If you talk to most people about religion, I’m sure that the word ‘crazy’ crosses their minds at least once. A good friend of mine last year got very frustrated with me upon learning I was religious, assuming that naturally I was narrow-minded and crazy (and there is the greatest oxymoronic truth of the 21st century: people being intolerant of the religious because of the assumption that they are intolerant). But let’s face it, this view has a basis. Just think of protesters at a gay man’s funeral holding signs that say “GOD HATES FAGS” or of Muslim fanatics flying planes into buildings. In today’s world it appears rational for people to decide that religion is only for crazies. But what if religion, or more specifically Christianity, is only for crazy people…but not the kind of crazy you are thinking of.
There was a great episode of the TV show House M.D. in which a humanitarian who works to bring free medication to Africa (Think Jeffrey Sachs or Bill Gates) is brought into the hospital. Dr. House calmly thinks there is something wrong with the man, and he is not talking medically:
“There’s an evolutionary imperative why we give a crap about our family and friends, and there’s an evolutionary imperative why we don’t give a crap about anybody else. If we loved all people indiscriminately, we couldn’t function.”
House thinks that the man is crazy for caring about those that don’t affect him directly. And in the ways of this world, he is crazy. We are taught to care for our loved ones, hate those who oppose us, and forget everyone else. We have to look after ourselves because no one else will. Those that fall through the cracks, well…that’s life. This is the truth of the world that Dr. House speaks of. And what’s more, House doesn’t respect or admire this man for the generous work that he does. He despises him.
Jesus warned his followers “If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.” Jesus could have easily said “You are not of this world, so the world will think you are crazy.” Why help the poor? Why feed the homeless? You can’t make money or help your own family by doing that. People will distrust you for trying to change the natural way the world is. In essence, Jesus calls us to a higher path than our “sane” worldly nature:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Loving your enemies? Crazy. Praying for those who persecute you? Sheer madness. But Jesus has called us to change this world with agape, love for mankind. So perhaps my friend was right in a way that Christians are crazy, just not in the way he imagined. Far too often Christians are known for intolerance and hate, not for forgiveness and love. To truly follow Christ (because that is what being a Christian means), is to risk everything for love, and being that selfless is believed to be downright insane in this world.
Unfortunately, with every group, not just religion, the more radical factions of that group will be shoved to the forefront. Your examples of the “Gods hates Fags” sign bearers or Muslim fanatics are very apt. The trick I guess is to do more good then they can do bad, and perhaps denounce them as the Muslim world is trying to do, saying that the terrorists are not true Muslims. Of course all of this is much easier said then done. Also, House is awesome.
In some ways it is about what religion comes to value. Fundamentalism may appear to be violent, radical and seeking to change the world. But Fundamentalism is inherently reactionary, seeking not to change the world but to keep things the way they are. If we hold this to be the case, we have to ask in a philosophical sense who is more “violent” to the ways of the world, Bin Laden or Martin Luther King Jr.? I’d argue Dr. King because through love and service he worked peacefully for equality. Bin Laden is sadly nothing new: using violence and religion to control and manipulate as a means to keep things from changing (American hegemony, globalization, etc.) These ideas are not my own, but lifted from this blog: http://peterrollins.net/blog/?p=137 .
That being addressed, I think what is important is what is valued. It is not so much “outdoing” fundamentalists, it is about spreading our belief in love. “Real Christians”, as I have defined above, care about others before themselves. Other people are interested in taking care of themselves. Compassion and competition cannot exist. One must choose one or the other. You can denounce, and you can try to out do but in the end we have to share our message of love knowing that it will resonate. Hate cannot destroy love. Fundamentalism is doomed to end.
And House is awesome.