This week I went to both of my bible studies. At my evangelical group, there were seasons this time but no coverings or hedges and no laying on of hands. Just some run of the mill Calvinism. I might have a post on divorce in me, but we'll have to see. I'll only write it if I can be truly charitable.
I want to think through some things regarding my Monday bible study in the meantime. We ended up in a conversation about hostility to Christianity in our culture. This was ultimately a very uneven conversation for me. Let me explain. There is time. I don't need to sum up.
On the one hand, I agreed although I wouldn't say this is increasing. There are times when being a Christian is a liability--as for instance at a philosophy department party--and times when being a certain kind of Christian can be a liability. Take for example the woman who decided she couldn't be my friend because I appeared to defend the Vatican by trying to clarify something the CDF said. She didn't realize I was one of those people. How dare I.
Yeah, whatever.
Point being on that particular hand, I'm on board. Some people are offended by the mere fact that I believe in God. Some people assume if I'm a certain kind of Christian I must be some kind of complete jerk. Yes, these things happen. And yes, in some contexts it is socially acceptable to treat someone like a pariah if they happen to fall into one of these categories.
Like I said, I wouldn't say this has increased dramatically, at least not in my lifetime. But I do notice it. It's mostly a function of what the majority in a given subculture thinks and values and therefore presumes that everyone else probably thinks and values.
That brings me to my other hand, which is the question of whether our culture is hostile to Christianity. Now, I think our culture pretty much has to be hostile to true Christianity. There is nothing Christian about capitalism, folks. But, as you can probably guess from my title, the way this got discussed was in terms of two issues: prayer in public schools and the war on Christmas. Shocking, I know.
As far as I can tell, the issue here is not actually whether the culture is hostile to Christianity. It's more about convincing Christians that it isn't appropriate to operate as if everyone were a Christian, given that we live in a secular society.
I honestly think this is a case where the dominant group perceives a move toward equality as a loss. Christians who object to these things see themselves as being marginalized. In a sense they are. I just don't think that's a bad thing on the whole. I do think occasionally there is a valid complaint. There is no reason a church shouldn't be allowed to display a nativity on private property. But removing Christian practices and observances from public schools or other arenas of public life is only right. Christianity is not a state sponsored religion, after all.
And why, in God's name, would you insist on saying Merry Christmas absent a guarantee that the person you're wishing a Merry Christmas actually celebrates the holiday? That's just rude.
I tried to make this argument softly by suggesting that it isn't any "better" for any other religion. It's not like the government is telling you that you will now wish everybody a Happy Hanukkah. It's about creating space for religious folks of all kinds and even for non-religious folks. And as far as people assuming Christians are hateful bigots, that's lousy, but I bet we could commiserate with the Muslim community on being misunderstood.
That didn't go over. Sadly. It's ridiculous but they started to complain that Muslim women don't have to unveil to take a driver's license photo. Do they really not understand that religious freedom means everyone? And that if we value our own freedom, we must protect the freedom of others??
I changed my tack. As a Christian, I would really prefer it if people like George W. Bush wouldn't drag my religion into the public sphere. To take a more concrete example, I would be really pleased if everybody stopped celebrating Christmas as a secular holiday. It is not about presents or big meals or being warm and cozy with your family. It's just not. You're missing the point. It is also not the major Christian festival, so could we all stop running our lives as if it were The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
I'm overstating. I don't really care who celebrates Christmas. I'm not really mad at Dr. Suess, even if he doesn't know what Christmas is actually about. I'm just saying that if our culture didn't observe it at all and Christmas was only something that mattered to practicing Christians, that would not distress me. It should not distress a Christian. In fact, it would be very good in some ways. There are plenty of Christians who seem to think Christmas is a cute story and an excuse to get together with family.
I said some version of this and it was apparently shocking. This is really where I have to part ways with my Republican friends. I really and truly do not get their investment in enforcing the dominance of Christianity in the public sphere. Christianity is already dominant. It's dominant in ways that can amount to a hostile environment for non-Christians in some circumstances. And that is totally inappropriate given the nature of our government. Not only that but being a certain kind of American is not the same as being a good Christian. It would be better if we weren't in such a position to confuse the two.
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- Anastasia
- On a Trash Heap, United States
- Welcome! I am writing a dissertation and raising two girls. Kizzy is five. Thumper is two. Gigantor is just a dribbly newborn. I freely mix public and private, tragedy and triumph. That's life. It's all here. And a little bit of death, too. Seeing as how that's my favorite topic.
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19 comments:
This post has roused me from my usual lurker stupor to say nothing more than: Great post. Thanks.
Actually, I can say more. I was raised secular (by atheist/agnostic/now sort of Buddhist parents); my college and grad school friends were mostly outspoken atheists; and now I teach at a small Christian college in an extremely conservative area where everyone assumes that everyone else is Christian. (And white. And middle-class. And only poor if you made really bad choices.) Oh, and I'm married to an ordained (though non-church-holding) minister, and attend church with him pretty regularly. So this is something that I think a lot about--the assumptions that people make about Christianity's being the norm, and to what extent my objections to that are legitimate. Because sometimes I seriously do overreact, and at other times--people? Really? Don't write in a paper to me that "Everyone [as in everyone *on earth*] wants to raise their kids to be good Christians," because, um, how could you possibly even *have* that thought?
Yeah...no conclusions...but I think that what you say here is a far more intelligent take on these issues than I usually manage to articulate.
I looked for a like button when I finished reading this. I guess a little too much time on Facebook.
Well said!
I agree with you, even though I may approach it in a slightly different way. I don't like the government getting involved in religion because they will just screw it up, whether it is Bush or Obama trying to "do religion." Some people are all for "prayer in school" until a prayer is offered by someone the people don't like. Let's allow prayer in school and then offer Islamic prayer for the first 2 weeks, and see what the response is!
I do like prayer in school, which is why I teach at a Catholic school. Nobody is saying you can't pray in a school or even teach religion in a school. That is why private schools exist, and flourish in many areas.
I agree with you that a lot depends on the subculture you are in. In my rural Ohio location, Christians are hardly ridiculed or ostracized, and do have preference in most situations. However, In some urban and Academic environments, more conservative forms of Christianity probably do face ridicule and censorship. I am pretty easy going, so I don't always notice or care that I am being "marginalized" by secular society, lol.
What a great explanation. Well done.
If you're in a catholic school, sure. I wouldn't be against that, even if not every kid there was a catholic or even a christian, which is a possibility. That's a different kettle of fish.
Anastasia,
I should have made it clear that my comment about private schools was directed to those who say the govt doesn't allow prayer in schools. My point is that it is allowed, just not in public schools. As far as I know, there are Christian schools virtually everywhere if prayer in school really means that much to people.
Sorry you're having to deal with sheeple. Sounds like they've been given their talking points and take them as the only truth. It's sad, really, that they are unable to see beyond their own self-interest. At the same time, it makes me angry, too, because there is a distinct arrogance in their assertion that their rights are more important than other people's rights - particularly when what they really have is a privilege, not a right. In many ways they're like spoiled children who have always gotten what they want. Now that someone else wants to assert their rights, the sheeple choose to throw tantrums and claim victimhood.
Sigh. Clearly this really annoys me.
great statement, k8...they are protecting their privilege at the expense of someone else's right. it particularly bothers me that they can't even empathize with non-christians on this point. it's like a basic human compassion fail.
and I'm with you, david.
This is a continual topic in my household and I have lots to say, but I fear it'll make for a small essay rather than a comment. Perhaps I'll send you an e-mail later?
I am FLOORED when you say it's a secular society. The Christians up North DO NOT ever say that. "This is a Christian society and you need to take your sorry atheist ass elsewhere if you can't accept it" is more in lines with what I get (some actually would say ass, others won't.) Honestly. I'm so stuck on that I can't even go into everything else I have to say.
thanks for not hating Dr Seuss. I learned to like reading from him. :)
yes, send me an email! and actually, i didn't tell these women it was a secular society because I know they wouldn't have agreed to it. They would also like you to take your atheist ass elsewhere.
Well I keep threatening to move to Canada...but it's even colder there than it is here! The benefit would be my inlaws would NEVER visit because they refuse to get passports. hmmm...suddenly Canada has a new selling point to husband.
An aside to Rented Life: Canada is a pretty kick-ass place to live. The west coast is our little secret that we like to keep from the world: it (almost) never snows here, and you'd have to search pretty hard to find someone who thinks that we DON'T live in a secular society.
Anyhoo, I wanted to sign on to say that this is the most awesome (and truest) thing I've heard about Christianity in a long time: "There is nothing Christian about capitalism, folks." Hear, hear!
Word, word, WORD, sister.
Not only is this a basic human compassion fail, as you so aptly put it, but to use the evangelical language right back at them, it betrays a "lack of faith" in God's ability to direct his own world. He doesn't really need any "help" from the religious right -- it reminds me of the sort of "help" I used to try to give my mom when I was four while she was cooking dinner. Thank God she never gave me anything *important* to do...
Bonus points for the Princess Bride reference :-)
I don't have much to add here, but this is a good one, A. A really good one, and one that expresses a lot of how I feel. I particularly liked the "There is nothing Christian about capitalism, folks." line. Seriously liked that.
(I'd love to have you there when I have uncomfortable conversations with people who complain about the teaching of evolution in schools, when I tell them that my husband teaches evolution at a Christian school and we have no problem with that.)
(I also love how the comments thread veered towards inviting people to Canada. That's what we Canadians do. Except, much as the weather here on the West Coast is lovely, you might think twice about moving here in the near future: its politics and economy are imploding right now. A year and a half to go and then we move back to Saskatchewan.)
incalcuable, you've given me more to consider...Canada, west coast, no in-laws...and we all know you guys have great music. I would lean east cost though, because it's much closer to my family. (And I would want them to visit.
A -e-mails tomorrow! promise.
okay :)
i couldn't agree with you more!! and i for one, would love to read a divorce post.
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