- Jul 19, 2014
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I recently spoke with a friend of mine who is a self-described pagan (by which she simply means "non-Christian"). She is a writer, and is currently working on a book in which the Christians are the bad guys. I asked her how that was going to play out; she said the bad guys aren't bad guys because they're Christians, but because they're bad guys who happen to be Christians. When I brought up Brennan Manning, she nodded emphatically.
I am not an atheist. I actually swing closer to Agnostic Christianity, though that term falls short as well. I believe there is a god, but I cannot believe he/she/it is as described by Christians today. I am not totally sold on the god described in the Bible, either.
Many an atheist has brought up the genocide commanded by god in the Old Testament, as well as the killing of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. These things seem inconsistent with a god of love and grace. Hell also seems contradictory to the nature of a loving god who could save all of humanity from it, but chooses not to.
These are just some of the things that make me question whether or not god is as described by Christians. "But the Bible says so" is not valid to me, either; I cannot comprehend why people are so willing to trust that a council of men--in a time when political back-stabbing was just as bad (if not more literal) than it is today--could discern which of god's books are "inspired," and which ones are not.
"But the Bible says God will protect His Word." Circular logic. The truth is, we cannot know with 100% certainty that the Bible is the unadulterated word of god to all its people, and to the world writ large. You may be convinced, but you could also be wrong. Human fallibility is a frustratingly dangerous thing in that regard.
The biggest "clincher" for me, though, is how Christians accept their god as loving, hide behind him when they can't explain his inconsistent behavior, and claim that he is a force that changes lives--yet their lives remain unchanged. Yes, people have used god as a way to kick addictions and turn their lives around in various ways, but are they really turning to something better?
I have had friends who were alcoholics, drug addicts, homeless, adulterers, even unrepentant murderers. They turned to Christianity, and yes, they were able to kick their habits, get back on their feet, and turn from their behavior. However, as time passed and they went deeper "into their faith," they became self-righteous, hypocritical, prejudicial bigots.
On the surface, these formerly troubled friends were hard-working, family-oriented people. They maintained their jobs, their cars, their families, their homes, and--for all intents and purposes--their lives, all to the glory of god.
They also wouldn't let gays into their home. They looked down on anyone who had so much as a beer or a cigarette. They showed no love for the homeless, whether it was giving a guy a buck or buying him a fast food hamburger. Those people they used to be became the objects of their derision. Adulterers were shunned, rather than approached with understanding and love (I don't equate those qualities with condoning an act).
I would not have my hangups if these were isolated incidents. Unfortunately, in the five sizeable churches I have attended at length (more than six months), these attitudes are prevalent in the congregations. They claim they are defending righteousness, but if righteousness comes from a perfect god, can he not defend it himself?
"I'm protecting myself and my family." Okay, I get that you don't want a gay man or woman in your home because of your preconceived notion they are borderline child molesters, but unless you have had some traumatic, personal experience, your prejudice is unfounded.
What is love, if it is not "loving the sinner but not loving the sin?" People throw out the baby with the bathwater, so to speak, in eschewing lifestyles and choices they deem inappropriate. I have struggled to communicate to people that a person is not their decisions; they are affected by their decisions. That doesn't mean you should let a murderer babysit your kid because of love, but it does mean recognizing that a murderer is more than a murderer; he is a human being, loved by god, and he should therefore be forgiven--whether or not he repents.
If I ever return to Christianity, I expect it will look far different from what is recognized by most as Christianity. Yes, I fall into the category of, "I had a bad experience and so I am doubting," but--whatever god looks like in its character--I conclude that I must have been brought to this point in order to doubt, so I won't continue to follow a false path.
If the god described by Christians is all they say he is, then there should be far more good done by Christians than bad. People would normally point to the Crusades and Inquisitions, the forced conversions of Native Americans, and other events in history to illustrate offenses committed by Christians. In my observation, more contemporary, subtle, and long-standing offenses exist in those who are walking among the world today. What breaks my heart is that these offenses are condoned and commanded from the pulpit, encouraged by Christian culture, and defended with the marching line of the Templars:
"God wills it."
I will point out one unconfirmed story of a Native American who was tied to a stake to be burned if he did not convert to Christianity. After being offered one last chance to accept Christ and be set free, he asked, "If I accept Christ, I will go to heaven when I die, correct?"
"Yes, of course."
"And in heaven, there will be Christians there, correct?"
"Yes, of course."
"Kill me now."
It's a sad state of affairs when the history of the church, into the modern day, shows a continual pattern of driving people away from the very thing they are meant to attract people toward. Of course, the Crusaders justified their actions. Likewise the Inquisitors, the White Europeans against the Native Americans, and countless Christian orders who infiltrated pagan lands. Even slavery was justified--and still is, in some places--as "the will of God." No one saw their actions as going against god's commandments at the time; it is only in hindsight that we see these things as unconscionable.
The atrocities still exist. In "developed" countries, there is less bloodshed and the hatred is more subtle, but it is perhaps just as prevalent as any time before today's era. Who would want to be a part of such hypocrisy?
In conclusion, I will say that I could be completely wrong. Even as a Christian I professed that idea (to the chagrin of the Southern Baptist Convention members I knew). All we can do is trust in what we believe. To quote Billy Joel, "you may be wrong, for all I know, but you may be right." I do not mean this as an attack on Christians; I mean it as an observation and my personal experience, in the hopes of bringing at least some to an understanding of my perspective.
Brennan Manning said:
I am not an atheist. I actually swing closer to Agnostic Christianity, though that term falls short as well. I believe there is a god, but I cannot believe he/she/it is as described by Christians today. I am not totally sold on the god described in the Bible, either.
Many an atheist has brought up the genocide commanded by god in the Old Testament, as well as the killing of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. These things seem inconsistent with a god of love and grace. Hell also seems contradictory to the nature of a loving god who could save all of humanity from it, but chooses not to.
These are just some of the things that make me question whether or not god is as described by Christians. "But the Bible says so" is not valid to me, either; I cannot comprehend why people are so willing to trust that a council of men--in a time when political back-stabbing was just as bad (if not more literal) than it is today--could discern which of god's books are "inspired," and which ones are not.
"But the Bible says God will protect His Word." Circular logic. The truth is, we cannot know with 100% certainty that the Bible is the unadulterated word of god to all its people, and to the world writ large. You may be convinced, but you could also be wrong. Human fallibility is a frustratingly dangerous thing in that regard.
The biggest "clincher" for me, though, is how Christians accept their god as loving, hide behind him when they can't explain his inconsistent behavior, and claim that he is a force that changes lives--yet their lives remain unchanged. Yes, people have used god as a way to kick addictions and turn their lives around in various ways, but are they really turning to something better?
I have had friends who were alcoholics, drug addicts, homeless, adulterers, even unrepentant murderers. They turned to Christianity, and yes, they were able to kick their habits, get back on their feet, and turn from their behavior. However, as time passed and they went deeper "into their faith," they became self-righteous, hypocritical, prejudicial bigots.
On the surface, these formerly troubled friends were hard-working, family-oriented people. They maintained their jobs, their cars, their families, their homes, and--for all intents and purposes--their lives, all to the glory of god.
They also wouldn't let gays into their home. They looked down on anyone who had so much as a beer or a cigarette. They showed no love for the homeless, whether it was giving a guy a buck or buying him a fast food hamburger. Those people they used to be became the objects of their derision. Adulterers were shunned, rather than approached with understanding and love (I don't equate those qualities with condoning an act).
I would not have my hangups if these were isolated incidents. Unfortunately, in the five sizeable churches I have attended at length (more than six months), these attitudes are prevalent in the congregations. They claim they are defending righteousness, but if righteousness comes from a perfect god, can he not defend it himself?
"I'm protecting myself and my family." Okay, I get that you don't want a gay man or woman in your home because of your preconceived notion they are borderline child molesters, but unless you have had some traumatic, personal experience, your prejudice is unfounded.
What is love, if it is not "loving the sinner but not loving the sin?" People throw out the baby with the bathwater, so to speak, in eschewing lifestyles and choices they deem inappropriate. I have struggled to communicate to people that a person is not their decisions; they are affected by their decisions. That doesn't mean you should let a murderer babysit your kid because of love, but it does mean recognizing that a murderer is more than a murderer; he is a human being, loved by god, and he should therefore be forgiven--whether or not he repents.
Mahatma Ghandi said:
If I ever return to Christianity, I expect it will look far different from what is recognized by most as Christianity. Yes, I fall into the category of, "I had a bad experience and so I am doubting," but--whatever god looks like in its character--I conclude that I must have been brought to this point in order to doubt, so I won't continue to follow a false path.
If the god described by Christians is all they say he is, then there should be far more good done by Christians than bad. People would normally point to the Crusades and Inquisitions, the forced conversions of Native Americans, and other events in history to illustrate offenses committed by Christians. In my observation, more contemporary, subtle, and long-standing offenses exist in those who are walking among the world today. What breaks my heart is that these offenses are condoned and commanded from the pulpit, encouraged by Christian culture, and defended with the marching line of the Templars:
"God wills it."
I will point out one unconfirmed story of a Native American who was tied to a stake to be burned if he did not convert to Christianity. After being offered one last chance to accept Christ and be set free, he asked, "If I accept Christ, I will go to heaven when I die, correct?"
"Yes, of course."
"And in heaven, there will be Christians there, correct?"
"Yes, of course."
"Kill me now."
It's a sad state of affairs when the history of the church, into the modern day, shows a continual pattern of driving people away from the very thing they are meant to attract people toward. Of course, the Crusaders justified their actions. Likewise the Inquisitors, the White Europeans against the Native Americans, and countless Christian orders who infiltrated pagan lands. Even slavery was justified--and still is, in some places--as "the will of God." No one saw their actions as going against god's commandments at the time; it is only in hindsight that we see these things as unconscionable.
The atrocities still exist. In "developed" countries, there is less bloodshed and the hatred is more subtle, but it is perhaps just as prevalent as any time before today's era. Who would want to be a part of such hypocrisy?
In conclusion, I will say that I could be completely wrong. Even as a Christian I professed that idea (to the chagrin of the Southern Baptist Convention members I knew). All we can do is trust in what we believe. To quote Billy Joel, "you may be wrong, for all I know, but you may be right." I do not mean this as an attack on Christians; I mean it as an observation and my personal experience, in the hopes of bringing at least some to an understanding of my perspective.
