The Christian Paradox - How a faithful nation gets Jesus wrong

[im10ashus]

Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005. What it means to be Christian in America. An excerpt from this report appeared in August 2005. The complete text appears below. Originally from August 2005. By Bill McKibben.

Only 40 percent of Americans can name more than four of the Ten Commandments, and a scant half can cite any of the four authors of the Gospels. Twelve percent believe Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. This failure to recall the specifics of our Christian heritage may be further evidence of our nation’s educational decline, but it probably doesn’t matter all that much in spiritual or political terms. Here is a statistic that does matter: Three quarters of Americans believe the Bible teaches that “God helps those who help themselves.” That is, three out of four Americans believe that this uber-American idea, a notion at the core of our current individualist politics and culture, which was in fact uttered by Ben Franklin, actually appears in Holy Scripture. The thing is, not only is Franklin’s wisdom not biblical; it’s counter-biblical. Few ideas could be further from the gospel message, with its radical summons to love of neighbor. On this essential matter, most Americans—most American Christians—are simply wrong, as if 75 percent of American scientists believed that Newton proved gravity causes apples to fly up.

Asking Christians what Christ taught isn’t a trick. When we say we are a Christian nation—and, overwhelmingly, we do—it means something. People who go to church absorb lessons there and make real decisions based on those lessons; increasingly, these lessons inform their politics. (One poll found that 11 percent of U.S. churchgoers were urged by their clergy to vote in a particular way in the 2004 election, up from 6 percent in 2000.) When George Bush says that Jesus Christ is his favorite philosopher, he may or may not be sincere, but he is reflecting the sincere beliefs of the vast majority of Americans.

And therein is the paradox. America is simultaneously the most professedly Christian of the developed nations and the least Christian in its behavior. That paradox—more important, perhaps, than the much touted ability of French women to stay thin on a diet of chocolate and cheese—illuminates the hollow at the core of our boastful, careening culture.

* * *

Ours is among the most spiritually homogenous rich nations on earth. Depending on which poll you look at and how the question is asked, somewhere around 85 percent of us call ourselves Christian. Israel, by way of comparison, is 77 percent Jewish. It is true that a smaller number of Americans—about 75 percent—claim they actually pray to God on a daily basis, and only 33 percent say they manage to get to church every week. Still, even if that 85 percent overstates actual practice, it clearly represents aspiration. In fact, there is nothing else that unites more than four fifths of America. Every other statistic one can cite about American behavior is essentially also a measure of the behavior of professed Christians. That’s what America is: a place saturated in Christian identity.


cont'd...

http://www.harpers.org/

[Der Blaue Engel]

1. Lord, save me from your followers

DBE, one of the 15%

[slay]

29. Amen brother

Being spiritual and kind has nothing to do with flag waving and bible thumping. It means caring about ALL life - the poor, the drug addicts, the prostitutes, etc - not just other white christians. There but for the grace of God and what not. :(

[TrogL]

2. Most stuff that passes itself as "Christian" literature or discussion

contains blatant heresy.

[H2O Man]

3. "Living Christ

is a living cross; life without Christ is living death." -- Gandhi

It is very hard to consciously follow the example of Jesus.

[im10ashus]

10. It would be overwhelming to have to hold yourself to that level.

I wouldn't identify myself as Christian, as I have too many questions that have remained unanswered over time to do so, but I wonder if Jesus were alive today what his reaction would be and would the reception be the same.

[H2O Man]

20. If we go by

what Jesus said, he is here. He is in state prison, he is in the psychiatric ward, he is on a reservation, he is in a run-down section of a city. He's an old lady ignored in a nursing home. He's a little kid going to bed hungry tonight in Iraq.

[im10ashus]

24. Just having a basic understanding of the human experience,

putting yourself in someone else's shoes, would be start. We have to take into consideration the happenstance and misfortune that life sometimes deals us.

It breaks my heart to think these people suffered for political purposes. But I need only read the HOly Bible or every other religious document to see that it is poor who have and will suffer unless we start to practice what we preach.

[H2O Man]

26. And that when

we fail to, it is a stumbling block to our own growth.

[Old Mouse]

4. The method of reading the bible

in Church and sunday school is to read chapter and verse out of order, further distorting an already difficult tome.

American Christianity has a habit of dissuading it's followers from a direct, unguided reading of the Bible as it allows for an independent interpretation.

[Trillo]

5. One of the books I've been reading is Elaine Pagels'

Adam Eve, and the Serpent. While I'm nowhere near finishing (its not high on my priority list), I was dumbfounded in chapter 1 to read that scholars think that Paul only wrote 8 of 13 letters ascribed to him.

Whether true or not, it certainly confirmed my belief formed from reading the bible once from cover-to-cover that the New Testament was filled with deception. I was dumbfounded because not one devout Christian I ever discussed religious topics with in person ever accepted my belief regarding the deception within the new testament, then I find that a group of scholars believe just that.

Amazing.

[im10ashus]

11. The next book in my queue is "God's Secretaries:

The Making of the King James Bible" by Adam Nicolson. It's, according to my partner, quite the read. The King James Bible brought on political, religious, social and cultural change. It has defined our current culture in many ways and influenced some of our more famous writers and thinkers. I can't wait to get started.

[brentspeak]

14. That's a good book

The editors of the King James Bible were a colorful mix of brilliant and unique personalities. They weren't, though, the collection of "upstanding, Godly men" that today's fundamentalists like to portray them as. Though many of them were more or less devout, they also liked to drink, carouse, even question the Bible.

[im10ashus]

16. And there was homosexuality too.

They like to "forget" about the same-sex love.

[brentspeak]

13. Same goes for the Petrine letters

About half of biblical scholars believe that Peter didn't write 1 Peter, and almost no one believes he wrote 2 Peter. Myself, I believe that it's possible that 1 Peter could be authentic (but, of course, it's impossible to prove the letter's authenticity), and that 2 Peter is without a doubt a forgery (even early Church fathers had serious doubts about 2 Peter).

[im10ashus]

32. That's the thing I don't get with people.

They seem to take every single word from the Bible literally. Even though there is complete contradiction throughout.

However, if we look at the "message" that Jesus had, it doesn't even closely resemble what is being practiced by modern day televangelists. Praying for the death of a Supreme Court Judge or blaming a NATURAL disaster on gays or pro-choice individuals is a HUGE step away from what Christ actually taught.

I was raised a Christian but grew very weary early on. My mother is a deaconess at the same church where my whole family was baptized. She doesn't have the same prejudices as what I hear being bandied about in the "Christian" community. So I know not ALL "Christians" are as far-reaching in their interpretation of the Bible. But the ones at the forefront, the ones who are the alleged "leaders" of the religious-right, are the ones who get the most press.

[DarkTirade]

23. Not to mention...

you also have to consider exactly who Paul was.
He was a guy who fell on his head and had a 'vision' of what god and Jesus were.
He wasn't someone who knew Jesus, or followed the teachings of Jesus. Most of his views were... well, pretty much made up.

[sundancekid]

6. a remarkably good read ... thanks for posting

[Az]

7. The nature of polls

When asked about things which may have social impact many people will answer polls in ways they believe the majority support rather than give their own views. The stronger the social impact of the issue the more likely they are to lie to poll takers. Thus polls on matters of belief in the US which has ratchetted belief into an artform, can be very iffy. There are likely far more nonbelievers running around out there than the polls would suggest.

[pretzel4gore]

8. meaner then a born-again christian....

and old saddam thought he was cruel....

[AirmensMom]

9. This is very good.

Thanks. He makes a lot of excellent points. :thumbsup:

[im10ashus]

12. Thank you!

And welcome to DU!! :hi:

Are you an Airman's mom for real? My nephew is with the 82nd Airborne!! :patriot:

[BrklynLiberal]

15. Excellent article. thanks for posting

Wow. So glad to be the fifth vote that puts you over the top and onto the greatest page.

[im10ashus]

17. Why, thank you very much!

This Manhattanite appreciates a little Brooklyn love.

:hi:

[indepat]

18. Like it's not Christian to kill, lie, covet and steal: golly-gee

[im10ashus]

19. Who'd of thunk, huh?

From the article:

It’s hard to imagine a con much more audacious than making Christ the front man for a program of tax cuts for the rich or war in Iraq. If some modest part of the 85 percent of us who are Christians woke up to that fact, then the world might change.

[xynthee]

21. Here's a permalink

http://www.harpers.org/ExcerptTheChristianParadox.html

Amazing article. Send it to all your crackpot friends/family!!

[im10ashus]

22. I should have done that to begin with.

It really is a fascinating read. Thanks for the kick!

[Miss Chybil]

25. "Least Christian in behavior."

You mean, "Me, me, me. Whatever it takes to make a sale, get ahead, feel better, do it on my own, get out of my space, I haven't got time..." isn't Christian? Who'd of thought.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

28. Two big problems

There are a lot of Christian myths, perpetrated by early church teachings for ulterior motives and later promoted throughout the media (Mary Magdalene was a whore for ex.).

Those who manipulate teachings to fit their view of life, which has been going on since the beginning of time. (How can one called by the Lord live in a mansion on earth?).

If you seek you shall find some snake oil seller of Christianity to fit your personal view. This is what too many people do, because being a Christian really is hard, temptations abound all around.

[Miss Chybil]

31. I don't think being a Christian is all that hard, really.

And it's not very complicated. Treat people with love and respect. That's what Jesus did. That's all he did - and he did it for free. Imagine that.

[im10ashus]

33. And one not even need be an actual Christian to do so.

Just having basic human compassion would be a start.

[Miss Chybil]

34. Exactly.

I don't call myself a Christian, anymore. Simply because I don't believe in all the magic, propaganda, etc. I do believe, however, Jesus was a very smart man. His teachings are very common sensical and apply to all people. Too bad his legacy's been twisted into a stick and carrot control tool and used as a way to fill the coffers of the heartless. I think he'd be very disappointed.

[im10ashus]

38. It's the Golden Rules that have escaped most us.

If we only would "aspire" to help those in need, regardless of race, creed, political affiliation, economic status, etc., we would have achieved just a modicum of greatness as a society.

[im10ashus]

30. Amazing, isn't it?

How the whole original meaning of what being "Christian" is has been turned into a for-profit organization?

[progressoid]

27. Heck, over 50% of Lutherans believe UFOs are visiting us.

I guess as long as the aliens believe in Jaayzuz, it's OK.

[dogday]

35. Thanks for the post.. These so-called Christians

with their pointing fingers and wrath of god threats are not what Christianity represents. It is a shame they give it such a bad name and reputation that all of us are somehow fundies....

[triguy46]

36. There is no Biblical support for "Christian Nation."

for new testment believers, the central tenet is that faith is individual. You cannot be a believer by proxy, and contrary to mormonism, you cannot be baptized by proxy. There is no New Testament model or teaching that a "nation" can be granted salvation. At best, what can be said is that we are a nation with Christians. But belief is not granted to a country/race/club/political party, only to an individual.

It is this kind of rejection of governmental holiness that was central to Roger Williams being seen as a Baptist radical 300 years ago, and what got him tossed out of Massachusetts. It was his vociferous rejection of government being anything but secular that challenged the theocrats of the colonies. he refused to accept government as a religious institution because he doubted, he rejected their "soul competency," i.e., he didn't think that the government had any place in religion.

Obviously, the words "Christian Nation" now have special political meaning that is not Biblical. Its like a club, and either you're in or out and memebership is granted by secular decree, not by true faith. This is what makes school prayer so ridiculous. With so many weird beliefs mixed with so many faiths and views of God, just where is the corporate prayer going? Is it generic enough to fit all 'gods?' That is to be rejected, the words are meaningless unless prayed, and the model for that is Christ who taught, "when you pray, go into your closet, do not be like the Pharisees who pray on the street corner for all to see. They have received their reward already."

[im10ashus]

37. It's true that religion has become politicized.

Not that it wasn't back in the day of Jesus. It is now just another for-profit organization.

The linked article had this to say, which I thought was interesting:

But one day it occurred to me that the parts of the world where people actually had cut dramatically back on their carbon emissions, actually did live voluntarily in smaller homes and take public transit, were the same countries where people were giving aid to the poor and making sure everyone had health care—countries like Norway and Sweden, where religion was relatively unimportant. How could that be? For Christians there should be something at least a little scary in the notion that, absent the magical answers of religion, people might just get around to solving their problems and strengthening their communities in more straightforward ways.