Mock on!

Why is it that Christianity is routinely mocked and ridiculed while the West's approach to other faiths is to "respect" them and leave them alone?

Is there something about Christianity that sticks in people's craws the way other faiths don't? Is there something about the person of Jesus Christ that makes unbelievers more uncomfortable than when considering Moses or Mohammed? Is there a reason that it is the name of Jesus that is tossed around as a vile curse, and not Mohammed or Buddha?

Why is it that other faiths and ideologies are seemingly off-limits to criticism, but the same courtesy is not afforded Christianity?

We draw a circle around Muslim ideology and say, "off-limits to debate and criticism"; we draw a circle around homosexual ideology and say, "off-limits to debate and criticism"; we draw a circle around Christian ideology and say, "fair to mock and ridicule".

Perhaps it's because, of all faiths, Christianity is a proselytizing faith, a witnessing faith. It doesn't just leave other people alone the way Buddhism does, the way Judaism does, the way Hinduism and Sikhism does. Rather, it says "this belief is not just right for us, it is right for all peoples". (Islam attempts the same thing, but it is a dry and lifeless and unappealing witness that only prevails by force -- it lacks the free-will, appealing, convicting power of the Christian message.)

Perhaps it's because, of all faiths, Christianity is true.

Perhaps it alone bears witness to the true God who created us in his image and holds us accountable for our actions and calls us to be saved by the provision he has made.

I suspect that's the message that sticks in the unbeliever's craw and drives him to protest and ridicule.

And that's the way the Saturday morning Ball bounces.