While I was participating in the highly emotional threads discussing the Pope's legacy (last time I'll mention him, I promise), I was struck by how many ignorant statements were made by some posters regarding religion in general and Christianity in particular. Now I know that I can't (and don't really want to) change anyone's mind about the existence of God, but I would like to dispel a few myths and misconceptions about both my faith and, more importantly, Christians themselves. A better understanding of both will hopefully cool down the rhetoric on this site and also help secular progressives understand the mindset of the (largely) Christian electorate that we're trying to woo. My sermon begins on the flip.
The first myth I'd like to dispel is that any belief in religion or Christianity comes from some sort of mental or emotional weakness. Some posters on this site have been quite explicit in their armchair psychoanalyses, stating that belief in God is a way for a "primitive" mind to deal with what it cannot comprehend, stems from ignorance or lack of education, or just another way to deal with life's problems. Others have made comments that insinuate that there's something just not right about anyone who believes in say, the virgin birth, the resurrection, etc. Now, while it's true that many Christians, and many people of other faiths, use religion as a "crutch," that's simply not the case for all or even most of us.
For example, take me. I decided to become a Christian not to fill some need but because it is what comports with my understanding of the world we live in. I'm 28 and in good health. I like to think of myself as fairly intelligent and well educated. I've been extremely fortunate in my life in that I've never experienced real tragedy. Only one of my relatives has died young, and we weren't that close. I'm happily, married, have a good job, and am financially secure. I'm also thoroughly committed to the idea that most mysteries of our world can be at least partially explained by science (and, yes, I accept the theory of evolution).
This is all a long-winded way of saying, I didn't "need" religion; I chose it. I did not accept Christianity in a moment of emotional or financial need, nor did I glom on to a church in search of a social network. Now, I was raised nominally Christian (church attendance was spotty), but I certainly have heard my share of "there is no god" arguments during my adult life. I have certainly considered the possibility that God does not exist. Indeed, the idea that we make up God to fulfill certain psychological needs has some intuitive appeal. But in the end, that view simply did not comport with my understanding of existence based on my observations of this world. After college, and after much thinking on the matter, I realized that I am a Christian and have chosen to live my live accordingly.
So why did I make this choice? I guess my answer has to be "faith," though the intellectual in me winces at that word. Now that I've admitted to being a person "of faith," this is a perfect time to address yet another misconception about Christians, and religious persons in general. With the simultaneous rise of fundamentalism and agnosticism in our society, it's understandable that many secular persons assume that Christians never question the existence of God. I can assure you, that is not the case. I know that I, and most of my fellow Christians, have lots of doubts. And that's a good thing, it makes you more tolerant of those who don't share your beliefs. I am perfectly willing to accept that there's a possibility that God does not exist and that there's no afterlife. If we die and learn that that's the case, I'll buy all of you atheists out there a beer, oh wait.
But, again, that's not what I've observed in my life. I've felt what I perceive to be the God's presence at various times in my life. Not so much guiding me, but alerting me to the consequences of my actions. I see the hand of God in the sort of everyday miracles that we sometimes overlook, like when someone turns their life around, or when we act generously for no discernable reason, or when you fall in love. I also see evidence of God in the beauty of his creation. I recommend seeing God's works here, here, and here, before they are all leased out to various mining/drilling corporations by the Bush administration. Of course, whether one senses things otherworldly in their existence is subjective, but that's my reality.
So why Christianity? There are plenty of faiths out there. First, I'd be less than honest if I didn't admit that my choice in religions was obviously influenced by my upbringing. That's an important thing for all of us to keep in mind. I believe that religion is a medium for communing with God, and should not be mistaken for God itself. Thus, I choose my medium as Christianity partly because that's what I know, but I also recognize a special kinship with other people of faith who choose to commune with God though another medium. It's amazing how similar the moral teachings of all religions are. From my perspective, this is further evidence that God exists, and that humans are imperfectly trying to interpret his/her presence in our lives. Obviously, as a corollary, I believe as a matter of faith that one's place in the afterlife is not determined by one's beliefs in how to worship or even in the existence of God, but instead on how one lives his or her life on earth. Heaven can't be heaven if it's treated like an exclusive nightclub where only the "right" people get in.
Nevertheless, the tennants of the Christian faith make it the right path to God for me. This leads me to another myth: Christians slavishly read the Bible and unthinkingly apply it's words to a very different society. Not so. Most non-fundamentalist Christians (which is to say, the majority of Christians) understand that the Bible was written by men who were products of their times. Thus, we give the greatest deference to the teachings of Christ.
I'm sure most of you are familiar with those teachings, but it's worth briefly mentioning some of them here. The most important teaching is that you cannot hate anyone, even your enemies. This is something we all know is right but is impossible to follow. The second is that you cannot judge others because you yourself are imperfect and also a sinner. Some have dismissed this view as nothing more than a guilt trip, but acknowledging one's sinfulness is, for me, humility, and makes me a more decent person. Finally, Christ made clear that one is judged not by adherence to rules and law but by one's kindness and decency to all persons, especially those that society at-large rejects (outsiders, the poor, etc). I think that these teachings are more than a good way to lead one's life. To me, they appear to have the spark of the divine. So the fact that other religions have similar teachings is hardly surprising and does not undermine my belief in God; it only strengthens it.
And it's not crazy to believe that Christ was the "son of God." I put that in quotes because I think that proclaiming Jesus to be the "son of God" is really our best human way of understanding the relationship between Christ and God. Based on his life and teachings as recorded in the Gospels, I believe that Christ was not a mere mortal. It's indisputable that a man named Jesus lived in Judea during the time of the Roman empire, and was crucified. Furthermore, there is evidence that he was resurrected in the gospels themselves, which were written shortly after his death. Is it possible that these gospels were intended to deliberately deceive their readers? Perhaps, but like I said above, faith isn't about 100% certainty. I believe that, most likely, Christ was indeed resurrected as a symbol from God that humanity's cruelty and hatred can be overcome by the intervention of the divine.
The final objection to Christianity (or religion) heard around these parts is that the faith has done so much harm that it is morally wrong to support it (or something like that). I have two responses to this. First, I think it's important to keep in mind the good that religious organizations do everyday. All Christian churches take very seriously their charge to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, and care for the sick. While we've certainly made our share of mistakes, a fair critique of religion must recognize the good that it does in addition to the bad. More importantly, arguments that are centered around the supposed evil done on behalf of religions confuse religious belief with religious organizations. Almost all large human institutions do great harm, but that doesn't mean that they must or even should be discarded. If religious organizations are morally wayward, then it is up to us religious folks to set them straight, not abandon them.
I hope that this diary will convince some of you secular folks out there that not every Christian is stupid, crazy or deluded (or perhaps I've just further cemented that belief in your mind with my ramblings). I'll conclude by saying that this site is becoming a vital part of the progressive movement. It's important to remember that while our beliefs about the existence of God may differ, we're all playing for the same team. So here's hoping for a little more respect from both sides of the God wars.