Unfettered Blather

This is going to be tough because I want to talk about the DaVinci code but I don’t want to be like the news media I just criticized by giving away the entire story. I think I will settle on this one little spoiler, and you’ve been warned and say that story centers on a cover-up by the Catholic Church where they essentially made-up Christ’s divinity. In essence, the story is really heavy with gnostic overtones, which really when you get right down to it doesn’t present any new theories or philosophies we have not already seen about Jesus Christ.

Which is why I am not up in arms about the movie even though I am a Christian. Well, that and the fact that the DaVinci Code is fiction even though the author has often alluded to his “accurate historical research” and not so subtly implied that there is more than a ring of truth to the conspiracy even if the events in the book are clearly fictitious.

Ok, so Dan Brown isn’t a Christian and he questions the divinity of Christ. Wow, real controversial.

I’m going to put this out there and feel free to disagree if you want, but I’m going to say it anyway. If you’re a Christian and want to go see this movie and you feel that you can handle the content then go right ahead and see it. I have no desire to see the movie or read the book not based on what it professes but because I have had too many non-believers whose literary opinions I respect tell me the book has a paper thin plot, is a substandard murder mystery, that is poorly written, and is difficult to plod through. Plus, in general, it falls into a genre that doesn’t really grab me anyway, so the bad reviews are a real turn off. In my opinion the book simply gets by on its controversial premise more than anything.

Still, if you want to go see the movie than do so. I am of the mind that my faith is not so weak that it cannot be challenged. I never liked the mentality of people of any faith who act as though any belief contrary to theirs is somehow intolerable. I have had discussions at length with good people questioning, examining, and analyzing my beliefs. I find this good for me if I can question my own faith. Do I believe because I really believe in all this stuff about God, Christ, and the Bible or am I simply a sheep who follows blindly and does as they are told? I want genuine faith, and genuine faith is not easily challenged. If you walk into the DaVinci code a Christian and walk out an aetheist, then obviously you either weren’t that strong of a believer to begin with or the movie makes some good arguments against your faith. I’m telling you that if you can convince me to stop believing, you’ve made some darn good points!

Which is why I don’t understand the resistance to the movie by the Church. It makes them look afraid, it makes them look like they have something to hide. There is nothing wrong with saying they don’t recommend it, that they find the movie supports a dubious claim, and that it is clearly a work of fiction that seems to make a point of making the Church look bad. All these things are fine. Calling for a boycott of the movie on these same grounds is practically the same as buying tickets for the movie. I think the Catholic Church is actually helping the DaVinci Code sell tickets by constantly drawing attention to it. Maybe if the Catholic Church had acted with a little more integrity with recent scandals people would respect its wishes a little more, but with the credibility of the Church in question, them protesting the movie only raises public curiousity.

As Christians you will not see riots in the streets. Some misguided people acting as “believers” may send some threatening letters, but no one involved with the movie is going to wake up next to a horse’s head or find their loved ones disappear in the night. I can fairly well guarantee you won’t see a Christian radical website beheading a set painter for the movie. I think the general lack of violence, with very few exceptions, is one positive aspect of the Christian beliefs. The downside is we have to deal with things like the DaVinci Code. However, even that is not bad, because we can set an example here, turn the other cheek, and show we do not fear such things. After all, if none of it is true, what is there to fear?

John Scalzi, a new favorite author of mine but not a Christian has some relevant thoughts on the “Religious Left” that I find interesting.

Not to belittle his other points because the whole post was good reading, but the one thing he really nails is the “binary thinking” which assumes if you’re not A then you must be B. Of course, the minute anyone talks about Christianity you become a member of the “Religious Right” by default, and if you don’t subscribe to Conservative political idealogy then you’re on the other team. Well, no, since I prefer to bat for my own team really and am wary of either political camp. Furthermore, while I think my religion is central enough in my life to actually base political decisions I make from my beliefs, I don’t think it defines my political associations.

Just to expound further on Mr. Scalzi though, the real annoyance I have is how the “Religious Right” is blamed for everything these days, even though their numbers are not near great enough to swing votes the way they are often blamed. For example, the ban on gay marriages in Ohio during the 2004 election was blamed on the religious right, nevermind that not every religious person is necessarily a Republican nor are there enough Christians to have voted the overwhelming numbers against the measure that led to the ban. Could it be that the non-religious, agnostics, and everyday people don’t support gay marriage as much as the media would lead you to believe? Surely not!

That is what increasingly annoys me about the “reality-based” party is that whenever reality doesn’t line up with their expectations it becomes part of a conspiracy. What bothers me the most is how they expect me to behave, believe, and vote a certain way based on their preconceived notions. Were I to do the same to others I would be called prejuidiced. However, since I am a Christian I am supposed to behave a certain way.

Yet Scalzi, and others, are right to be wary of the “Religious Right”. There numbers may not be great, but just like certain aspects of the Democrats, they are extremely loud. I never expect a group who is out for amassing political power to put their beliefs first. These are not people out to defend Christian values but rather to gather power for themselves. There is nothing that differentiates them from any other special interest group in D.C., and that is enough to make me wary of anything they do or so.

A lot of people have a problem with Christianity. I can respect that. I have a lot of problems with people who blatantly park their cars illegally. We all have our little hang-ups. The US is a diverse country and it’s big enough for the many perspectives held on just about everything under the sun. After all, what other country has so much time on its hands that people can debate which was the best Star Trek Captain with religious fervor?

I believe that religion, any religion, is not above parody, criticism, satire, or debate of its merits. That includes, naturally, my own. If you read Casey and Andy, a very funny strip I might add, you will see endless critiques, constant jabs, and regular parody all at Christianity’s expense. I find myself more intrigued by Andy Weir’s position than offended. His criticisms are not without merit and he never, ever, resorts to outright bashing and then hiding behind the lamest defense: “Can’t you take a joke?”.

What I cannot stomach is when people bring up the Crusades when talking about Christianity. What will happen is someone will start a religious debate and some Christians will get baited into it. If the Christians fail to act sufficiently self righteous or generally give routine examples of good Christian behavior, inevitably someone will bring up the Crusades.

Now, on one hand, I could argue that the Crusades were really about men in power looking for an excuse to go to war and finding the Bible as a convenient excuse. In fact, go watch Kingdom of Heaven if you want to see good examples of people seeking faith versus those who are really just hiding behind the Bible to justify their own evil deeds.

However, I am less inclined to go down that path, or even write in further detail here due to the fact that the Crusades ended about SEVEN CENTURIES AGO!!!!

That is the part that amazes me. I might mention something about Nazi Germany and someone who is German might say “Well that was a long time ago and our country has changed greatly”. Indeed, in terms of history World War II is barely the blink of an eye even if it seems like a lifetime to us. Believe it or not, Christianity has changed a great deal to. The basic tenets are the same, but you cannot tell me that societal changes have not had their effect on the people who call themselves Christian. If World War II was “so long ago” then perhaps it is time to stop holding the Crusades over my head as well. No doubt, knowing my lineage, some of my ancestors did take part in them. Would an apology make you feel better? Should I beg forgiveness for the actions of ancestors long since dead who exist in an obscure context in my mind?

Here is one for you, if the best criticism you can come up with is the misguided actions that took place over 700 years ago, I think the Christians are doing alright. Or, if you want to see how it’s done, go read Casey and Andy. Not only might you learn something, but it will be entertaining as well.

Seems like a lot of the blogs I have read today have touched on religion in some sense or another. Usually I wouldn’t hesitate to link to and ping a relevant blog, but none of them have really said anything about what I want to write about. It’s been more about inspiration than anything.

Full disclosure, I have been a Christian now for about 15 years. I think that often-times we get carried away with our little book of rules and often miss the point entirely. All too often I’ll see someone read the Bible or hear a message and say “Wow, that’s great stuff! All of the people I know should do this and their lives would be so much better!”. That is what I call missing the point.

When I read the Bible or when I hear a particularly powerful sermon, I want to internalize it. I have to ask myself “How can I be a better follower of Christ?” I am frustrated by others who never ask themselves this question. They want to run around and inflict their views on the world, never wondering or questioning where their heart is at.

If the Bible is so great, if Jesus’ teachings are so wonderful, then why don’t we try living by the Word of God before trying to force it down someone’s throat? I’m not saying you have to be perfect, I have my struggles to you know. At least make an attempt. If you really believe that the Bible is sacred and holy, then you should show your faith by carrying out its edicts. Not telling everyone else how to live their life.

Christianity is ultimately about a choice and a relationship. You must choose to accept the sacrifice of Christ to be a Christian. From that point on, what happens in your life is between you and God. There are no other parties. It doesn’t matter what the neighbors are doing or what the clerk at the video store thinks of your beliefs. You can share, and in fact are encouraged to do so. At the same time, your primary concern as a Christian should be with your own behavior. As soon as you are perfect, then you can start working on others.