I was raised in the church.
Specifically, Florin United Methodist Church, located a little ways down Florin Road (if you hit Rainbow Foods, you've gone too far), in Florin, California. When my family moved to California, my mother got her first job at FUMC, as the children's choir director -- and there we stayed for 18 more years. My three siblings were baptized in that church; we played tag in its halls and hide and seek in its choir loft. When I was old enough, I was confirmed there, when I was in high school one of my best friends' funerals was held there, and hopefully one day our long-time reverend will officiate at my wedding.
I was also raised a liberal.
Specifically, I was raised in a family that believed self-sacrifice is important, but helping the less fortunate essential. My parents support legal aid advocates, homeless shelters and soup kitchens -- and they think the plight of America's poor is America's responsibility. They also believe in a woman's right to choose, and that welfare is not inherently a dirty word. They respect the freedoms of all peoples, no matter their religion -- or lack thereof -- their political affiliations or sexual orientation. What hippies, right?
Today, I stand as an unapologetic product of both religion and liberalism, and I think I am a better person because of it. Empirically, my religious beliefs have not, in fact, made me less intelligent. I did not take biology in college because I have never been able to memorize the six kingdoms of life (Eubacteria? Archaebacteria? Direct me towards James Joyce, please) -- and not because I believe human kind is a few thousand years old. Nor do I believe my progressive political leanings weakened my own personal relationship with God.
Here's the thing, people -- you can be both. Or, for that matter, neither. In fact, in this country there are many liberal Catholics, conservative Methods, conservative Jews, liberal Mormons, conservative atheists and liberal Muslims, not to mention the people of all faiths who are just really, really rude. (Are you listening, New York University dean's office?)
We as a society have become so polarized of late, the belief in a higher power has become a caricature, used to label vast groups of actually quite diverse peoples for the purpose of sweeping, often ignorant rhetoric and ideological cable network warfare.
Th proverbial hot button issue flavor of the month right now is birth control -- a perfect example. There are really only two classifications of import on this topic. To put it euphemistically, there are Americans who are biologically capable of using various FDA approved medical products designed to prevent pregnancies, and Americans who are not.
And yet, here comes newly-minted Cardinal Dolan, who led the charge, rallying the opposition against President Obama, arguing that faith-based employers should not have to cover employees' contraceptives. Cardinal Dolan is a representative of the Catholic Church. But that does not mean he represents all Catholic women on this issue -- the majority of whom have at one time or another used birth control. And he of course does not represent all Christians.
A part of me understands the unfortunate assumption, born of a gut reaction to such ridiculousness as the panel of church officials organized by Fox poster boy Sean Hannity. Comedian Jon Stewart lampooned a clip of the event on his show, as one by one, the handpicked focus group of all-male Christians assured Hannity that we are witnessing the beginning stages of full out war on Christianity. One of the clergymen even made an exceedingly tone deaf comparison between Obama's government and Hitler. It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement for the Jesus-inclined...
Not to be outdone, Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have all made similar remarks. During last week's Conservative Political Action Conference, Gingrich, a recently converted Catholic himself, claimed Obama's next term will include "war" on the Catholic Church.
These types of comments sadden me deeply, because I know they will inevitably be used by people seeking to discredit not only Gingrich, or Catholics or even necessarily Christians for that matter, but all people of faith.
And it isn't fair.
Every hot button issue has a vocal, extremist faction that invariably steals the show--in the process ruining the reputation of the rest of the group. The Google search "Why do Christians hate gays" for example comes up with 391,000 hits in 0.13 seconds. It's a horribly depressing signifier. What about all of the Christians who are proudly progressive? Reverend Don Fado, a retired California Methodist leader -- and friend of my father's -- is a good example. From the media's perspective, it's generally a lot more fun to train our cameras on the homophobic protesters or out-of-touch bishops with their cassocks all in a bunch.
I should probably stop here. After witnessing Catholic League president Bill Donohue's public dismemberment of Nicki Minaj's Grammy "performance," I feel it's wise to steer clear of robed men wearing funny hats for now. Ultimately, my point is that it's become somewhat trendy of late for some very smart people to equate religion with ignorance, isolationism and intolerance. Religious people, just like the cross-section of Americans who prefer dogs over cats, or Irish accents over Australian, or Dunkin' over Starbucks, are not all alike. Harry Reid, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader is a Mormon, and so is recently-recalled Arizona State Senator and ultra-conservative anti-immigration crusader Russell Pearce. Food for thought.
But now if you'll excuse me, I need to go contact Ms. Minaj about an exorcism. I don't know what's possessing journalist Liz Trotta, but if her bizarre recent appearance on Fox was any indication, we're going to need a lot of holy water.
Follow Meredith A. Bennett-Smith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mbennettsmith
While I do believe that there are moderate, reasoned, liberal Christians, (I consider myself one) the problem is that "the inmates have taken over the asylum" and the intelligent caretakers that have a platform for speaking out in a substantive and substantial way are sitting around with their thumbs up their behinds doing nothing. Or they're not being allowed to speak out because it's "not good television."
When I start hearing people like yourself go on National TV and calling out these far-right nutboxes the moment they spout their medieval and nonsensical rhetoric, then maybe I'll feel differently.
Until this changes, the fringe crazies ARE the face and voice of American Christianity/Taliban and we have no one to blame but ourselves.
But trends do tell is much about how people behave and why.
The problems may be caused by generalization rather than the accuracy of the description. People label themselves too, and when they present themselves with labels, we should pay attention.
When conservative beliefs, and even fundamentalist beliefs, are given as criteria for membership in an organization, then you can expect that members of that organization adhere to those beliefs. And when those beliefs are contrary to the body of human knowledge, I would suggest we take them at their word.
The polarization has been hoisted upon us by the GOP and no one else. Their inflammatory rhetoric is gobbled up by networks looking for ratings, like rubberneckers gawking at a car accident. It's a disgrace.
Nice to hear from you. I to am a progressive and a Methodist here in Illinois. And when I say it is nice to hear from you I really mean it. Because of the verbose claptrap of the right wing rhetoric it seems like we are a silent minority. As a Christian I often cringe now at the utterance of the word “Christian” in media as it will most likely proceed a wacky statement or appearance of a bigoted hateful and totally unchristian like Christian Fundamentalist types or politicians.
Your story about growing up in your Methodist church hit home for families like ours. The service, outreach and caring is often understated today’s media. We do hear a lot of Politics and bigotry masquerading as religion though. There is often talk about rescinding churches tax exemption. In the face of these highly political “churches” it is hard to disagree. But these organizations are often rolling in cash as makeing money is what they do. Churches such as our own that reach out with soup kitchens and youth services would be crushed in such a case. But many churches still exist to do good works and I was pleased to hear from someone in our silent minority.
Only foolery paints large groups of people with the wide brush of ignorance and hate.
I recall that old adage: "There has really been only one Christian; the rest of us are a best
pale imitations".
The Gospels stress forgiveness, repentance, humility and the Golden Rule. How did we
ever get from that to what we see today? Seems like the most vocal zealots are today's
equivalent of the Pharisees.
I'm glad if you're on the same side of the argument, but if you don't have a rational reason for your argument, then you don't actually have a good reason for your position. You just happen to accidentally have the right opinion on the issue.
As they say, a broken clock is right twice a day.
One does not "personally try to help those in need" by having their money forced away by taxes in order to pay off some politicians supporters. One does it personally by charity which is something I don't see the left tries to hamper the conservatives from doing. Look at tax exempt for churches. If a church says something on a moral basis and the statist find a way to see a political basis for that statement then they threaten the church with loss of tax exempt status for saying something moral. Look at your bills in Congress. If they were right then most everyone would be for them. But many things are party line vote. Someone is ignoring truth for the sake of their party.
"Tripe" I shall be kind and not speak of your beliefs as you have done.
"Ultimately, my point is that it's become somewhat trendy of late for some very smart people to equate religion with ignorance, isolationism and intolerance".
About 99.9% of the time, we only hear from (So-Called) Christians (you're an exception, of course)
spouting hate, intolerance and promoting ignorance.
And, these so-called Christians have, unfortunately, "reaped what they've sown".
To quote Bill Maher: "You so-called Christians aren't followers of Christ [and his teachings]; you're merely fans".
I don't even think they're "fans".
How can one be a fan of Christ when every word out of their mouth---and their actions-- show they must despise what Christ said and did?
The so-called follower or fan just uses the name God/Christ to get attention for their message of hate and intolerance.
If Christ appeared today, the so-called Christians would be all over the news screaming about this "radicial liberal" "out to RUIN this country".
Jesus gave to the tax collector but even if there is no record of Him directly giving money to the poor (the only possible exception is money from the purse Judas was carrying) that doesn't mean that He never gave to someone in need.
We don't learn charity from the tax collector. (except maybe Matthew if I remember right)
Therefore, I think you mistakenly made your post a "reply" to mine versus a "stand-alone" comment.
No harm done. : )
Just letting you know.
well there is certainly an abundance of evidence out there to support that equation. If religious people who do not share the views of the fundies wish not to be tarred with that reputation, ( if you call yourself a duck, should we not expect you to waddle and quack?) then you need to be vastly more vocal and active in calling them out. good luck with that.
It's about time that very dumb people everywhere stopped believing that pre-medieval fairy stories have any relevance to them. There's really absolutely no excuse for very smart people not having done that already.