Losing My Religion
By Keith Boykin, in spirituality
Monday, April 30 2007, 11:39AM
A front page news story in today's New York Times inspired me this morning. It was a story about Barack Obama and his relationship with his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Obama apparently learned his religion from Rev. Wright, whose church I visited once several years ago. But when the story jumped to page A18, there was a stunning photograph of Obama's step grandmother in Kenya. Dressed in traditional Kenyan garb sitting barefoot outdoors, she fed a group of roosters. The cutline below her photo said she describes herself as a "strong believer of the Islamic faith."
That's when I started to remember just how pointless it is for humans to divide themselves based on religion. But for Obama's meeting with Rev. Wright in Chicago, he might have spent his life as a skeptic, a Catholic or a Muslim. He had all those influences in his childhood. Eventually, like most Americans, he became a practicing Christian. And that's the point that stuck with me. Why is it that so many Americans identify as Christian but so few of the rest of the people in the world do the same? And what exactly do we mean when we call ourselves Christians?
I have long been troubled by the abuse and misuse of religion. I have always believed that religion should be used as a tool for love instead of a weapon of hate. But after studying the history of holy wars, witch burnings, slavery and Inquisition, it seems as though many of us have constructed religion to separate ourselves from others who we believe are less worthy or deserving of God's love. This is not my view of religion.
Like most Americans, I consider myself to be a Christian. But America is only 5 percent of the world's population, and two-thirds of the world is not Christian. Even as a Christian, I have always been troubled by the notion that God spoke to the world 2,000 years ago through Jesus and has remained mostly silent ever since. And I'm also troubled by the idea that Christians have a monopoly on what is right and good.
A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to interview Rev. Ken Hutcherson, the controversial anti-gay right-wing minister who led the effort to fight against a gay rights bill in Washington state. It was a heated exchange, soon to be televised on BET J's "My Two Cents," and we spent a good deal of time during the 1-hour television show arguing with each another about the Bible and homosexuality. I challenged him to show me anywhere in the Bible where Jesus mentions homosexuality, and of course he could not because Jesus never mentioned it. We debated back and forth about the New Testament versus the Old Testament, and I criticized what I considered his selective interpretation of Christian texts.
At the end of the show, however, I had a change of heart. After an hour of debating Scriptures, I realized that much of the time would have been better spent discussing our different visions of God. It seems to me that Hutcherson and many other right-wing preachers see God primarily as a punitive force in the world, while I see God as a major, positive liberating force in the universe. And in the end, that central conflict between us is the source of most of our disagreements about religion and social issues.
I believe that Christianity must mean something more than opposition to abortion and gay rights, but that's the very limited way many of the right-wing evangelicals have constructed it in the public discourse. When I think of my own faith, I believe my role is not just to tell everyone else what not to do but to do something positive and constructive on my own. I have a duty to do something about poverty and homelessness and war and violence. I have a duty to try to be a responsible steward of our environment and to leave the world a better place than when I arrived.
I don't think Christians have it all right. I think we have a lot to learn from other religions. And I certainly don't buy into the notion that non-believers are doomed to hell or purgatory or some such horrible place. What kind of mean-spirited, jealous, petty and vengeful god would condemn innocent people to suffer just by accident of birth? And that's what religion is for most of the 6 billion people on this planet. It is an incident of birth. If we were born in a different land in a different place, we would probably believe in a different religion. But because we were born where we are, we convince ourselves that our faith is better than someone else's faith.
That's the part of religion that bothers me. That's the part of religion that causes wars and mayhem. That's the part of religion that leads to suicide bombings and terrorists attacks. That's the part of religion that leads kings and dictators and prime ministers to speak as though they speak for God.
I don't want my religious leaders dictating our nation's politics, and I don't want my political leaders dictating religious doctrine. I want them to know each other, to respect one another and to work with one another on common interests. I've chosen my religion because I believe Christianity is all about love. If that makes me less of a Christian in someone else's eyes, then so be it.
Comments conceal
Kevin C
April 30 2007, 12:48PM
God is Love plain and simple. I have always felt that what we as a human race are to accomplish is this: As you are blessed be a blessing to others. I refuse to believe God punishes people.
Kevin C
ATL
Cocoa Rican
April 30 2007, 1:54PM
It's so odd... with a Pentacostal father for a minister, I too had the same questions growing up - namely, what happens to the innocent person who by virtue of their upbrining doesn't come to know God? Does he burn in hell for it? I remember being baffled at the response...."Everyone is given the opportunity one way or another to know him." Hmmm....I didn't buy it then and I certainly don't buy it now. I think it boils down to allowing people to come to their beliefs on their own - whatever higher power that is should serve to make them a better person - not an angry, judgmental and angst ridden lunatic. Ultimately, time will tell...and won't it be sad to find out that after sacrificing who you are and what you feel all your life, there isn't an after life to speak of?
Rev. Lake
April 30 2007, 2:04PM
Most people who claim to be Christian (faith based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ) do not live according to their claim. If they did, there would be no megachurches, Jesus preached in the streets, people's homes, and the country side.
There would be no anti theology, Jesus included the people we lable as marginalized today.
There would be no restrictions on the role of women in the church, Jesus called women just as he did men, and women were the first to recognize the risen Christ.
http://www.sankofaway.org
corey chambers
April 30 2007, 2:06PM
Keith,
Very well stated and put!
Although I know and see where we share similiar/ if not the same views.. and also being a product of Christianity through my family and their traditions... I use to constantly question myself on this same issues and "is there a such a being as God..." to "if Christianity is worthwhile..." Upon learning and exploring these answeres,now I've found myself more focused on doing good for ALL mankind.. and leaving the world a better place than which I came in it. Since then I've found this to be more fulfilling then some outdated, old-english interpetations of fables...dictating how I should live/see my life... (what we consider scripture/bibilical).
Jared
April 30 2007, 2:06PM
Like you Cocoa, I had a Pentecostal father, COGIC family for many, many , many years. I however am grateful that my folks allowed me and my siblings to decide where we wanted to go when it came to a faith, and , I came to the choice, that religion is for the weak willed and minded. You make your own way in life, its all fate, and when you let others tell you what is the "right" way, you are setting yourself up for a life of grief and unhappiness, especially if you are gay and seen as a 'sinner' by almost every "faith" on the planet.
The Captain
April 30 2007, 2:06PM
Keith,
I agree we do need to lose religion. Religion is based on theories, “black liberation theology” and man-made interpretations, which is inconsistent to the word of God. Our seminaries are poisoned and blinded and unable to see revelatory truth, unable to see the mysteries of God.
I like the way Dr. Myles Munroe put it, Christianity is not a democracy. Christianity is a Kingdom and built on kingdom principles. There is no votes or disagreements in kingdom living. The oracles of God are infallible, spoken in truth and living inscriptions in our spirit and it doesn’t change for anyone of us; for He is the same God yesterday, today and forever.
saint james
April 30 2007, 2:38PM
Keith,
I agree that Christianity is about love. Please define love.
To Cocoa Rican:
I also grew up Pentecostal. It seems I recieved better answers about the faith than you did. The answer you recieved seemed too simplistic.
As far as religion being for the weak willed real strength is to be able to acknowledge your human frailties and limitations. Yes I am weak. My faith is what gives me strength and makes me face all that I am; My good and my weaknesses. My faith is not my crutch it is my stretcher. Life is soooo much more than fate.
Nyah
April 30 2007, 2:56PM
Keith, I totally agree with you on your views on religion.
I am so tired of these right-wingers representing God has being an all punishing being. I feel that people like the Reverend have HIJACKED my religion. If moderate muslims need to take back the religion from the extremists, we as moderate Christians must do the same.
All these right-wingers focus on is how other people should live their lives, but they never focus on themselves. They are such hypocrites.
But anyway, I feel we should take the Christian religion back.
Billy
April 30 2007, 3:02PM
Amen Keith, that's how I feel. Cocoa, I too grew up Pentecostal in the Apostolic denomination which is COGIC but worse(lol). There was no questioning God or anybody that represented God in my church. It was 17 that I could no longer deny not only my feelings at the time but the hypocrytical and contradictory OF the church
MidwestGuy
April 30 2007, 3:40PM
It's not just right-wingers who are part of this Christian coalition. Black churches have long preached fire and brimstone sermons. I think most people struggle w/having blind faith in something you "feel" as opposed to see. However, I think that we all need to "believe" in something. Reading scriptures, sermons etc. all appeal to the "senses" but are more like surface treatments than anything else. We all have to develop a more intense understanding of what our purpose is. There will forever be questions which have no answer.
Some of our clergy will have you believe that they have god on speedial. Unless by some genetic mishap, we all are born w/the gift of discernment. That is, we know right from wrong. What we shouldn't do is impose our self-righteousness onto others. Jesus didn't preach w/his foot on someone's back and expect them obey. We should never lose sight of that.
PDQ
April 30 2007, 3:42PM
I think too many of today's self-professed "Christians" are pretenders, hypocrites, liars, thieves and haters. They selectively practice their "religion", following the parts that work for them and ignoring the ones that don't. They use their religion as a weapon to beat others up with and try to make themselves look better.
They're frauds and phonies and if there truly is a heaven I'd hate to be anywhere near the place when they have to meet their maker.
Now - before you go getting your dander up and come unglued on me, remember that I was speaking of "self-professed" Christians. We all know Christians who are good, kind, loving people who live according to the word of God. We also know people who aren't - yet claim to be. Those people are the ones I speak of.
Derrick from Philly
April 30 2007, 3:47PM
Why is it that the fundamendalist Christians spend so much time on the Old Testament, where as most mainstream denominations (Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, etc.) don't seem to put much emphasis on the Old Testament at all? Much of the Old Testament was created for a very simple-minded people 3,000 years ago--to get them to "behave", build a nation, and obey patriarchal property rights.
Oh, shoot I done got controversial.
Blue
April 30 2007, 5:16PM
PDQ: Couldn't have said it better myself. And it's those types of Christians that make the good ones look bad.
BlackGayJourneys
April 30 2007, 5:54PM
I have just given up on Christianity altogether. Religion is useful in terms of culture, but perhaps we ought to leave it at that. Surely any attempt to derive relevant principles for our contemporary problems is similar to filling an empty bottle with juice and trying to sell it as wine. It just won't work. We need to base our social principles on secular ideas. A few generations back, the popular thing was natural rights. Then, Marx brought the idea of social and economic rights. Even so, the US has remained a highly religious nation.
Kenneth Winfrey
April 30 2007, 6:18PM
God is Love; the rest we've made up.
God is whatever the entire Universe was at the beginning, is right now, and will be forever (including gay people and people who have abortions...). If we can use the Big Bang theory, for example, then we all came from the same infinitesimal particle that began it all.
In this existence as humans, we experience "seperate-ness," and we are not immediately aware that we (still) are part of the same "stuff" along with the other people we pass on the street every day.
This seperate-ness is what "they" feel about "us" and how "they" feel better than "us"--not realizing that we are all one.
I believe that when we allow ourselves to experience that connection, we experience God, and it is nothing less than love...
G-man
April 30 2007, 6:39PM
Keith, this was right on point!!! Thank you!!!
pc
April 30 2007, 7:02PM
ketih and kenneth, great comments from you both. my addition is, God adores me (and you). i'm not about religion at all. i'm about relationship. i worship because i adore, not because i fear. many believers still don't get that ALL of our good deeds combined could not qualify any of us for God's favor. he's given it freely and we only need to receive it with thanksgiving.
000000
April 30 2007, 8:13PM
Unless someone changes the texts that damn near all religions are based around, not one of them will be for me. Oh sure, you can be crafty, compartmentalize and join one of those churches that claims to be all-inclusive. But I find that the average service, scripture readings and sermons included, choose to use the entire Bible as exemplary of the message. That's how all the b.s. about gays and other matters creeps in. How Christian can you be when only a fraction of your beliefs are comprised of events related to Christ's life? Some guy just built a life sized replica of Noah's Arc. I read a poll where over 80% of responders believe that the one in the book was real, 2 of everything down to the rats & roaches! I just don't have room in my brain for that foolishness.
David
April 30 2007, 8:53PM
A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard.
Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him.
He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.
The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.
As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer.
The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.
He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.
After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door.
She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.
David
April 30 2007, 9:04PM
(continued)
He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake.
You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him.
I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Church' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated 'Christian Fish' emblem on the trunk. Naturally...I assumed you had stolen the car."
Sometimes the greatest challenge to religious belief is the conduct of the believers.
acidicjazzhead
April 30 2007, 10:07PM
Keith,
The very things that you mention are the reasons why I choose to abstain from religion.
I use to be a very intolerant, conservative, and homophobic Christian. While in college, I use to preach to my fellow students about how my all knowing, all loving God was going to send them to hell if they didn't confess their sins worship him.
After educating, questioning and literally checking myself, my beliefs, my upbringing, my life, etc...I came to the realization that I could never EVER worship a mean-spirited, intolerant, psychopathic, simple-minded God that sends people to an eternal hell for not choosing a Christian, Islamic, or whatever life.
Today I have live an agnostic lifestyle, and quite frankly, I've never felt more liberated.
Kwesi
April 30 2007, 10:37PM
Keith,
Great article. Just several days ago, I heard someone say that this certain lesbian he knows was "going to Hell with gasoline drawers on." The comment disturbed me. He is a devout Christian, but in his comment, I saw hatefulness, mean-spiritedness, and self-righteousness. And the sad part about it is that he does not even realize the hate he's projecting. Makes me wonder who is truly going to hell???
Again, thanks for your enlightening commentaries. You allow me to think more, to learn more, and to grow more.
Steve
April 30 2007, 11:10PM
Christianity as practiced in this country is B.S. It serves primarily to salve the ego of intellectual weaklings, making them feel special enough to be "saved" and has very little to do with theology, ethics, or love. In my opinion, most "christians" are far from christ-like.
That's not to say all Christians are detestable, but I'm quite comfortable not associating with any church. The truly christ-like individuals around you are obvious, and to be honored. The hypocrites are also obvious, and to be honored accordingly. You don't need to be affiliaited with any church to know that, nor to know how to behave in a manner that is respectable, ethical, and wise. In fact, church may be the last place you'd find that.
chris-leo
May 1 2007, 12:45AM
we find ourselves standing on a giant ball, in the middle of nowhere, with no conclusive explanation.
now wrap yourselves around that, and maybe we can finally all live in truth.
Jeff Hobbs
May 1 2007, 2:07AM
WE are so much alike! :) tell it rev. keith!:)
GQ
May 1 2007, 2:20AM
Great article Keith. Whenever people ask me what my "religion" is. I tell them I'm a man of faith. BTW, I believe in Jesus as my saviour but I avoid the "Christian" label. Not that I'm ashamed of it by any means. But people use Christian as a label and/or a personal marketing tool to make themselves "better" than others and that's not right for me. It's even funnier when many "right wing Christians" dismiss our sexuality (gay) as a "lifestyle" and they turn around and do the same thing with their "Christianity". Example ("I'm a Christian because I have my Left Behind books, my latest Yolanda Adams CD, listen to James Dobson religiously and wearing my WWJD bracelet".) When you ask them about a certain scripture text, or test their knowledge about the Bible, they pause... very long before they can answer back. HHMMMM.... definitley no true living going on there.
edvince
May 1 2007, 7:39AM
That pic! Sarah Obama. What a find! If her grandson Obama is elected Prez or VPrez, I wonder which WH bedroom she would sleep in. This upcoming historic US Prez election will for the first time in its history have a candidate whose roots are Muslim. Sheer irony being our gov't is at war with militants the Islamic Faith. Talk about the American Pie and Dream: Muslim heritage,interracial parents, bi-racical candidate, Harvard Law Grad. Mr. Obama is the epitmy of what America has come to stand for Land of Opportunity.
cmoney
May 1 2007, 9:36AM
Black people need to get off of their knees and stand up for themselves. We are far too religious for our own good. I personally see it as a complete waste of a good Sunday and would never set foot in a church if it were not for may parents and special celebrations at church where they request my attendance. I go 2-3 times a year for them and no other reason. If I hear one more person tell me to have a blessed day or to stop and pray over a meal at Burger King, I just might go off on somebody! Keep your damn religion to yourself! The sad thing is that church folk have no clue that they are imposing their religious beliefs on others when they do such things and get indignant when you object to their proselytizing. I guess they will just have to be indignant.
Rev. Kevin E. Taylor
May 1 2007, 10:43AM
Good Sir Keith
YOU KNEW I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING HERE! As a Baptist boy, who grew up to study God in Islam, Judaism, Hindu and other world religions, I have found that I have only grown closer to God and gained greater understanding. Oddly, the closer we grow to God, the more we are conflicted by man...and well it ought be!
The world is a series and set of constraints, trying to operate at a level of spirit and connection, but one that will ultimately be reduced to its lower nature.
We are spirit having a human experience, not humans trying to get spiritual. We are spirit and spiritual and connected to God...and many of us forget that, when caught up in flesh and flash and fame and fear.
People of Faith walk onto jobs and into posts and into the world and get caught up and try to STAND on those core values, BUT GET LOST!
I know that God's love is for everyone and everyone is ABSOLUTE!
Marcos Antonio Patino
May 1 2007, 1:38PM
WAIT A MINUTE WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO THE SAINTS WHO HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE AGES. YES THERE ARE CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE NOT LIVED THEIR FAITH, BUT LOOK AT THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS LIKE ST. FRANCES OF ASSISI, ST. CLAIRE, ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA, ST. AUGUSTINE AND MONICA, ST. BENEDICT THE AFRICAN, ST. JOSPHINE BAKHITA, ST. PETER AND THE APOSTLES, ST. PERPETUA AND FELICITY, ST. ANTHONY AND ST. PIUS AND ST. FAUSTINA! THEIR LIVES AND THEIR SACRIFICES ARE MEANT TO BE LOOK AT PONDER!
ALL HOLY MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD PRAY FOR US!!! OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE MOTHER OF THE TRUE GOD PRAY FOR US NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF HOUR DEATH AMEN!!!!
PaigeTurner
May 1 2007, 1:44PM
The invisible and the imaginary have been known to share the same bed.
ChicagoChild
May 1 2007, 2:16PM
I'm never going to give up my faith because of those pretenders and liars out there. They're just showing you who they are. Be glad! That's one of the FIRST signs.
As to why Christianity is one of the most prevelant in the United States, refer to your history books.
While you are busy putting America down for being predominately Christian, also notice that it is one of the ONLY countries that allows religious expression of ALL KINDS. You can leave in an area that has a mosque and a church. These people can run for office or be the principal of your school or your boss at work.
We don't hold multi-million massacres because someone is Islamic here. We have a few crazies, but not on the mass murdering scale as those other countries.
saint james
May 1 2007, 3:12PM
Hello C-money.
Why would you care if someone prayed over their meal at Burger King or anywhere else for that matter? That doesn't sound like you want them to keep their religion to themselves. Are they sitting at their own table?
To Whomever Else,
When you judge an entire religious faith because of your limited (yes, limited)experiences you are doing the exact same thing that the church does with GLBT people. That issue is not one of relgion it is a human trend that exists in EVERY religious tradition.
Marcos Antonio Patino
May 2 2007, 10:01AM
HEY PAIGE TURNER WHAT DO MEAN BY THAT COMMENT, DO YOU SAY THEY DON'T EXIST.
IN MANY EUROPEAN CHURCHES LIE THE BODIES OF SAINTS AND MANY OF THEIR BODIES ARE INCORRUPTIBLE AND A GROUP OF FRENCH SCIENTISTS HAVE PROVEN IT! FOR EXAMPLE THE BODIES OF ST. BERNADETTE, AND ST. TERESA WHO HAVE BEEN DEAD FOR 200 YEARS AND THEIR BODIES SHOW NO SIGN OF DECAY! ITS THAT HUMANLY POSSIBLE?
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE APPARITIONS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN MEXICO AND FATIMA, PORTUGAL ALL HAVE BEEN PROVEN BY SKEPTICS! LIKE THE TILMA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE!
VIVA NUESTRA SENORA DE GUADALULPE!!! VIVA CRISTO REY!!!
cmoney
May 2 2007, 5:04PM
saint james: I am talking about when someone is sharing a table with me and wants to stop me from eating so he can force me to join him in prayer. This happens a lot with co-workers and I think they need to pray to and for themselves and not presume that I or others at work share their beliefs or are so public with their faith. Not everyone I work with is a Christian, yet some Christians insist upon making everyone bow their heads in prayer before eating a damn burger! It's rude, it's inappropriate in a work setting and as usual, most Christians just don't get it or don't care that others might not share their beliefs or traditions.
Paige Turner
May 2 2007, 11:23PM
Marcos wrote: ALL HAVE BEEN PROVEN BY SKEPTICS! LIKE THE TILMA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE!
Who are you tellin'? I can vouch for Guadalupe, myself! About five years ago, I saw her directing traffic in the South Bronx. This, I saw with MY OWN EYES!
Jyoti Sugavanam
June 11 2007, 11:13PM
Hi Keith, I realize that practicing religion is more a matter of politics than faith. I am not religious, but consider myself spiritual and at the risk of sounding cliched, I identify with Buddhist teachings. I find organized religion to be more deadly than anything else, but it is also curious and interesting to think of it as an evolutionary response in terms of culture to "keep the flock together" In that sense it is divisive, because it is in a race to attract the most followers for its own survival. True faith or spirituality is a personal and private goal and should not be dominated or overshadowed by institutions. Being new to America, I sense that not being a Christian feels like a disadvantage because most social networks have the church at their center. People also look upon you as alien, it is unthinkable for the average American to see people as anything but Christian. The need for religion as a support system is an emotional and irrational response, but it holds the American identity together.
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