“We believe when Christ comes the Jews will be converted, and become the world’s greatest evangelists…Why kill them off if they are to be the world’s greatest evangelists?” This isn’t Carl Fuentes or Ye or Eric Metaxas. It’s J. Frank Norris (pictured above). I beheld these words when I
I stay engaged in this conversation thanks to you David. My quest for justice and truth is genetic and buttressed by formal education in political science, history and law. Of course being married to an Arab, a Muslim and having a gay son further impacts my experiences and beliefs. From my secular POV, the weaponization of language, truth by christianity illuminated by media and on various platforms since civil rights has not only exposed the hypocrisy but revealed these Christian thought leaders as nothing more than power worshippers. Your writings and tweets keep me engaged, wanting to understand the minds of Christians vs. Collectively viewing most Christians in a negative, hateful way due to the loudest "leaders" voices on the right and the silence.
You're giving me hope, Lulu. It's all very personal. I've worked alongside and attended weddings and funerals and graduation ceremonies and church services with the very people who are now targeting their own family members here in the beautiful state of Tennessee. There is so much fear within these networks. The chumocracy is a sight to behold. In some instances, I underestimated the spirit of vindictiveness that appears to have taken root in the hearts of a few. That said, I'm also often moved by the good cheer with which I'm greeted by people I might have imagined would be very upset with me by now. When I see them in public, they're often surprisingly eager to voice support and urge me to speak up more. I think everyone wants to belong to something good. But my goodness. So much fear. *deep breath* We are a beginning.
Quick question. I have read Life's Too Short... Are there ideas in that book that you no longer agree with? If so, sounds like I might need the repentant version. Sanctification marches on!
Hmm. It comes down to posturing and wording. Eric Metaxas invited me to appear on his show when the first one came out. I don't think he'd read it, but I now see that my words were too easily fitted to suit the interests of abusive people. My new definition of religion (perceived necessity) serves the hope of public safety better (I think). And the insights I received through watching Midnight Mass have been incorporated. There's also lots of new material.
Thank you, David. I appreciate your outing yourself once again as being part of a culture that has supported Christian supremacy at some point. I believe many of us have all touched upon or been touched by such narrow-minded systems in our country. I realize though why I have had trouble empathizing with people of that fundamentalist ,Dominion-istic set of beliefs and actions. Although I am a preacher's kid from the Deep South, I was not immersed in that kind of doctrine at church or in my communities. I realize how lucky and blessed I was not to be fed such bigoted Christianity as a child and teen. I honor my father (and my mother) that they could participate in a Christian organization that supported the belief that Jesus was Christ, at least metaphorically - but with the surrounding and deep-seated beliefs in justice for all people, equality in thought and action, feeding the poor, educating all, providing healthcare for all, nonviolent action, accepting those different from ourselves, lifting up all people and living beings, and doing our best to try to understand and accept all kinds of people, belief systems, and values, knowing that there is no ONE way, no one path to loving and being loved, and finding salvation. 'Scuse me, I slipped into my preacher mode!
I welcome all of this, Barbara. My mom's a retired public schoolteacher, a lifelong Democrat, and a reader of Richard Rohr. She recently joined me at an event to hear Bruce Rogers-Vaughn define and discuss neoliberalism. I sometimes wonder if I should offer such details as a disclaimer whenever I spout off on my background. It's always a mix in our one human barnyard. The labels don't work. They never have.
“We can take it slow.” I love this as a concept. But that means people will die literal deaths waiting for someone to articulate and implement the change that is required.
“We can take it slow.” Slow is how the Gospels describe the work of Jesus - he lived his life simply, consistently and radically, never writing the definitive book - waiting for others years later to tell the story that showed the contrast between love and hate. He knew his friends would die horribly and painfully because he (assuming he is the god many of us claim) chose not to annihilate the haters.
“We can take it slow.” I may love this as concept but I hate it in reality. I’m no better than the Dominionists.
*nods* There's no hierarchy in holiness. The heart's half prophet and the prophet within you surfaces, it seems to me, more than most. I thank you for this (your witness).
This piece reminded me of another that I recently read, by David A. Hollinger, entitled “Protestants and American National Destiny,” and published as part of the Martin Marty Center’s Sightings e-newsletter. It’s an examination of why conservative evangelical churches have flourished while mainline Protestant denominations have lost members. My simple understanding is that mainline churches asked “too much” of members while the evangelicals provide a safe harbor for white American Christianity. Read it here: Marty center.org/sightings/Protestants-and-american-National-destiny.
I stay engaged in this conversation thanks to you David. My quest for justice and truth is genetic and buttressed by formal education in political science, history and law. Of course being married to an Arab, a Muslim and having a gay son further impacts my experiences and beliefs. From my secular POV, the weaponization of language, truth by christianity illuminated by media and on various platforms since civil rights has not only exposed the hypocrisy but revealed these Christian thought leaders as nothing more than power worshippers. Your writings and tweets keep me engaged, wanting to understand the minds of Christians vs. Collectively viewing most Christians in a negative, hateful way due to the loudest "leaders" voices on the right and the silence.
You're giving me hope, Lulu. It's all very personal. I've worked alongside and attended weddings and funerals and graduation ceremonies and church services with the very people who are now targeting their own family members here in the beautiful state of Tennessee. There is so much fear within these networks. The chumocracy is a sight to behold. In some instances, I underestimated the spirit of vindictiveness that appears to have taken root in the hearts of a few. That said, I'm also often moved by the good cheer with which I'm greeted by people I might have imagined would be very upset with me by now. When I see them in public, they're often surprisingly eager to voice support and urge me to speak up more. I think everyone wants to belong to something good. But my goodness. So much fear. *deep breath* We are a beginning.
Quick question. I have read Life's Too Short... Are there ideas in that book that you no longer agree with? If so, sounds like I might need the repentant version. Sanctification marches on!
Hmm. It comes down to posturing and wording. Eric Metaxas invited me to appear on his show when the first one came out. I don't think he'd read it, but I now see that my words were too easily fitted to suit the interests of abusive people. My new definition of religion (perceived necessity) serves the hope of public safety better (I think). And the insights I received through watching Midnight Mass have been incorporated. There's also lots of new material.
Thanks David.
Thank you, David. I appreciate your outing yourself once again as being part of a culture that has supported Christian supremacy at some point. I believe many of us have all touched upon or been touched by such narrow-minded systems in our country. I realize though why I have had trouble empathizing with people of that fundamentalist ,Dominion-istic set of beliefs and actions. Although I am a preacher's kid from the Deep South, I was not immersed in that kind of doctrine at church or in my communities. I realize how lucky and blessed I was not to be fed such bigoted Christianity as a child and teen. I honor my father (and my mother) that they could participate in a Christian organization that supported the belief that Jesus was Christ, at least metaphorically - but with the surrounding and deep-seated beliefs in justice for all people, equality in thought and action, feeding the poor, educating all, providing healthcare for all, nonviolent action, accepting those different from ourselves, lifting up all people and living beings, and doing our best to try to understand and accept all kinds of people, belief systems, and values, knowing that there is no ONE way, no one path to loving and being loved, and finding salvation. 'Scuse me, I slipped into my preacher mode!
I welcome all of this, Barbara. My mom's a retired public schoolteacher, a lifelong Democrat, and a reader of Richard Rohr. She recently joined me at an event to hear Bruce Rogers-Vaughn define and discuss neoliberalism. I sometimes wonder if I should offer such details as a disclaimer whenever I spout off on my background. It's always a mix in our one human barnyard. The labels don't work. They never have.
“We can take it slow.” I love this as a concept. But that means people will die literal deaths waiting for someone to articulate and implement the change that is required.
“We can take it slow.” Slow is how the Gospels describe the work of Jesus - he lived his life simply, consistently and radically, never writing the definitive book - waiting for others years later to tell the story that showed the contrast between love and hate. He knew his friends would die horribly and painfully because he (assuming he is the god many of us claim) chose not to annihilate the haters.
“We can take it slow.” I may love this as concept but I hate it in reality. I’m no better than the Dominionists.
*nods* There's no hierarchy in holiness. The heart's half prophet and the prophet within you surfaces, it seems to me, more than most. I thank you for this (your witness).
This piece reminded me of another that I recently read, by David A. Hollinger, entitled “Protestants and American National Destiny,” and published as part of the Martin Marty Center’s Sightings e-newsletter. It’s an examination of why conservative evangelical churches have flourished while mainline Protestant denominations have lost members. My simple understanding is that mainline churches asked “too much” of members while the evangelicals provide a safe harbor for white American Christianity. Read it here: Marty center.org/sightings/Protestants-and-american-National-destiny.
Thanks for your help on the link.
"Note the reigning patterns. Consider the pressure points. Don’t coddle bigots. Ask questions. Love specifically. Play human."
Gorgeous, David. You've written an addendum to Wendell Berry's Mad Farmers' Liberation Front Manifesto.