I’m feeling disgruntled.
This morning on my way into Chicago I was listening to God’s Politics on CD. I pretty much think Jim Wallis is great. But lately, I get this disheartened feeling when I listen to something both political and religious that I agree with wholeheartedly. I think because it is immensely frustrating to know that there are many people there are out there who have similar views, and yet here we are entrenched in this political chaos…with, as Wallis puts it, the loud minority painting a pretty poor picture of the more quiet majority.
I am tired of defending myself. I am tired of telling people I’m a Christian and immediately getting “the look.” Why should I feel the need to constantly expose the fact that being a Christian does not inherently make me pro war, vehemently right-winged or negligent to issues of poverty? Broad stereotypes they might be, but that is the assumption and I am sick of it.
Let's get this straight: I never voted for Bush and am aghast that not once but twice an imbecile won the presidency. I don’t believe religious leaders should ever openly back a candidate…what a blatant abuse of power. Single-issue voters make me livid. And I certainly believe that when Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers” He wasn’t exactly condoning the atrocious amount of civilian deaths in Iraq.
So let’s stop assuming that just because a person is a Christian they are a mini Jerry Falwell.
It might be time to stop writing and chill myself out for a bit. This stuff gets me riled up. On that note...
Anyone want to move to Canada?
2 comments:
oh sissy. i understand. jim wallis is a good place to start, too - one of the few leftist christian voices out there who's actually getting attention in the media.
i am beginning to think that it's too late to salvage the name "christian" - it has been so co-opted and reshaped in the name of these right wing zealots' social agendas that at this point any attempts to dig out of the stereotypes are sisyphean. that's why it seems doubly important to emphasize that you are a "christian" but that that means something very different from what people immediately understand that to be. i used to say: "i'm a radical christian, but i think that's a redundant term." good starting place for a conversation.
anyway, i'll shut up. feelin' yer pain, though. for sure.
Can I just simply say "DITTO"?????
You have a fabulous blog, my dear.
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