January 2010
Meaning no disrespect, and this isn’t
the first time I’ve found myself in a spiritual wilderness. But in the past few
years I haven’t been able to reconcile membership in a faith community with
what I see happening in the world.
I’m not blaming anyone specifically,
but we have spiritual leaders in the Christian faith wishing our president
death from the pulpit, and we have gunmen murdering medical professionals
because anti-abortion activists aren’t getting their way politically, and we
have pastors declaring people are going to hell for being gay. A lot of this
nonsense is accompanied by the most graphic, demeaning and upsetting of images.
And on the back of being good
Christian citizens, there’s a movement in this country opposing expansion of
health care coverage to all Americans, largely because our president, a “secret
Muslim,” is for it. They’ll deny it. The “Taxed Enough Already” crowd will say,
no, they’re being fiscally responsible, they don’t want to see the U.S. economy
founder in a boondoggle. But none of them said a peep when we were spending
ourselves down a rabbit hole with tax cuts that weren’t offset by anything and
two overseas wars. They’re fine spending billions to kill people, but not a
penny to help people. Forgive my incredulity.
Ten
years ago, a group of religious extremists targeted me as a private American
citizen. They threw planes at us, mailed sickness to us, they didn’t care who
they killed. It was based on what they perceived as my satanic, godless culture.
Since then, Muslim civilians have suffered just like Christians and Jews. It’s
been impossible to ignore the uglier side of organized religion when it’s on
such garish display.
At the same time, it’s hard to buy
into the concept of being so “blessed.” Yes, my life is easier than that of
others. No question. But there have been difficulties, recently. I’ve survived
a rather serious bout with depression a couple years back, and since then I’ve
been a little more “on edge” emotionally and have less patience for nonsense.
The core of Christianity as I
experience it is that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This prompts
a spirit of charity and I generally approve of the ministry of the United
Methodist Church. I have no objection to supporting it but lately between
cutbacks at work and a lack of direction in my local church – honestly, how
many times do we need to replace the organ? – I’m disinclined. If I don’t have
it, I can’t give it, and that includes time, money or any other resource.
All of this sounds bitter and cynical,
and it would. The mythology has meant less and less to me as I’ve aged. Actions
are way more important than words, and what the church has been up to lately
has not, in my opinion, met the challenges we’re facing in a society in
transition. In a world as small and diverse as our own we cannot rely on an
exclusivism that encourages the worst of our baser instincts and spiritual
leadership that encourages division.
To mainstream churches, reiterate
this: Christ is love. Christ loves us all, even people who are not Christians.
Judge not. Love your neighbor. Be in service. He challenged all of us to be
better people, but where there was need or suffering, he did not turn away, but
rather took on our suffering and indeed gave his own life that we be
reconciled.
These were his teachings, and we need
to hear them. Pray for our leaders. Pray for the suffering. Reach out to those
in need and maybe some of us will come back.
I
dated this entry because the world without and within is in constant flux and
renewal, and as I have more to say on the matter, I will revisit the topic.
Peace.