By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, April 20, 2007 at 6:00 AM
There was a time not too long ago when religious leaders in America focused the energies of their flocks on social ills like poverty, education and civil rights. But in recent decades, religious conservatives have refocused those energies on the narrow fights against abortion and homosexuality. Labels: Culture, Interviews
While the country engages in wars which result in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, with only some notable exceptions, the religious community is largely silent. What happened to the Christian calling for social justice?
The name Kennedy is synonymous with a religious calling leading to social action through politics. The family and their two most famous sons have a legacy of public service that is rooted from their Catholic values and has branched into nearly every arena of public service thanks to a family tree as large as any in Yellowstone.
Earlier this week, I sat down with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and the eldest of Robert F. and Ethel Kennedy's 11 children. We discussed her new book, "Failing America's Faithful: How Today's Churches Are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way".
Click here to buy "Failing America's Faithful: How Today's Churches Are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way" on Amazon.com.
21 Comments:
Religions have often used fear to 'manage' their flocks. Nowadays many of these so called leaders realize that there is no fear and hence no power and no return (money) in preaching peace, respect for others, etc.
It is more popular to play to a person's fears of the unknown or a topic that makes a person uncomfortable. Rather than have an intelligent conversation, it is easier to say the other side is wrong.
4/20/2007 9:44 AM
I attended the affair at the Missouri Historical Society with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. I thought she was very good and made many salient points. I will read her book.
Nevertheless, I felt she misstated what is going on in the Catholic Church and other conservative churches such as mine (Presbyterian).
She stated that these churches seem to be concerned only about three issues: abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and same-sex marriage. In all fairness, the Catholic Church and many evangelical churches are very busy reaching out to the poor and disenfranchised. They just do not advertise what they are doing or toot their own horn.
Nevertheless, there are some Biblical principles that reach back to the Church's very beginning that have not changed.
Following is a quote from the Didache (teaching in the latter first century Church): “There are two ways, a way of life and a way of death; there is a great difference between them….In accordance with the precept of the teaching ‘You shall not kill,’ you shall not put a child to death by abortion or kill it once it is born….The way of death is this: They show no compassion for the poor, they do not suffer with the suffering, they do not acknowledge their Creator, they kill their children and by abortion cause God’s creatures to perish; they drive away the needy, oppress the suffering, they are advocates of the rich and unjust judges of the poor, they are filled with every sin. May you be ever guiltless of all these sins!”
From the earliest non-canonical Christian writings, the Didache, (probably written in the latter half of the first century
Both the Catholic Church and most evangelical churches today continue to come to the aid of the poor, not only in this country, but around the world.
I am a conservative, evangelical Christian, but I have been a strong advocate for fairness and justice in public school education.
4/20/2007 11:56 AM
Worst. Gubernatorial. Campaign. Ever.
I'm sure the book is good and all but when I was working in Maryland when she was running for office.
She lost to a man who has the worst hair in State Politics, and she was a Kennedy! Although we beat her cousin too in the primary so it was a bad year for the Kennedy's.
4/20/2007 3:51 PM
"the Catholic Church and many evangelical churches are very busy reaching out to the poor and disenfranchised. They just do not advertise what they are doing or toot their own horn."
Yes, and when they can do it without strings attached, it will actually be altruistic. My religion believes in sharing what we have with those less fortunate, as well, but we don't expect them to listen to our version of "the Word" in return.
4/20/2007 9:53 PM
I have two comments:
1) I agree with Helen in that many of the religions (catholic, protest, even islamic) do not do anywhere near enough preaching and making news about the service they do to God's suffering (the poor, the maligned, the disabled, etc).
They spend more energy preaching their message of those other 3 topics and I feel that if they spent less time on these and more on the former, more people would respect their religions' views on those 3 by default.
2) This country has two polical dynasties: the Bushes and the Kennedys. To me the Bushes did more for businesses than the Kennedys and the Kennedys did more for society.
I'll take the Kennedys thank you.
4/20/2007 10:00 PM
Well, Anonymous, you neither identify yourself nor your religion. So how can anyone judge the veracity of your statements. By the way, Antonio, I thought one could no longer respond in anonymity on this blog. What happened.
Morris, how often are you in evangelical churches? I am in church every Sunday and never is a political issue raised. The Scriptures are expounded, and when they touch principles dealing with works of mercy and charity, that is what we hear. When the passage deals with moral issues, that is what we hear. When the passage deals with preaching Christ crucified and risen, that is what we hear.
Much of the revenue goes into outreach and missions. Members come into the inner city to help black churches and their goals. Members go at their own expense to Kenya, the Ukraine, Honduras, the Philippines, etc. to assist poorer national churches.
As for the Kennedy's and the Bush's, what you say may be what is true or merely an appearance. I believe God is Judge and knows what the individuals do. As I said, people who serve God genuinely from the heart do not toot their own horn or make a public show of their good works.
At the present, abortion (Thank God the cruel, inhumane partial birth abortion is judged illegal by the Supreme Court!), embryonic stem cell research, and same-sex marriage are public and political issues dealt with in the Old and New Testaments. Since their proponents make them such a big deal, Catholics, evangelicals, Orthodox, etc. Christians respond from their understanding of Scripture too.
Christians are called to be both light and salt upon the earth and where they live. Therefore, they will speak up as do others. When the American Muslim population increases greatly, you will hear from them very forcibly too.
4/21/2007 6:30 AM
"Well, Anonymous, you neither identify yourself nor your religion. So how can anyone judge the veracity of your statements."
The veracity is that Evangelical Christians proselytize and other religions discourage conversions because of the respect that they have for allowing individuals the right to continue in the belief structure of their upbringing and not interfere with parental teachings that most people adhere to regardless of intervening knowledge. Anyone raised a Christian who remains a Christian would have trouble comprehending this, however, so I have no problem with your certainty that you are right and the rest of the world is wrong. It's just that we all have the right to follow the religion in which we were raised, even if we haven't made a point of questioning what we were taught all of our lives by our parents, our teachers, and our religious elders.
4/21/2007 11:48 PM
Anonymous, what you call proselytizing is called evangelization. Jesus Christ said He was the "only way to the Father" and that He is "the way, the truth, and the light." He also commanded His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel, baptizing men and women and teaching them to obey all that He commanded. This is called the Great Commission. Christianity is never forced on anyone, but always remains an individual choice based on faith in Christ and His teachings.
The Catholic Church also evangelizes. The Orthodox Church less relying on maintenance and growth of the faith through families.
Islam not only proselytizes, but also forces its religion on others.
In some parts of the world, other religions are strictly mandated upon the populations.
I hope this clarifies. I was a missionary in the Arab/Muslim world. No one was ever forced to do anything, but many chose to turn to Christ despite the threat of death upon their lives.
Anonymous, you identified neither yourself nor your religion.
4/22/2007 6:44 AM
Anonymous, what you call proselytizing is called evangelization. Jesus Christ said He was the "only way to the Father" and that He is "the way, the truth, and the light." He also commanded His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel, baptizing men and women and teaching them to obey all that He commanded. This is called the Great Commission. Christianity is never forced on anyone, but always remains an individual choice based on faith in Christ and His teachings.
The Catholic Church also evangelizes. The Orthodox Church less relying on maintenance and growth of the faith through families.
Islam not only proselytizes, but also forces its religion on others.
In some parts of the world, other religions are strictly mandated upon the populations.
I hope this clarifies. I was a missionary in the Arab/Muslim world. No one was ever forced to do anything, but many chose to turn to Christ despite the threat of death upon their lives.
Anonymous, you identified neither yourself nor your religion.
4/22/2007 6:45 AM
I have to agree with Ms. Kennedy that Christian churches have missed the boat in their message. They seem today to have come very far from the walk of Christ on earth. He and His disciples lived under the Roman Empire during its most corrupt and horrifying years. Yet there is nothing to suggest that either Christ or His followers involved themselves in the politics of the day. "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's", was the only really political comment I can recall Jesus ever speaking about the government of His day. He was certainly more intent on teaching the principles of how to interact with neighbors, family and friends in ways that honor God.
Of course, one could argue that they did not live in a time when their government could be influenced by the people. Shouldn't Christian Americans who have a right to shape their government participate in it? Certainly. Our rights as Americans do not end because we are Christians. However, our duties as Christians supercede our American rights.
It always comes down to a balance which can only be achieved by true spiritual connection with the Father and Creator God. In proper balance, one may be presented with opportunities to shape culture and political ideology, but the focus of Christianity is always calling one to examine one's own walk and life thoroughly before interacting with others in society. People get out of balance very easily. Even the best intentions can be corrupted very quickly when the scales begin to tip.
God and His kingdom are our standard, not American ideals. American law and politics will never live up to the law and governance of the kingdom of God. We err if we think we can make it do so. God's laws are already laid out. Whether America's laws mirror them does not, in the end, matter very much. What DOES matter is what we have done in OUR OWN souls and lives with the truth we have learned.
For instance, I have heard many people say "We took God out of the schools and now look what we've got", so they put enormous energy into campaigns to put prayer legally back into the schools. However, it is arrogance for people to think any action they can take will influence what God does. God did not hang His head and leave the public schools because people passed some law. He is very near to the broken and humble, the children and the fatherless regardless of what laws we pass. I think He is more concerned about the fact that many American Christians have taken the schools out of their prayers than any laws taking prayer out of the schools.
Similarly with abortion, the absence or presence of a law allowing it does not change one's own responsibility to interact with the specific people one encounters in life who may be struggling with unplanned pregnancy. Our responsibility is to provide help and counsel to those in need, and that responsibility supercedes changing the laws. If every Christian made it their business to love and provide support--even financial support--for young women facing pregnancies, this would do more to stop abortions than many legal maneuvers in the judicial system.
The message of Christianity is first and foremost about one's own character and one's relationship with all the people encountered in one's life face to face. Churches who get on campaigns to change society deal with a faceless "neighbor" they are trying to help while ignoring the faces that live next door. This is just not what Jesus did.
4/23/2007 7:56 AM
Ariel, Some excellent, well thought points.
I agree that all too often the message is aimed at 'them' (all of them) when we ignore the 'we' (the we's in the pews)
Together we can make a better society regardless of the laws passed. But too many people think that only their way is the right way and refuse to listen.
4/23/2007 9:14 AM
"He and His disciples lived under the Roman Empire during its most corrupt and horrifying years. Yet there is nothing to suggest that either Christ or His followers involved themselves in the politics of the day."
Christians were told not to attend the brutal murderous games (a political no no); they were told not to worship Caesar (a political no no for which many lost their lives); they were told not to attend theater because of the sexual promiscuity displayed; they were told not to engage in sexual immorality (rampant at the time); and they were told not to have abortions as the pagans did). So they really did act differently and sometimes spoke up and out.
"Shouldn't Christian Americans who have a right to shape their government participate in it? Certainly. Our rights as Americans do not end because we are Christians. However, our duties as Christians supercede our American rights." I believe most evangelical Christians (perhaps the same could be said for Catholic Christians) tend to their Christian duties without any fanfare.
"In proper balance, one may be presented with opportunities to shape culture and political ideology, but the focus of Christianity is always calling one to examine one's own walk and life thoroughly before interacting with others in society." Since none of us know the heart and soul of another, we can hardly judge that those involved in cultural and political areas have not already done so. Most abolitionists were religious men and women; would anyone question their personal walk in light of their political and cultural activities?
"God's laws are already laid out. Whether America's laws mirror them does not, in the end, matter very much. What DOES matter is what we have done in OUR OWN souls and lives with the truth we have learned." When America's laws do not mirror God's laws, many suffer who are victimized, oppressed, enslaved, raped, killed, robbed, you name it. Is that the kind of society we want? God's laws protect the most vulnerable of society, which is why many Christians have become vocal. Politics have invaded many areas of moral consequences--therefore, people of faith will speak up and out.
"I think He is more concerned about the fact that many American Christians have taken the schools out of their prayers than any laws taking prayer out of the schools. " A truism. However, prayer is based on one's belief and, therefore, in my opinion should be an individual matter and not a collective one in public schools.
"Our responsibility is to provide help and counsel to those in need, and that responsibility supercedes changing the laws. If every Christian made it their business to love and provide support--even financial support--for young women facing pregnancies, this would do more to stop abortions than many legal maneuvers in the judicial system." Most Christian pro-life promoters are involved in ministries to help such women; but such women have to recognize the life within them is not their's but another's.
"The message of Christianity is first and foremost about one's own character and one's relationship with all the people encountered in one's life face to face. Churches who get on campaigns to change society deal with a faceless "neighbor" they are trying to help while ignoring the faces that live next door. This is just not what Jesus did." The message of Christianity is that we are all sinners, Christ came as the Son of God, personally paid the penalty for our sins, and offers us all redemption through His sacrificial atonement and resurrection. Christianity is foremost a message of search and rescue. God searches us out and rescues us from sin and ourselves.
Too many broad brush strokes are made about people without personal knowledge of what all they are doing that never reaches the media.
4/23/2007 4:47 PM
When America's laws do not mirror God's laws, many suffer who are victimized, oppressed, enslaved, raped, killed, robbed, you name it. Is that the kind of society we want? God's laws protect the most vulnerable of society, which is why many Christians have become vocal. Politics have invaded many areas of moral consequences--therefore, people of faith will speak up and out.
And just who's God's law should we use? Should we use the Christians? Should we use the Islmaic? And what of Budist and Hindus which do not believe in a God personified, but a general 'good' spirit?
By limiting to only the Christian's God, you are perpetuating the religious persecution of others. (And don't forget the hard core Christian sects that also espouse a vengeful God)
4/23/2007 7:21 PM
HL said: "When America's laws do not mirror God's laws, many suffer who are victimized, oppressed, enslaved, raped, killed, robbed, you name it. Is that the kind of society we want?"
Of course not. But these are the acts of lawlessness, and take place without regard to what laws exist. It is certainly of value to strive for good law, but my opinion is that we have fallen out of balance about it, putting too much emphasis on what the law says and not enough emphasis on our own personal actions. No matter what the laws are, lawless people will break them. No matter what the laws are, godly people can raise a standard.
"The message of Christianity is that we are all sinners, Christ came as the Son of God, personally paid the penalty for our sins, and offers us all redemption through His sacrificial atonement and resurrection."
You are, of course, absolutely correct. I did not mean to imply otherwise in any way. My comment that the message of Christianity is primarily about one's own behavior and conduct was intended only to contrast with the idea of a message that focuses on participation in "programs" and "campaigns" and supporting the "ministries" of others rather than understanding that every Christian has a ministry to undertake in their own sphere of influence.
I do not disagree with you that there is a place for societal change campaigns and political challenges by the Christian community. It is my opinion, however, that the Christian church in America, as a whole, has gotten out of balance about this issue.
"Too many broad brush strokes are made about people without personal knowledge of what all they are doing that never reaches the media."
This is undoubtedly true. It is to the enemy's advantage to create an illusion that God's people are selfish and judgmental, and care more about power than people. Since we have the enemy--who is the prince of the power of the airwaves--working overtime to convey this message, it is all the more important for people to have personal experience with a real Christian person who interacts with them. This kind of personal interaction is the only thing that can dispel the media's distortions.
We are to be salt, shaken out and scattered to season those around us. When we fail to do so, people have no frame of reference for Christianity but what the media conveys.
4/24/2007 8:40 AM
"And just who's God's law should we use? Should we use the Christians? Should we use the Islmaic? And what of Budist and Hindus which do not believe in a God personified, but a general 'good' spirit?
By limiting to only the Christian's God, you are perpetuating the religious persecution of others. (And don't forget the hard core Christian sects that also espouse a vengeful God)"
First of all, most of the laws in the beginning of this country and while it was growing were based on Christian principles. I would dare dare say that currently there is less persecution from any Christian group or sect than there is by Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. Read international news to hear what is going on in the parts of the world where they are the majority.
Thanks to the God of the Bible, there is no caste system with untouchables. Thanks to the God of the Bible, respect and honor was raised for women (only some who don't study carefully work to hold them back). Thanks to the God of the Bible, Christianity seeks to persuade others of its message with reasoning and not the sword.
Is the God of the Bible vengeful? Well, admittedly, as Creator of mankind He demands certain attitudes and behavior. Since we haven't been too good at responding as we should, He even sent His own Son to take our place and judgment. In the end, He will judge His Creation because He has the right. He has shown more love, mercy, and compassion than justice, anger, or righteousness, however.
When it comes to treating others with respect, morality between the sexes, life and death issues, the God of the Bible shows greater wisdom, mercy, compassion, and holiness than the God of the Koran or the gods of the Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. My opinion.
Finally, just because men and women who called themselves Christian became involved in any form of persecution doesn't change the rightness or wisdom of the God of the Bible. Atheists and polytheists have persecuted as much if not more. Under atheistic communism millions died, more than any under Hitler. Studying world and ancient history balances out some of the myths.
I'm still waiting, anonymous, for you to identify yourself and your religion.
4/24/2007 8:47 AM
Ms. Louise, my name is Friðrik Ólafsson, and my religion is Ásatrú, but why are you so keen to know this? Please do not try to contact me outside of this blog. I have no desire to hear why you believe that the religion in which you were raised is superior to the religion in which I was raised.
4/24/2007 6:07 PM
And actually I also am annonymous, because when I typed my response about which God to use, I didn't have time to type in all the rest of the indentifiers.
Why is this important to you? I have my own sense of God and Jesus, and believe it or not, it is not too far removed from what you believe.
But, BUT, I don't go around forcing nor degrading what other people choose to believe (and when you put Christianity before the other religions, you are in a sense degrading them).
I firmly believe that the reason we have so many different religions isn't because we have different Gods, it is because where that person is at that particular time in their life, that is how God has choosen to reveal himself (or herself) to that individual.
I get tired of people like h.l. preaching how their side is always the right side. And I've had too many experiences, seen too many wars all in the name of religion.
Chill out h.l. If your place in your religion fits for you, take it and run with it (like you seem to have), just don't bible thump in my religious neighborhood.
4/24/2007 7:33 PM
Fridrik Olaffson, did you forget what this particular blog is all about? It's about a Catholic woman and politician calling into question churches and Christians involvement in politics.
Therefore, I feel I have a right to respond as do you.
"It is attested in primary sources that sacrifices were made to Odin during blóts. Adam of Bremen relates that every ninth year, people people assembled from all over Sweden to sacrifice at the Temple at Uppsala. Male slaves and males of each species were sacrificed and hung from the branches of the trees.
As the Swedes had the right not only to elect their king but also to depose him, the sagas relate that both King Domalde and King Olof Trätälja were sacrificed to Odin after years of famine. It has been argued that the killing of a combatant in battle was to give a sacrificial offering to Odin. The fickleness of Odin in battle was well-documented, and in Lokasenna, Loki taunts Odin for his inconsistency.
Sometimes sacrifices were made to Odin to bring about changes in circumstance. A notable example is the sacrifice of King Víkar that is detailed in Gautrek's Saga and in Saxo Grammaticus ' account of the same event. Sailors in a fleet being blown off course drew lots to sacrifice to Odin that he might abate the winds. The king himself drew the lot and was hung.
Sacrifices were probably also made to Odin at the beginning of summer (mid April, actually--summer being reckoned essentially the same as did the Celt, at Beltene, Calan Mai [Welsh], which is Mayday -- hence as summer's "herald"), since Ynglinga saga states one of the great festivals of the calendar is at sumri, þat var sigrblót "in summer, for victory"; Odin is consistently referred to throughout the Norse mythos as the bringer of victory. The Ynglinga saga also details the sacrifices made by the Swedish king Aun, who, it was revealed to him, would Egil lengthen his life by sacrificing one of his sons every ten years; nine of his ten sons died this way. When he was about to sacrifice his last son, the Swedes stopped him."
So that is your religion! Well, don't you think with all the human sacrifice to Odin recorded or reported, someone with a Christian point of view also has a right to respond to this blog, especially someone who attended the meeting with Ms. Townsend?
4/24/2007 8:08 PM
Nice rant, Ms. Louise! You must be really pleasant in person. Sorry to disappoint you, but the only thing anyone in my family ever sacrificed during a blot was the honey used to make the mead.
Friðrik
4/24/2007 8:40 PM
"So that is your religion! Well, don't you think with all the human sacrifice to Odin recorded or reported, someone with a Christian point of view also has a right to respond to this blog, especially someone who attended the meeting with Ms. Townsend?"
Are you implying that some of us have more of a right to respond to a blog than others? I find that to be an interesting concept. Is this no longer a free society, in terms of our opinions? Do some of us not have the right to respond? Please elaborate.
4/25/2007 12:12 AM
"Are you implying that some of us have more of a right to respond to a blog than others? I find that to be an interesting concept. Is this no longer a free society, in terms of our opinions? Do some of us not have the right to respond? Please elaborate."
No, Adric. Anonymous questioned my responses and preferred to call them preaching rather than responses to a blog. My point, was that my responses dealt with both the topic of this particular blog and the topic of Ms. Townsend's book.
Several interesting concepts were raised by others and I simply responded to those concepts.
I implied nothing but rather stated I felt I had a right to also respond.
4/25/2007 8:15 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home