Christianity Controversy
Since gaining my She Writes It Facebook page, I must admit I’ve been getting pretty damn lazy with my blogging. Why take the time to set up a blog post (actual real work) when you can just piggy back someone else’s sh*t and add your 2 cents…point made, right? Or just sum up a feeling in 30 words or less & post to your wall. But this one started to be a thought that became too long, thus an actual post.
Who would’a ever thunk Christmas would be controversial? Who can oppose thoughts around Jesus? Jesus, God’s one and only son who represents good, hope and the light.
I was born and baptized in the church even though I’m sure my illegitimate status was frowned upon. I was confirmed into our church at the age of 12. My great grandfather was a minister. The reason I’m in this small city is because he and his family migrated here from the North to start the first Episcopal church in the area. As I got older and understood more of where I came from, I started to love my history. I enjoyed my church and the denomination I belonged to growing up. I visited some others that I didn’t like as much, but overall the Christian religion has been a core part to my life. Did I understand or agree with all the material taught within it, no. Have I read some of the bible and discovered what I felt were some great truths there, yes. However, all of this is simply a small part of my life and who I am. Even if it wasn’t I wouldn’t expect for my personal religion, thoughts and opinions surrounding it necessarily to be those that are shared by others. How arrogant is that? Even though religion is very similar to politics and people tend to have very strong beliefs surrounding them, it doesn’t mean that anyone has the right to even offer their viewpoint etc. unless it’s asked of them. I personally think that our relationship with (or even without) God is something that is a very special and sacred to us as individuals (you know…like the color of your underwear) and really isn’t anyone’s f’n business.
And that’s the world we now live in folks. No longer is Christianity appreciated in schools or grocery stores (or even in Wendy’s as I sit down with my hamburger & listen to “Jesus” music). I will say that much of it depends on what part of the U.S. you live in and while we do have a choice in that and I doubt that music or seeing a nativity scene somewhere is going to drive away from…well, yeh – getting that big fat juicy burger (even though their new line of burger’s aren’t so great), I will say that indeed religion and it’s role in our country is definitely starting to change and with reason. The people in our country are changing along with our notion of tolerance. Let’s face it, not everyone is like “us”, whoever “us” is. Actually Christianity makes up 33% of religions, so how is it fair or realistic for us to assume that our religion reigns supreme and should get all the air play? I personally don’t care to hear Christmas music or Christian music while I’m picking up a loaf of bread anymore than I would care to hear any other type of music that for some other religion.
People use the argument that our country was founded on Christianity and while that may be the case, it doesn’t mean that Christianity accurately describes where we are now as a nation. Things do change. I personally have always felt that religion should never be intertwined with the government or education, but there’s no doubt that it is in a major way. While it never killed anyone to say the word “God” in the pledge of allegiance or listen to other religious connotations in school, where is it’s place in today’s world? I’m not sure I would spend my days picketing religion out of schools because there are bigger issues when it comes to our educational system, but religion can easily be left at home.
So while I personally will continue to celebrate Christmas and enjoy a church service or two that are founded within the Christian faith, I will not expect to see a country that caters only to arena or assume that everyone is supposed to believe as I do. I think more than Christianity, this country was built on not only allowing religious freedom but is now in need of working towards showing actual respect for that. However there’s as much discrimination based around religion as there is any other individual differences. Now with America being filled not only with other cultures, but also their own religions as well, I hope that our government, businesses and public establishments will see where room for that is needed and leave who and how they worship up to the individual in a private realm.
