First Post.
So, on this first post, I just feel like clearing some air... and giving some information out.
I am a Christian and, because of that, a progressive/liberal/whatever you feel like calling it... not despite, because. Many people have trouble wrapping their heads around that notion. I feel like battering that right now, because I read a series of blog posts about Dan Halloran, a Pagan who is running for District 19's city council in Queens, NY right now on, of all things, a Republican ticket, and who is being defended by his fellow GOP members. What stunned me- beyond the idea of the Republicans, traditionally the bastion of poorly thought out, theologically incorrect, and reactionary Christianity, the sort that hates everyone else, supporting a Pagan- were the comments on that page. It was a blog that was adamantly progressive, powerfully liberal.
Several posts came out strongly against religion.
Not against crazy religion. That's a different topic. I think we all agree that any religion worth the name needs to be sane, not crazy, not an excuse to be racist or sexist, and in general, not crazy. Those are pretty easy standards to meet- just be not crazy. Don't deny evolution, don't kill people, you know, simple stuff.
These posts, though, weren't about those kinds of religions. It was about religion itself. Now, this offends me on a pretty personal level. This is the core of who I am; I am a Christian, first and foremost. That's probably why I'm so caught up over a statistically insignificant number- of forty posts, only four were against religion directly. (I ignore implication, for implying is a silly thing.) That's equivalent to about ten percent. Nothing to write home about.
But it still bothers me, because it is a symptom of a bigger issue. The current state of affairs in America is that there is no true religious freedom. There is simply a Choice: will you go with the crazy, anti-science, kill everybody who's not a White God-Fearun' Amerikun, fundamentalist Christians? Or do you go with the arrogant, certain, There is No God and I am His Prophet Atheists?
Anybody with any sense can tell you that a choice between two horrible options is no choice at all.
Any ideas?
Comments
Restoring Christianity's good name
Jacob,
1st of all, welcome here, you write like a well informed person.
2nd. You touch on a hot current topic; what is now being referred to as Neo-Athesim, those who are just as adament that there is no God, and are just as intolerant as the far right.
As a more moderate Christian I think we are here, being challenged to get back to the basics, of Jesus' ministry to the poor. While he was concerned for the welfare of all souls, he concentrated on the poor, as he thought they needed an advocate. The wealthy were well taken care of by their own means.
Our challenge is to get back to basics (as opposed to the fundamentals), restore the good name of Christianity.
Rev. Rich
re: Jacob's "First Post."
Welcome to CrossLeft. I've read your posts at your new blog Christian Liberal and look forward to some lively exchanges with you.
I like your "I'm a liberal/progressive/whatever" because of, not despite, your Christian faith. Not exactly my own story, as I was a lefty-type well before I was a Christian. However, my Christianity has supported, and deepened/broadened, my dissident politics. But no matter which came first, faith or politics, people at CrossLeft, along with great numbers of others, share your feeling that faith and 'progressivism' are integrally connected.
So, what I will argue about with you is the claim that there are only two (equally unsatisfactory) choices in the US today -- Nationalistic Christian Fundamentalism or Arrogant Atheism. I can well understand the feeling -- there's so much noise emanating from those sources that it feels as if they're the only things going. But they're not the majority. They're just the media darlings - or hogs.
There's plenty of religious freedom here. We just have to use it, display it, and promote it. (And the various forms of Christianity aren't the only religious choices made by Americans -- consider the Moslems, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Unitarian-Universalists. We have an active Interfaith Alliance here in Albany NY, and it's national executive director, the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, has been getting some visibility in the media.)
Bill
Welcome to My World
Bill, let me give you a look-see into my world. I don't think Jacob is my neighbor, but he could be.
If you go to a meeting (any meeting of any group supporting politically progressive ideas) and identify yourself as a Christian, or an active part of any religion, you're viewed with suspicion and/or derision. Expressing contempt for Christians is a mandatory part of any discussion. After the folks get to know you some, you're not automatically lumped in with the evil-doers, but the disdain of organized religion must be reviewed, over and over. Remarks directed at you are likely to end with "but you're a church member" and a shrug. There are an awfully lot of progressives with the hardened heart towards spirituality out there. It's not just media darlings (the term and the thought behind it is offensive, but that's for another day), this IS reality out here in "the heartland."
I've heard it's even worse at the typical church meeting. I'm lucky that my church isn't like that (we're a hotbed of liberals), of course this issue alone was a key part in joining the church I did, I got tired of swimming upstream at my parish of 20 years and left it. Fairly recently, too, like within the last five years. I'd had major trouble with attitude for at least 10 years before that, but I guess I tend to stick where I land and make-do when it's lacking. When my old parish decided to detach itself from the main denomination, only then did I feel I could (and SHOULD) go find a parish solidly faithful to the national church. Before I did, however, I spent a lot of time bucking the "evil liberal" attitudes there.
So see, Jacob's two choice world is valid for a lot of us. It certainly has been for me. Jacob, my advice to you is to go searching for another church. There ARE congregations out there that will suit you better. I found one and I live in one of the most conservative areas in the country (Dallas, Texas area). So seek and you will find. Oh and "welcome to my world." When it feels like you're the only liberal Christian in the world, this place is a good sanctuary.
Christians and the left
I have found in my organizing and politickin that I can talk about Eastern Religion, the Buddha,etc. and Native American spirituality all I want with for real left wing types but any mention of Jesus is a no-no.I can bring Christianity and quote Jesus with more moderate centrist Democrats, but even many of them get a little ansy with the subject of religion.
I suspect some leftists are burned out on Christianity because of the hypocrisy of the right wing and their use of faith to hoodwink people. The church has such an awful history of collaboration with the government to oppress the people, too.And as Frank points out in his recent piece, we now have high profile Progressives like Bill Maher exacerbating the situation with flat out hostility towards faith. I have no axe to grind with leftists or radicals who are fed up with pontificating Christians , I would like to educate them though. There are many Christians who are very progressive in their political views. The two greatest peace and justice advocates of the last century, Gandhi and M.L.K were both faith based.
Your world/my world
Janet,
I'm sorry to read that where you live "progressives" put down Christians and other religious. My experience has been quite different. In the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, the church played a leading role. Granted, almost all the white churches, except Quakers and Unitarians - and some Roman Catholics - held back (although the Episcopal bishop unsuccessfully encouraged our churches to offer free space to Head Start). When a synagogue was bombed in Jackson, the movement was there to support them. Quakers and Unitarians were prominent among local activists and out-of-state volunteers. Even the atheists among us eagerly sought support from the faith communities and worked comfortably within the context of the black churches.
Similarly, in my 25 years in Champaign IL, there was good integration between "radicals", "leftists", and liberal congregations. I, as a "leftist", even served for several years as the chair of the Champaign-Urbana Council of Congregations. The Sanctuary Movement (for undocumented immigrants) was based at the Disciples of Christ Campus Foundation. Although there were "conservative" congregations that rejected any "progressive" involvements, there was no similar reaction from "the left" against religion in general.
And in my 12 years here in Albany, I've found the same thing. There's pretty much total integration of secular and religious progressives. My post-retirement part-time job was as the community organizer for the Labor-Religion Coaliton/Jobs with Justice of the Capital District. The Hunger Action Network of NYS has a Faith and Hunger Network. Those who self-identify as socialists happily meet in churches, as part of a wide range of labor, peace, and human rights coalitions. Albany has a long tradition of good interfaith working relationships and the Interfaith Alliance is involved as part of the "progressive" network.
So I guess that the trouble in Texas is that the "progressives" feel so beleaguered that they've become hard-shell anti-Baptists, so to speak. I've been lucky not to have had to deal with that.
Bill