Both the Christian and secular media worlds are ablaze as Jon Meacham’s article The End of Christian America makes its rounds.
From the blogosphere this morning:
Well, I thought of the wrath God must feel for those arrogant blasphemers who reject His law and I also thought about how righteous His judgement will be.
–Shotgun Smith on his response to “some woman in Australia who thought that the death of Christianity was undoubtedly a good thing.”
Easy there, turbo. I’m guessing you didn’t read the entire article, as I suspect many of your Christian brethren won’t. To say the article is about the “death of Christianity” is incorrect and a bit pessimistic.
From page 36: “Let’s be clear: while the percentage of Christians may be shrinking, rumors of the death of Christianity are greatly exaggerated.”
The article actually discusses the decline of Christianity in our country and theorizes that this has occurred due to the lack of distinction between church and state.
While arguing that the influence of either too much secularism or too much religion creates imbalance in the political system, Meacham reminds the reader that “As crucial as religion has been and is to the life of the nation, America’s unifying force has never been a specific faith, but a commitment to freedom – not least freedom of conscience.” In simpler terms, our Founding Fathers neither envisioned nor intended to create America as a strictly Christian Nation, but rather as one in which each citizen had freedom and liberty.
I infer from this that the author sees a correlation between Christianity’s decline and how religious conservatives have long used politics to force their morals and values on the public. It’s easy to see why secular society, resenting attempts by Christian political leaders to forcibly remove Constitutional liberties (a woman’s right to choose, the right of same-sex couples to wed, the need for stem cell research funding, etc.) would want to distance itself from Christianity.
I also speculate that though they may never realize it, the Christ-Con’s sole saving grace is their failure to accomplish their over-arching aim: to rebuild the bulwark of 1950’s Christian America. Had they succeeded in stamping out all beliefs and practices that don’t coincide with their own, it wouldn’t be long before another group rose to power and did the same to them. And schadenfreude aside, that would be a bad for us all.
Oppression of anyone is oppression of everyone.
–Stevie Wonder
With all due respect my blog had nothing to do with the article other than how it has been perceived in culture. (And I HAVE read it and other similar articles…I’ve even read ones without pictures…)
You see, for better or worse…the general consensus arising from this article is that Christianity is “dying” in America.
When I counter such notions with arguments about how vital Christianity is for the foundations of our social order; I am often despised by individuals like the lady from Australia, about whom I wrote the song you linked to.
Great post, Jerome. I thought that the comment of the blogger you quoted was interesting:
“Well, I thought of the wrath God must feel for those arrogant blasphemers who reject His law and I also thought about how righteous His judgement will be.”
My husband and children are very loving, very kind, very giving (liberal) Christians, and so I know that not all Christians are like the angry blogger quoted above. However, it does seem that many if not most fundamentalist Christians are forever expressing their “righteous indignation” and taking delight, as the quoted blogger above did, in endless vindication fantasies. A “hope” that involves the eventual destruction of everyone who fails to think exactly as you want them to in this life doesn’t seem like much of hope at all. I would guess that it is the increasingly transparent angry, mean-spirited, power-hungry agenda that too many Christians hold dear that is contributing to a less Christian America.
I love your book club idea! When you start a new book in May, I’ll have to sign up to participate.
Thank you for your comment on my blog today. It’s always nice to receive a little encouragement from those who share similar perspectives.
Shotgun,
I apologize for assuming you hadn’t read the article.
You have the right to the opinion that Christianity is a key part of “the foundations of our social order,” and to be “despised” for sharing your opinion reveals that the woman you speak of isn’t firm in her own beliefs.
However others (like me) are also entitled to the opinion that Christianity is not paramount in shaping and maintaining the fabric of our society – freedom and liberty are. If our Founding Fathers disagreed with me, we would be living in a theocracy instead of a democratic republic.
Further, since the birth of their religion most Christians have had difficulty accepting that neither they nor Christianity hold monopolies on qualities like love, benevolence, morality, virtue, and conscience. These are traits that belong to humanity as a whole, not just those who accept Jesus as their Savior. And because these traits are not exclusive to Christians, “the foundations of our social order” can (and will) remain intact with less Christian influence.
Darcy,
Thanks for visiting!
You put great words to something I’ve noticed in mainstream Fundamentalism, but had never quite conceptualized – “vindication fantasies.” Hmmm…I wonder what Jesus would say about those…
And I appreciate the reminder that there are many, many loving and inclusive Christians out there like yourself and your family. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to remember this when immersed in the fundie rhetoric that’s so easy to encounter in the blogosphere.
I would be thrilled if you joined the book club! If any titles come to mind, please share. The only requirement is that the book inspire and empower those who read it. (All subjects of a spiritual and/or religious nature are welcomed).
Hi again, Jerome. Actually, I’m not a Christian. I was a very committed evangelical Christian up until my late twenties, at which time I realized that I no longer believed. I just came to a point where I could not reconcile a God of love with the God portrayed in the Bible. My journey away from Christianity has been long and difficult, but I think that it has made me a better person. I’ll think about some book ideas and get back to you.
Well, I appreciate the apology.
For the record, you can probably imagine that my views (which I don’t hesitate to proclaim boldly in the public arena) would be offensive to many (like yourself) as well as the lady from Australia, who perhaps reacted better than some I’ve encountered. (I prefer callous ignoring by far to outright offensive cursing and violent acts!) So, I’m not too upset with her. I do find it sad that her hate for God and His law would lead her to say the things she said (which I’ll not comment on here.)
You see, I do hold to a form of Christian Reconstruction as taught by scholars like Dr. Greg Bahnsen, R.J. Rushdoony, and Gary North, and would argue along with them that ALL governments are inherent “Theocracies.” The question is, what God is at the base of the government? I then usually go on to discuss works such as Max Weber’s “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” with the intention of showing how the currents of thought that lead to the American Republic would not have arisen without the Protestant Reformation (specifically Reformed Christianity and the idea of total depravity.)
I’ll not formally make those arguments here since I don’t want to take away from the meaning and intent of your blog.
I would also like to mention in passing that I am not a “Fundamentalist” proper in the correct view of the term. I would not adhere to “The Fundamentals: A Testimony of Truth,” a document which codified and “launched” the “Fundamentalist” political force in America. I, along with J. Gresham Machen, would have significant disagreements with the “Fundamentalist” movement. On the other hand, if by “fundamentalist” you are not referring to the historically accurate term, but instead mean simply, “aggressive and politically minded Christians who refuse to compromise certain key points in scripture” then, ok…fine…that’s me.
Thanks for the chance to respond. I think we can both appreciate the free exchange of ideas and agree that such an atmosphere is more conducive to the truth and is always desirable to an atmosphere that suppresses discourse.
Shotgun,
I mean no disrespect…but I’m not sure how offering definitions of Christian Reconstructionism and Fundamentalism along with a list of titles you’ve read discussing these furthers this particular topic of conversation.
Also, don’t assume that your “boldly proclaimed views” would offend me. You’re entitled to view yourself and the world in the ways you deem most empowering and beneficial. As long as you do your best to debate facts and not people, your contributions are welcome here.
Speaking of facts:
1. America is not a theocracy, nor was it ever intended to be.
2. America is not strictly a “Christian nation,” nor was it ever intended to be.
3. Some conservative Christians act in ways that seem to completely eclispe the God of Love they claim to follow.
4. Some conservative Christians frequently mistake their will for the will of God.
5. Some conservative Christians are willing to lie about the process if the end result means God’s law (according to their view of it) is followed.
6. Each of the above has contributed to these facts*:
a. The percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 points in the last two decades.
b. The number of people willing to describe themselves as atheist or agnostic has increased about fourfold from 1990 to 2009, from 1 million to about 3.6 million.
*from Jon Meacham’s article.
Darcy,
I apologize for my mis-presumtion.
My heart goes out to you. You’ve made a difficult choice and are walking a difficult path…but the outcome can only be good, because you’re following your heart and paying attention to your conscience. Be gentle with yourself and try to stay focused on the good you’re creating in your life, though its form(s) may not be clear yet.
I wish you all the best, and hope to have the opportunity to chat with you more.
Jerome
The reason for decline is the same reason that may of you have been hurt or marginalized by the church. Much (not all) of Christianity has become a love of rules and less a love of people and Christ. If this is the case, then why wouldn’t there be a decline.
Much of Christinity has become more of an institution and not a way of life. Once that happened, it was over. It wasn’t what Christ intended, not even close. (And by “way of life” I mean one marked with love, compassion, grace and forgiveness to those around us.)
Though some of us out there that aren’t sad to see Rome burn, if it means some good can come from it.
Through this process (and I think it is a process), some will be more entrenched, which can’t be avoided. But hopefully others will see a way through the cluttered woods of ideology and find their faith and Christ again (or maybe for the first time).