Jacflash and I were talking, in the comments, about the supposed and much balleyhooed (no bedbugs) persecution of Christians. I suggested that rather than persecution, what is unnerving to certain members of the faith - and is a flame being fanned by some craven reactionaries - is the perceived threat to hegemonic dominance.
Reflecting on my Methodist upbringing, I recalled the sense of superiority over other religions.
And totally forgot the problem of those pesky atheists:
I was stunned when I read the results of a survey that was recently conducted by the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology about atheism. It seems that Americans are distrusting of atheists although, from the study, it appears that they have little idea what it means. According to most of the 2000 Americans surveyed, we are self-centered, prone to criminal behavior, materialistic, untrustworthy, don’t have core values, don’t care about our fellow citizens let alone the rest of humanity and you shouldn’t let your sons and daughters marry us. Glad to know we’re so highly regarded by our fellow Americans.
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There seems to be a sense that if you don’t believe in God, you must believe instead in the opposite of God. I guess this is a function of our polarized society and our vain attempts to order the world into black and white. I have no problem with others having faith in God, I have faith in things too. I just don’t kid myself that there are any absolutes.
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This week, Christians are gathering in Washington D.C. to formulate a strategy for fighting back in the “War on Christians”, but who is persecuting them? Atheists? Not likely, considering we are a disconnected and highly unorganized group. What are they so afraid of? If the word “God” is erased from our money, our courtrooms and our public places, does that really have any effect on their faith? Do they need non-believers to validate their belief in God? Having “God” on our money and in our public squares has not made me believe in His existence, so how could it possibly have the opposite effect?
The separation of Church and State is a protection for all of us. Government can’t mandate religion and it can’t infringe upon religious institutions either. Legislating morality is un-American and it doesn’t work, this is what atheists know and what Christians must learn. Atheism doesn’t mean amoral, it just means that external forces are not necessary for the formation of, and adherence to, a moral code. In most cases, we share a common vision of American society. It’s just how we get there where the difference is found.
And that reminded me of a recent conversation I had with a family member, about someone another family member associated with on a regular basis. In the conversation judgmental pity - with a heaping side order of tsk tsking - was offered in the general direction of the poor girl, and how the family member shouldn't really associate with people like that in any significant way (e.g. dating), but wasn't so sad about her life. You see, the poor girl wasn't a christian [ed note: I have no idea whether this was actually true, but the young woman in question didn't talk constantly about being a christian and did not - apparently - attend church on a regular basis] and therefore - ready? are you sure? positive? - had no morals.
That's right. Not a christian=has no morals.
Being the fact loving girl that I am, I tried the "but what about the Buddhist respect for life? The Jewish faith? The Golden Rule? The Hippocratic Oath? Rational ethics?"
Well, you know what I mean.
Why, yes, I'm afraid I do.
And that's why I'm extremely skeptical of not only all of this persecution nonsense, but most of that whole ball of wax.
And as Jacflash pointed out, the Vatican - and Opus Dei too - are trying to make sure the flames of the persecution complex start flicking towards criticism too.
Posted by binky at May 9, 2006 11:38 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Religion