Whenever I write about religion… Christianity, Evangelical Christianity or Fundamentalist Christianity… someone will be sure to accuse me of “painting with a broad brush.” What they mean is that I am being too broad in my characterizations of religion, Christianity, Evangelical Christianity or Fundamentalist Christianity.
I will often hear things like:
- I am a Christian and I am not like that.
- My Church is not like that.
- Our pastor is not like that.
- Our denomination is not like that.
- Your experience with Christianity is too narrow to make such sweeping statements.
Granted I grew up in, trained in, pastored , and lived within what is commonly called Fundamentalist Christianity. In later years I called myself an Evangelical Christian. Further research, discussion, and debate has led me to believe that much of Evangelicalism is infected with Fundamentalism.
Even within liberal denominations I have found Fundamentalism. The Catholic Church is rife with Fundamentalism. Groups like the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons are decidedly Fundamentalist.
Fundamentalist is not a label many Churches or Denominations like to wear. They avoid it because of the negativity associated with it. Avoid it all they will, their doctrine and practice reflect the truth…that Fundamentalism has infiltrated and affects virtually every part of Christendom.
The Catholic Church has a major problem with priests who molest children and adolescents. While there are some parishes that are free from the taint of this scandal, and certainly not every priest is a molester, can we thus free the Catholic Church from culpability in this sordid tale? Of course not. The broad brush certainly paints the innocent but when a problem becomes so pervasive that it is systemically found everywhere then this is the price the innocent have to pay.
I am willing to grant that maybe YOU are different, that maybe YOUR Church is different, that maybe YOUR denomination is different BUT I believe that Fundamentalism has systemically infected Christendom to such a degree that I can not spend my time always making an exception for the few who are not like the majority. I know you are out there and I respect you for your attempt to live according to the message of Jesus. However most of your cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers are mean spirited, judgmental, and bigoted. (and I mainly speak of American Christianity)
In my neck of the woods we have one Christian Church. Oh they meet in a hundred different buildings with a hundred different signs out front BUT they all are basically the same. Conservative. Evangelical. Republican. There is no room for the anyone who thinks differently. The closest liberal,progressive Church is 50 miles away.
I am sure someone will ask… ”why does this matter to you?” You are not a Christian. You no longer “believe.” You are a card carrying liberal who calls himself an agnostic.
It matters for a number of reasons.
First, I have children and grandchildren. Some of them still go to Church. I am concerned over what they will be taught. I am concerned about how the pervasive Fundamentalism found in this area will affect their lives. “Don’t you just want them to stop going to Church like you?” No. I want them to be free to be whatever they want to be. And yes, even free to be a closed-minded Fundamentalist. But, I want them to know all the facts. I want them to be free to choose. I question whether someone under the control of a Fundamentalist Pastor and Church is FREE to choose.
Second, the pervasiveness of Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christianity in this area has a negative effect on the entire community. People are expected to behave a certain way. People are expected to believe in God. An atheist will never be elected to office in this area. Neither will someone who is pro-abortion. Virtually every public office in a five county area is held by a Republican. Some counties have NO Democrat office holders. 2 out 3 registered voters are Republicans. Even the Democrats in this area are conservative. True liberals are as rare as an ivory-billed woodpecker.
I desire to live in a community that is free. A community where people have the freedom to be who they are and what they are. Where gays can come out of the closet. Where atheists are free to be school teachers and public office holders. Where liberals have a say in public policy and have a place at the discussion table,
I am well aware that religion is not going to go away. I don’t expect people to stop being religious for my sake. I want everyone to be free to worship as much or as little as they desire.
I do desire a community where a person’s religion is never questioned, where religion is not even considered during government and school board decisions.
The broad brush I really want to paint with is the broad brush of secularism. I wish to paint the world in secularism. In a secular society religion remains the purview of the individual. Government has no part to play in religion. Religion has no part to play in government. We are light-years away from such a society.
I still have a dream.
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