Dear Right Wing “Evangelists,”
Please stop. Please stop making intelligent, true Christians look bad. In that brief, somewhat self-righteous statement, I’m suggesting several things, and I’ll try to address those things in a moment. Let me first explain what prompts this letter. My wife and I watched a documentary called Jesus Camp last night. It is an even-handed documentary, no pro or con commentary on what the filmmakers are showing you, except the background music, which of course suggests mood. They do show a radio broadcaster who questions the fundamentalists’ mixing of politics and religion, but the vast majority of the footage is of a summer camp run by a “Evangelical” woman (I’m not sure the filmmakers adequately define the term Evangelical. I’ve always understood it to mean a Christian who tells others about Jesus, but they give it a whole new fanatical connotation). The filmmakers mainly follow two kids between seven and ten years old as they attend the camp, and a little after they leave the camp. The documentary made me realize several things about the “Evangelical” movement in America, and these things are basically summed up in my introductory statement.
My statement suggests 1) you, Right Wing ”Evangelicals,” are not intelligent 2) you are not “true” Christians and 3) you make “intelligent, true Christians” look bad. The first two points run together somewhat. Anyone who claims they love American democracy, yet passionately believes the separation of church and state should end and a state of Christian fascism should be established with “Evangelicals” controlling all presidential, judicial, and congressional powers is a moron. What happens when a religious faction besides yourselves gains control? Why do Islamic countries have so much trouble establishing viable economies and happiness for their people? No separation of church and state. One thing I noticed in this documentary is that there is a lot of talk about God’s will, but I never heard anyone quote any scripture and analyze what it means in today’s world. Jesus said stay out of politics. Easy. If you can’t read it and understand it for yourself without some lunatic telling you what he or she thinks it means, you are simply not intelligent. And this leads me to the second part of my statement.
Being a Christian means you try to live your life according to the example and teaching of Jesus Christ. We only know what He said from people who spent time with Him, heard Him talk, and thought to write it down twenty to thirty years later (Paul) and from people who wrote about His life at least fifty years after His death (Luke and others). I’m not suggesting that what Jesus said is easy. It’s not, because it goes against much of what we call society. He was the ultimate pariah, the ultimate outcast. In Jesus Camp, the “Evangelicals” have the kids speak in tongues and flop around. They scare the kids into tears with talk of Satan, sin, the flesh, and death. I don’t remember reading that Jesus did or promoted any of these things. They talk about being “warriors” for Jesus and not being afraid to die for Jesus. I’m positive Jesus was anti-violence, and I don’t remember Him suggesting anyone should have to die “for” Him. Didn’t he take care of that for us? The “Evangelicals” in the documentary have the kids pray for righteous Supreme Court judges. They smash cups labeled “government” and pray for righteous government. They bring out a life-sized cardboard cut-out of G.W. Bush and have the kids pray over it in Jesus’ name. I remember Jesus saying something like, “Let the little children come to me,” but I don’t remember him whispering in their ears, “Hey, overthrow Caesar. I want control of the government.” Jesus didn’t want anything to do with politics, organized religion, or any material things on this Earth. From what I understand, he said those things were not important at all. Basically, you- the “Evangelicals”- have begun your own religion to suit your own desires and purposes. I think that would basically be considered idolatry (you know, the first commandment of what not to do).
The third thing my statement suggests- you make intelligent, true Christians look bad- is obvious. At least I think it is. You, Right Wing Evangelicals, have done for Christianity what terrorists have done for Islam. Of course in America, you can believe and practice whatever you want as long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of others (a right you want to take away from anyone who disagrees with you). But when someone asks me what religion I practice and I have to say, “Christian, but I’m not one of those Right Wing lunatics,” you are infringing on my rights. I shouldn’t have to explain myself because of your insanity and ignorance. So, stop it. Keep your ridiculous bullshit in your own circles, and for God’s sake don’t let people film you and call yourselves Christians. The least you could do would be to come up with a new name for your craziness. Write your own ”Holy book” and mythology like the Mormons. Stay out of politics. Please, just stop it.
Sincerely,
WK
