CHristian Paradox

Looks like this article really struck everyone! When I began reading the article, I thought McKibben's idea of "Christian behavior" was going to cause problems in getting his point across. The world of Christianity is so varied and diverse, and Christian values range so dramatically between countries, denominations, congregations, and even individuals, it's fair to say that there is no one "Christian behavior." The bible is open to interpretation and creating a culture based on teachings in the bible do not necessarily dictate one prescribed set of behavioral standards. I think this is problematic, because if we think of all Christians as one large "family," all part of the same tradition and culture, then suddenly people like Pat Robertson get put in the same "family" as Kathy Shantz, and I don't think this is fair.

However, for the purposes of this article, McKibben has defined "Christian teachings" in fairly simple terms: Jesus said to love your god, and to treat your neighbor as yourself. Not all Christians think this is the most important lesson of the bible. Like he points out, many churches now find gay rights and abortion more worthy causes than loving one's neighbor. This is a shame, and I am constantly disappointed with the direction American culture is going in terms of judgmental hatred using the bible as a defense. I don't think that Christianity is to blame, however. Not all nations that are majority Christian behave the same way Americans do. I think there are many factors that have contributed to the evolution of the American self-centered, wasteful, aggressive, over-consuming angry America that we see in the media and even from our neighbors and families sometimes. He makes an interesting point, though, that Christianity has had a major role in shaping the values of this country, and so we should examine the role Christianity has to play in how we treat each other and the planet (similar to what Lynn White suggested, in some ways).

Jesus also embraced the poor, poverty, and was, essentially, an incredibly radical member of society. What does it take to live a life this radical in the United States now? The readings about radical thinkers and activists reminded me just how hard it is to live a life outside the norm, in a world where the "norm" is flashed across our television screens and billboards and radio constantly. "If you buy these things you'll be happier! If you wear these clothes you'll be happier! If you rid the world of gay people you'll be happier!" Like Greg Mortensen, in order to do something different and radical, you have to go against EVERYONE's advice! Everyone else does it like the "norm," and therefore all of them will tell you it's wrong. It's hard to move in a different direction than the norm. Jesus did it. Bill McKibben makes an excellent point: why aren't followers of Christianity doing the same?

He also makes a great point about health care: would Jesus want health care for only those members of society who can afford it? Would he want a health care system that favored large insurance corporations and left the poor and needy in the dust because in an "every man for himself" and "we'll help those who help themselves" sort of plan? Countries like Sweden, where everyone has access to health care and education, seem to be taking Jesus's teachings to heart more than the very "help the rich stay rich" policies the United States government wants to impose now. Conservatives often make the point that "we have worked hard for our money and don't want to give it to the government." I understand that there is more behind this statement than simple selfishness (thinking the government spends money irresposibly, for example, or not wanting to fund the american military), but ultimately this sort of attitude contributes to the selfish reputation Americans are so famous for around the world. Isn't it our responsibility to help OTHERS as well as ourselves? Taxes don't only go to pay for the military. They also pay for education, health care, and countless other things we need to have a healthy citizen body, which we surely don't right now. This was a great line: "It's hard to imagine a con much more audacious than making Christ the front make for a program of tax cuts for the rich or war in Iraq." AMEN.

I also thought that it was an interesting point that the states in this country that call themselves the most Christian are the ones with the highest death penalty rates. I realize that correlation does not equal causation in this case, but it is definitely worth looking at any relationship between how Christianity is interpreted and how the culture uses it in these areas, and how they treat the environment and the people around them. I don't think that the bible itself is responsible for this sort of behavior. I think it is people's interpretations of the bible that cause problems. And there is McKibben's question: why do so many Americans interpret the bible in a way that creates a self-centered, consumerist, hateful culture? I don't understand.