Radical secularists agree with Jesus
by Marsha Abelman
"A growing culture of radical secularism declares that
the nation cannot profess the truths on which it was founded," said
Newt Gingrich in his address to Liberty University's graduating class
last week. "We are told that our public schools can no longer invoke
the creator... In hostility to American history, the radical secularists
insist that religious belief is inherently divisive and that public
debate can only proceed on secular terms," he said. |
The adjective "radical" is very popular with evangelicals
lately: Dobson decries the "radical homosexual agenda," Phyllis Schlafly
(among others) censures "radical activist judges" for doing their
Constitutionally-defined jobs (hearing cases that challenge or require
interpretation of the legislation passed by Congress and signed by
the President), and now Gingrich blames radical secularists for the
coming up with the idea that religion is divisive. |
However, it was the founder and main deity of Christianity,
Jesus Christ, who said it first: "If anyone comes to me and does not
hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and
sisters…he cannot be my disciple." It is human nature to love one's
mother, father, wife, children, and siblings. However, just as the
bumper sticker says, "Jesus Christ was a radical." He taught that
religious belief must overcome secular emotions - familial love was
no longer a good thing if it interfered with devotion to Jesus.
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It is not hostile "to American history" or to world
history to point out that religious belief has caused exactly what
Jesus ordered it should: hatred of one's own kin if they do not believe
as you do. Only Christians in extreme denial can say that religion
has not caused some of the most evil human actions on earth. During
the Inquisition one of the milder forms of persecution that the Catholic
church practiced was to make certain believers wear yellow fabric
crosses on their clothing to identify them to others. Strange. Why
would Christians want to brand other Christians? Because they weren't
"real" believers, they weren't Catholic. Even though belief in Jesus
Christ is what makes one a Christian, that wasn't enough. Divisive
religious doctrines made even the believers enemies. |
In Mr. Gingrich's, Dr. Dobson's and Ms. Schlafly's worldviews,
secularists are interfering with religion. And yet, no where else
in the world are people as free to practice religious faith as here
in America. Gingrich complains that schools do not "invoke a creator"
officially, yet the Christian religion is alive and flourishing in
schools. Drive by any high school in America and watch the Christian
students praying at the flagpole. Go inside and see kids stop in the
middle of the hall to pray aloud with their friends. Attend a Fellowship
of Christian Athletes meeting conducted by a staff member/coach. Everyone
may not agree with Christianity, but disagreement is not persecution.
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Gingrich and his fellows don't seem to be happy with
freedom to practice their religion; they want us ALL to practice their
religion. They want the state to endorse their Christian religion
as our national religion. But even if that happens, America won't
be the heaven of harmony they envision. Even if they burn the heathens
(again), all the believers won't be in agreement. Certain Christians
will have to wear yellow crosses sewn to their vests. Secularists
agree: Jesus Christ himself demands it. |
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