Don't Tread on Me God
by Dr. David Eller
The essence of America is freedom,
democracy, and dissent.
Americans do not like anyone
telling them what to do; we have
an inherent (and mostly healthy)
disdain for government and
authority. In fact, America was
born, and is born again every
day, by people literally leaving
behind their tradition societies and authorities and
starting over in a new world of their own choice
and making. |
The essence of religion, on the other hand, is
conformity, absolutism, and obedience. Gods do not
like anyone refusing their commands; they have an
inherent (and mostly pathological) disdain for human
will and individuality. In fact, choosing your own
truths and values is heresy and is tantamount to sin.
Many have died over the centuries for it, and many
more are apparently going to pay for it today. |
This is why I find the current controversy over the
Catholic Churchs stance on doctrinal points amazing. Not that
I find their stance amazing; everyone knows what it is, and it is
not substantially different from that of any other mainline Christian
sect. What dumbfounds me is that people could be surprised by it
that the Church has rules and that it intends to enforce them. Presumably,
people know why they are in a religion because they believe
its claims are true and its values are good. If not, why be in it?
But once you accept that, your freedom of choice is over. |
I was stunned recently to see a Catholic questioning
the bishops, asking Who do they think they
are? The answer, of course, as they should already
know, is the very representatives of God on earth.
The bishops are just passing along what the Church
says, which is just passing along what God says.
What were you expecting? A vote? God to reconsider
and announce, Oh, well, I guess my orders were
wrong? Or just as unlikely, Hey, here are my
orders. Take them and see what you think? |
I for one am glad that this and other churches have
been blunt about what they demand; the revolt against such pronouncements
is good but confused. The reaction should not be, How can
you do that to me? but Sorry, I dont go for your
rules, so I guess I cant be part of your institution.
American Catholics dont like it, and other Americans do not
like religion trying to tell people what to do. But that is what
religion does. If you do not like being told what to do and
paying the penalty for disobeying perhaps religion is not
for you.
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And that takes us to the deepest meaning of this whole
subject. Many people think that America is a Christian country or
that it was founded on Christian values. However, as the current
situation shows, a part, maybe the key part, of American character
and society is not Christian at all. In fact, we should go so far
as to say that it is non-Christian, even anti-Christian. Americans
do not bow to authority and do not blindly obey their leaders.
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Their democratic spirit does not come from religion,
and it does not fit religion. It is fundamentally
irreligious. America is, in a real way, anti-religious,
and religion is, in a real way, anti-American.
That realization deserves some serious reflection
and some serious self-redefinition.
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