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| Wednesday, 26 December 2007 | |
   
Congressional Waste
Posted by Irwin Kula on faith and politics How extremely sad that there are Christians in this country who feel so insecure about their own faith and so under attack that they need a group of politicians (and specifically a group that collectively has the lowest approval rating in recent history) to affirm the importance of their religion. People who confidently subscribe to their religion no doubt already know and appreciate the significance of their faith and don’t need a congressional resolution to affirm its importance. So this resolution reflects at best a deep lack of faith and at worst a nasty attempt (symbolic of course because this resolution has no legal or practical effect) to make non-Christians feel that this is a Christian country. Contrary to this resolution, Christianity, surely in the form observed by the lobbyists for this resolution, played little role in the founding of this great nation. It would be humorous if it were not so depressing that adherents of and believers in a great religion like Christianity think that the approval of a group of politicians, who besides having no particular expertise in religion have themselves exhibited a remarkable level of incompetence at the job they are supposed to be doing, actually would make any difference in what anyone would or should think about this two thousand year old tradition. Is there anyone who seriously thinks this resolution will actually inspire people to deepen their respect for Christianity - that this resolution offered by a bunch of politicians who pass such affirming resolutions on just about every possible issue – National Pet Month, National Watermelon Month to name just two - will make anyone more seriously recognize that Christianity is a great faith? Personally, the fact that the House of Representatives passed this resolution diminishes Christianity for it makes Christianity just one more political lobbying cause - a political special interest and what is worse the resolution itself could not be more both banal and arrogant. However, there is actually a more mean-spirited aspect to this resolution that has not really been reported. This resolution was the idea and product of Rep. Steven King from Iowa. Why did Mr. King introduce this resolution? It seems that it was spite –not one of the most religious and spiritually noble motives. The bill was introduced in response to previous resolutions recognizing the Muslim celebration of Ramadan and the Hindu Diwali. King introduced this resolution because these two previous resolutions had been offered earlier this year in October. Religions had not been singled out this way previously by Congress. But once they were, King went into action. Apparently annoyed that Congress would honor Ramadan and Diwali, King got a Christmas resolution to be voted on too thereby defending the honor of Christianity. And how do we know King’s motivation was not simply to foster a public culture of religious pluralism but to proclaim a triumphant Christian posture? Turns out King refused to endorse the Ramadan resolution. He is no religious pluralist and seems to have an odd understanding of the holiday spirit. This resolution is just one more skirmish in the culture war and Congress ought not be passing resolutions honoring or acknowledging any religion. Representatives should be ashamed of themselves for being part of this pandering to paranoid Christians and to the trivializing of religion. For that is precisely what they have done. Christianity is a powerful faith and practice not because of political ploys that get elected officials to vote it so, but because it offers people spiritual relevancy, moral guidance, community, hope, and love. But then we ought not to be surprised. This is a Congress that can’t deal substantively with any serious issue facing this country, issues that cut to the core of what it means to be a compassionate and caring and just society – supposedly the very purpose of the religion they were passing a resolution to affirm – issues such as health insurance for 40 million uninsured Americans, foreclosures on millions of Americans, the environment, oil dependence, poverty, a prison system out of control, economic instability, deficits… Instead of dealing with these issues, Mr. King and company have time to trivialize Christianity by passing a cheerleading resolution saying Christianity is great. Christians who supported this resolution need to ask themselves: Is this what Jesus would have been spending his time on? Is Christmas time about getting political votes to affirm how important Christianity is or about proving the importance of Christianity on the ground by witnessing in deeds that love can win out despite the greatest vulnerability. Representatives who voted for this resolution need to ask of themselves: Is this what they went to Congress for? To be a front for religious charlatans using the political process rather than to use their people granted power to strengthen this country and improve the lives of its citizens. Finally, for those of us for whom religion is an important source of wisdom and values in our personal lives, who feel that a naked public square (not to be confused with the absolutely necessary strict separation of religion and state) has actually weakened our country, and who think that our public culture and public policy debates would be enriched by people being able to bring their religious values (in an accessible idiom) into public conversation this sort of political stunt should be troubling. This silliness only confirms the worst fears of those who believe that religious people feel superior and want to impose their religious positions upon Americans. It adds fuel to a culture war that might make for good television ratings and entertaining talk radio but only damages the ability for the vast majority of us who are not on the extremes to better understand each other’s world views and ways - be they religious, spiritual, secular – to work together to find solutions to problems, and to build a more just and compassionate society. |
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