I’ll
Tell You What You Believe When I See What You Do
by Ruth
A. Sheets
The
American “Christian Right” has stepped up its campaign to make the United States
a Christian nation. They claim incorrectly, that the founders were Christian
and really intended that this be a Christian country which only tolerates people
of other religions. To modify that notion further, they want us to be a people
that reflects their particular world view.
What
does that world view consist of? It is a world of the Bible, so they tell us.
Jesus is at the center of this world and of course, Jesus looks like them, tall,
handsome, and white.
It is
not sufficient to hold these beliefs within their own spheres. Members of the
“Christian Right” see themselves as evangelists. To forward their “cause,” they
are and recruit public officials willing to pass laws restricting the rights and
beliefs of others, (for their own good, of course).
The
“Right” laments the lack of formal Christian prayer in school. They sue
districts for their anti-school prayer policies so the Supreme Court will
ultimately rule that school prayer is really OK. And, the current court
will.
The
“Rights” laws require that The 10 Commandments be posted in courthouses and
courtrooms. Of course, among the several versions, the one to be posted is the
King James version, the one they grew up with. They can’t actually state what
the Commandments are and don’t follow them particularly well. They “love” guns
and encourage wars, and have no problem bearing false witness against their
neighbors or coveting their neighbor’s . . . . Oh well! That clearly doesn’t
matter; it’s the principle.
Their
interpretation of their Bible demands women’s submission. This allows men to
pass any law they feel necessary to keep women in the place men approve for
them. “Christian Right” men value women who have learned to want only what
their men provide. Women with choice regarding their reproduction, on the job
pay, or anything else is forbidden. Women just can’t handle it.
The
“Christian Right” reads hatred of homosexuality on every page of their Bible and
will stand against any manifestation of it to the death (well, maybe to the
death of the homosexuals). This is interesting since there are so few
references to same-sex anything in the Bible it is almost invisible. And, Jesus
said nothing about it. He clearly would have known of it as popular as it was
in Roman culture.
Jesus
tells his followers to care for the poor, imprisoned, outcast. However, the
“Christian Right” seems to despise the poor judging by the budgets they bring to
Congress. There are more imprisoned in America than in any other country. The
“Christian Right” doesn’t have much problem with that. Funds to support “the
least of these” are being cut on a regular basis.
Our
problem with the “Christian Right,” as I see it is that few non-members today
seem brave enough to say “NO” to the “Right.” Each time they pass a law that
restricts religious freedom in one state, a group of them in another part of the
country pushes a similar law through there too. Then, it creeps around to other
states and localities.
The
cost of challenging a law once it is passed and signed is high. The “Christian
Right” knows this. If enough restrictive laws are passed, the rest of us will
be overwhelmed, unable to challenge all of them. On top of this, the “Right”
restricts the vote, so more “Right” lawmakers are
elected.
We need
to stand up and fight the childishness of a group of “Christians” who think they
have the full truth. They don’t. Seeing what they do, though, we know what they
believe.
They
believe that one’s gut feeling is more valuable than thinking.
They
believe the Bible is one’s plan for life, even if they pick and choose from it
what they will follow and ignore the rest.
They
believe that money and the pursuit of it for themselves and their kind is Holy
and entitles those who have the most to do whatever they want with it. They are
God’s favored ones.
They
believe the poor are in that condition due to their own actions. If they
weren’t lazy and stupid they would have money and whatever they want and God
would bless them.
They
believe that acting holier than thou is better than actual caring, kindness, and
love directed toward the other.
They
believe they have a phone line to God and no matter how they act, God approves
and wants everyone else to approve.
These
are the fantasies of self-centered children who have no business governing
anything.
