Reply #8: Some perspective

[Az]

(FYI I am an atheist. I like to think I am a friendly atheist. But if my presence here and advice are unwelcome please let me know and I will desist)

When people experience religious acts such as those exhibited by some Pentecostal factions it can strike one as very odd behavior. Extreme even. The fact that it does not constitute insanity and is well within the range of explainable human behavior does not change the fact that people do not experience it every day. And when you combine this with the fact that it is based on ideas that the observer may not agree with they often come to the conclusion that it is insane. At the very least it is shocking. This is the nature of ignorance.

Unfortunately the right has dragged religion into the political arena. They often seek to place their faith and beliefs on display as a sort of badge to garner votes unwarranted by secular positions. In doing so they expose their faith to political examination. Any oddity that would cause discomfort to voters becomes grist for the mill due to this. This is why for a very long time fundamentalist sects tended to avoid politics. Because it has a contaminating effect on their faith. But with the right dragging Jesus into the center of the public square and demanding that he be acknowledged they bring about the corruption themselves.

Unfortunately because the more moderate theists tend to keep their faith out of the public arena the only voice heard are the trumpeting of the fundamentalists and those with an axe to grind. Because the moderates and left leaning individuals recognize the peril of mixing their faith in their politics this goes unchallenged (relatively speaking). So those who do not share Christian beliefs do not distinguish between the puppets of the right and other more tolerant representations of Christian faith.

Those who do not share Christian beliefs feel as though they are under attack and that their rights are being stripped away. And that is something worth fighting for. Unfortunately many Christians who are on the wall defending our rights along with us are caught in their broadside attacks because they do not see or experience any significant presence of moderate or liberal Christians arguing for tolerance. And the matter becomes even murkier when the left attempts to raise the voice of tolerance in the name of Christianity because it ties politics and religion together again. Its a conundrum as to how to deal with this. If a liberal Christian raises their voice to extol the value of their faith in the political arena as a counter to the right they draw the ire of those they are in essence defending because of the perceived dangers of mixing religion and politics. But if they do not oppose the right then the right effectively speaks for all Christians.

You have my empathy in regards to the perception of bashing that you and your fellow Christians receive here. I do not envy you the matter of charting a path through the thorny minefield that is mixing religion and politics. I cannot help but see my path as easier because my beliefs and politics are both secular in nature. Thus I do not have to walk between two worlds. And I appreciate the wisdom of those believers that can see the value of secular governance and the patience to walk their path.