too involved in politics,” and “hypocritical.”

Some liberals are pushing to end the longtime practice (it’s a myth that this started with President George W. Bush) of channeling American aid through faith-based organizations. That change would be a catastrophe. In Haiti, more than half of food distributions go through religious groups like World Vision that have indispensable networks on the ground. We mustn’t make Haitians the casualties in our cultural wars.

A root problem is a liberal snobbishness toward faith-based organizations. Those doing the sneering typically give away far less money than evangelicals. They’re also less likely to spend vacations volunteering at, say, a school or a clinic in Rwanda.

There's so much disinformation about what Christians support that it's sad this article is an eye-opener to many.

Most of Americans in Haiti before the earthquake looked like they were working there in some faith-based organizations.

[Danno 1,228]

My organization isn't Church related. Doesn't need Church to help out.

Care to give em a plug, organizations doing good work should be noticed and supported.