Yesterday Mr. Taranto (who’s agnostic, I believe) had some interesting and infuriating religious links.  First, from the “Better to Keep Your Mouth Shut than to Remove All Doubt” files:

At a time when U.S. embassies are being attacked and when people are getting killed over an offensive, adolescent and puerile film targeting Islam – beyond pathetic in its tawdriness – we must begin to own up to the reality of evangelical Islamaphobia.

Agreed.  Two common fears—death and social disapproval—prevent most Christians from stating the obvious:  Mohammed was a false prophet.  “Phobia” of this truth must be overco–

Many of my own relatives receive and forward pious-sounding and alarm-bell-ringing e-mails that trumpet (IN LOTS OF CAPITAL LETTERS WITH EXCLAMATION POINTS!) the evils of Islam, that call their fellow evangelicals and charismatics to prayer and “spiritual warfare” against those alleged evils…

–wait, what?!  Scare quotes around the phrase spiritual warfare?!  Er…that makes you a “Christian” pastor, Mr. McLaren.  Not a good thing.  Also, “pastor” Brian…if folks criticize a belief system that harbors more homicidal maniacs than all others combined…that’s not phobia.

For example, when I point out the “evils” of Catholicism it’s the opposite of pontiffphobia.  Paul cited the “evils” of early Christian churches!  Which makes him a Christophobic little wussy, I guess.  But please note, “pastor”, how Paul and I are more concerned with correcting error than punishing it.

Even so, when I bad-mouth Catholicism it means risking that Taranto will go berserk and kill me.  And Paul actually suffered occasional bruises and sprains in his work.

Brian McLaren fancies himself a spiritual leader but can’t choose between four different paths.  He loiters at the crossroads, encourages non-Christians to stay on their path, and derides Christians who do the same.  Such is “Christian” “pastoring”!