Sunday Musings – November 13, 2022
Religion and the body politic
I cannot recall hearing the term Christian Nationalist until the past few years although I have always questioned why so many churches have a United States flag in the sanctuary. The Christian church does not, after all, owe allegiance to any country, culture or group of people. The United States does not have a state church and, in fact, is, by design, protected in the constitution from a state religion.
I also never understood the role of those who pray for our military to win in battle or the frequent assertion that the United States is consistently the nation which the Christian God would favor. Many United States citizens seem to believe that the United States and its citizens are God’s chosen people. Many of these same people seem to believe that the Christian God who made his presence known in the form of Jesus of Nazareth demands absolute obedience and acknowledgement that he is the one true god; a god whose ego is so tiny that he requires confirmation of his sole divinity before one can be assured of an invitation to eternal life or even an invitation to dinner. In some churches only those who are professed members and adherents to the doctrine of that branch of Christianity are invited to partake of communion - the lord’s supper.
Although I find no record of Jesus living in a palatial mansion with servants enough to host dinner for the multitudes, there is evidence of his doing all he could to make sure a crowd of people gathered outside were fed without regard to their beliefs, past sins or other proof that they were deserving.
The truth is that this Jesus fellow, as well as many other spiritual teachers, recognize that humans are humans; humans who by definition are often generous in their love, impressively creative as well as often short sighted and needful of constant reassurance that they are worthwhile. Very often it seems we humans need to believe that god believes we are worthwhile only if we are more than/better than/richer than/stronger than or collect more toys than other humans.
There are no chosen people. Many of us have talents which comfort, soothe or bring great healing and joy to others. All of us have moments of stupidity and often hurt others. Some of us invade other nations while self-righteously and creatively justifying said invasion. Many of us seem convinced that if we hurt others enough, they will become more trusting, kinder people. Some of us seem convinced that some of us are more deserving of health care, food, clothing, protection from the elements and love than are others. Some of us think that because we have been mistreated we are justified in mistreating others. We may convince ourselves that the god of our understanding approves of our actions because, after all, we are the chosen people.
Science tells us that there are no chosen people; that every action or inaction which is itself an action, affects at some level, the entire universe in a positive or negative manner. Science tells us that earth is but a spec in the universes. Science tells us that we are we are pure energy, and that energy is neither created nor destroyed. Science tells us that all parts of any system are equally important. Science tells that treating others with love, understanding and respect reaps rewards for the universe(s). Science tells us that the brains of we humans are composed of many parts which may or may not be capable of what we call logic at any moment in time and space. Science tells us that just as do other animals we humans have various appetites, desires, and attractions unrelated to what we decide is acceptable or moral or good or bad; that no one decides they want to be compulsively attracted to someone of the same or different gender or only to those of a certain acceptable age or appearance. Science tells us that our particular brains may be designed to only register either/or thinking or be incapable of standing back and examining all sides of an issue or situation. Science tells us that hurt people hurt people; that once we humans are treated badly, we may see all as potential danger.
Science tells us that that there are many frameworks for organizing how we view and experience the world. Religions are such frameworks which in and of themselves are neither good nor bad. They cannot, however, rise above being mere frameworks.
Perhaps one of the gifts of religious frameworks is the attempt of its member to articulate the questions; the attempt to place we humans within the context of the whole. Perhaps the greatest shortcoming of religion is the need to believe it provides “the answers”.
As soon as we posit that the god of our understanding is “the God” who welcomes only those who obey certain person created rules we have destroyed the very god we are seeking,
Positing a Christian nation, a Christian nationalism is, I believe a sword which is destined to separate one from “God”.
Written November 13, 2022
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Religion and the body politic
I cannot recall hearing the term Christian Nationalist until the past few years although I have always questioned why so many churches have a United States flag in the sanctuary. The Christian church does not, after all, owe allegiance to any country, culture or group of people. The United States does not have a state church and, in fact, is, by design, protected in the constitution from a state religion.
I also never understood the role of those who pray for our military to win in battle or the frequent assertion that the United States is consistently the nation which the Christian God would favor. Many United States citizens seem to believe that the United States and its citizens are God’s chosen people. Many of these same people seem to believe that the Christian God who made his presence known in the form of Jesus of Nazareth demands absolute obedience and acknowledgement that he is the one true god; a god whose ego is so tiny that he requires confirmation of his sole divinity before one can be assured of an invitation to eternal life or even an invitation to dinner. In some churches only those who are professed members and adherents to the doctrine of that branch of Christianity are invited to partake of communion - the lord’s supper.
Although I find no record of Jesus living in a palatial mansion with servants enough to host dinner for the multitudes, there is evidence of his doing all he could to make sure a crowd of people gathered outside were fed without regard to their beliefs, past sins or other proof that they were deserving.
The truth is that this Jesus fellow, as well as many other spiritual teachers, recognize that humans are humans; humans who by definition are often generous in their love, impressively creative as well as often short sighted and needful of constant reassurance that they are worthwhile. Very often it seems we humans need to believe that god believes we are worthwhile only if we are more than/better than/richer than/stronger than or collect more toys than other humans.
There are no chosen people. Many of us have talents which comfort, soothe or bring great healing and joy to others. All of us have moments of stupidity and often hurt others. Some of us invade other nations while self-righteously and creatively justifying said invasion. Many of us seem convinced that if we hurt others enough, they will become more trusting, kinder people. Some of us seem convinced that some of us are more deserving of health care, food, clothing, protection from the elements and love than are others. Some of us think that because we have been mistreated we are justified in mistreating others. We may convince ourselves that the god of our understanding approves of our actions because, after all, we are the chosen people.
Science tells us that there are no chosen people; that every action or inaction which is itself an action, affects at some level, the entire universe in a positive or negative manner. Science tells us that earth is but a spec in the universes. Science tells us that we are we are pure energy, and that energy is neither created nor destroyed. Science tells us that all parts of any system are equally important. Science tells that treating others with love, understanding and respect reaps rewards for the universe(s). Science tells us that the brains of we humans are composed of many parts which may or may not be capable of what we call logic at any moment in time and space. Science tells us that just as do other animals we humans have various appetites, desires, and attractions unrelated to what we decide is acceptable or moral or good or bad; that no one decides they want to be compulsively attracted to someone of the same or different gender or only to those of a certain acceptable age or appearance. Science tells us that our particular brains may be designed to only register either/or thinking or be incapable of standing back and examining all sides of an issue or situation. Science tells us that hurt people hurt people; that once we humans are treated badly, we may see all as potential danger.
Science tells us that that there are many frameworks for organizing how we view and experience the world. Religions are such frameworks which in and of themselves are neither good nor bad. They cannot, however, rise above being mere frameworks.
Perhaps one of the gifts of religious frameworks is the attempt of its member to articulate the questions; the attempt to place we humans within the context of the whole. Perhaps the greatest shortcoming of religion is the need to believe it provides “the answers”.
As soon as we posit that the god of our understanding is “the God” who welcomes only those who obey certain person created rules we have destroyed the very god we are seeking,
Positing a Christian nation, a Christian nationalism is, I believe a sword which is destined to separate one from “God”.
Written November 13, 2022
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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