I came of age during the so called moral majority, and I saw firsthand how Christian politics were weaponized. I was even a holy warrior during my high school years. You capture the reasons why church settings still give me an allergic reaction. And why the default settings for funerals, often evangelical, are so alienating for those who are no longer believers. I attended the funerals for my grandparents by livestream in January and August, 2021, and I was disgusted that the pastor largely recycled his eulogies. Both were altar calls. Herman and Peggy were ready...are you? Faith can become a carapace that no doubt can penetrate, and in that form it is truly terrifying. I wonder if those who accept the platitude about death being graduation to heaven can even truly grieve.
One of my son’s always tells me that I should listen to media that I am opposed to. He says it’s important to know what those groups are saying and planning. Thanks to you for listening and sharing. I had no idea how they misinterpret the scripture and to what end.
Dec 31, 2022·edited Dec 31, 2022Liked by Robert Leonard
Thank you, Bob. As you point out, people have been controlled, shamed and manipulated in the name of religion for years. For centuries, in fact, the name of God has been evoked to keep people in line to dominate, abuse and use them. In the past, much of that control was focused on the most vulnerable -- the poor and working class, those infirm, women and children. Look at the message given to your grandmother: women should endure heinous suffering at the hands of men at all costs or will be held responsible for the health and eternal life of their families -- or suffer wrath beyond this lifetime. Today we have a new version of religious control and it continues to be about power.
I'm not a particularly religious man, but books like Matthew have always resonated with me. It's been hard to watch people's faith being weaponized against them; first with the rise of Televangelism in the 80s, and then to things like the OCA in my home state of Oregon. The OCA wielded religion like a cudgel to try and advance all kinds of harmful legislation.
In 2023, the names have changed, but the motives are the same.
P.S. You must have the patience of a saint to endure Newsmax, OAN, etc.!
Your story is spot on and is so eloquently written. Touched my heart. The facts break my heart. For all those who hold up Christmas and the birth of a homeless infant as sacred, there is little compassion for others among us who have no home and no country.
Thanks for keeping tabs on some churches and some TV/Radio shows. It is important to know what’s going on. I don’t have the stomach for it myself but I appreciate your observations.
Thanks for writing this, but sorry for multiple reasons that you "had" to write this. Similar experience at my Uncle Harry's evangelical funeral in Nashville in September, and at a cousin's wedding 20 some years ago. Similar religious journey for me. Coffee chat time would be interesting for us.
Thank you, Bob. You are a brave man. And what a good man your dad was and what a great story teller you are.
But why listen to that vile hogwash on the radio? I know we need to be aware, but it is so poisonous.
Thinking of you and your dear family. We have a lot to be thankful for and your voice is on my list and that of others in the collaborative. Happy New Year!
I live there, in the Des Moines metro. I teach religion and ethics. And ... the culture has become so hostile to anything deemed "outsider" -- even innocuous things -- that marginalization and exclusion is pervasive and normal. To illustrate my point, I tell students to go to the downtown farmer's market and watch "who buys from who," and you'll see some of the most organic, seemingly spontaneous racial and ethnic segregation appear in the crowds of thousands. But ... it's so endemic that most people there don't recognize it or notice it ... it's as innocuous to them as birds chirping.
And in my classes, it's nearly impossible to each religion or ethics because the scholarly expose of those topics is so outside local pop culture that ... expertise is derided as personal opinion. Yesterday, as department chair, I spent an hour consoling a religion colleague that the disengagement and lack of attendance in his classes is not his fault. While some days before I had to decide if I had to report another for pages of transphobic slurs shared on institutional email. Neither policy nor reminders of the compassion of Christ had any effect.
There are good people here. But more and more I overhear from fellow parents, waiting at the playground for their children, that we have to leave. That this place has become more and more hostile. And now that I see it starting to affect my children, 5 and 2, I don't see a place for us here.
I came of age during the so called moral majority, and I saw firsthand how Christian politics were weaponized. I was even a holy warrior during my high school years. You capture the reasons why church settings still give me an allergic reaction. And why the default settings for funerals, often evangelical, are so alienating for those who are no longer believers. I attended the funerals for my grandparents by livestream in January and August, 2021, and I was disgusted that the pastor largely recycled his eulogies. Both were altar calls. Herman and Peggy were ready...are you? Faith can become a carapace that no doubt can penetrate, and in that form it is truly terrifying. I wonder if those who accept the platitude about death being graduation to heaven can even truly grieve.
One of my son’s always tells me that I should listen to media that I am opposed to. He says it’s important to know what those groups are saying and planning. Thanks to you for listening and sharing. I had no idea how they misinterpret the scripture and to what end.
Thank you, Bob. As you point out, people have been controlled, shamed and manipulated in the name of religion for years. For centuries, in fact, the name of God has been evoked to keep people in line to dominate, abuse and use them. In the past, much of that control was focused on the most vulnerable -- the poor and working class, those infirm, women and children. Look at the message given to your grandmother: women should endure heinous suffering at the hands of men at all costs or will be held responsible for the health and eternal life of their families -- or suffer wrath beyond this lifetime. Today we have a new version of religious control and it continues to be about power.
I, too, find the ideology of christian nationalism off-putting. I've found the online resources of this grassroots campaign helpful (https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/resources).
I'm not a particularly religious man, but books like Matthew have always resonated with me. It's been hard to watch people's faith being weaponized against them; first with the rise of Televangelism in the 80s, and then to things like the OCA in my home state of Oregon. The OCA wielded religion like a cudgel to try and advance all kinds of harmful legislation.
In 2023, the names have changed, but the motives are the same.
P.S. You must have the patience of a saint to endure Newsmax, OAN, etc.!
Your story is spot on and is so eloquently written. Touched my heart. The facts break my heart. For all those who hold up Christmas and the birth of a homeless infant as sacred, there is little compassion for others among us who have no home and no country.
Really enjoy your columns.
Thanks for keeping tabs on some churches and some TV/Radio shows. It is important to know what’s going on. I don’t have the stomach for it myself but I appreciate your observations.
s
Thanks for writing this, but sorry for multiple reasons that you "had" to write this. Similar experience at my Uncle Harry's evangelical funeral in Nashville in September, and at a cousin's wedding 20 some years ago. Similar religious journey for me. Coffee chat time would be interesting for us.
And, you have a beautiful family. Your dad has the Elvis look (😊),
Wow! Thank you for expressing so perfectly the angst felt by so many of us today.
Such a profound message couched in a truly personal story even with photographs. Thank you.
Thank you, Bob. You are a brave man. And what a good man your dad was and what a great story teller you are.
But why listen to that vile hogwash on the radio? I know we need to be aware, but it is so poisonous.
Thinking of you and your dear family. We have a lot to be thankful for and your voice is on my list and that of others in the collaborative. Happy New Year!
Thank you for articulating what many are also feeling.
Not all Christians have gone off the deep end, for which I am grateful.
I feel this in ways beyond words.
I live there, in the Des Moines metro. I teach religion and ethics. And ... the culture has become so hostile to anything deemed "outsider" -- even innocuous things -- that marginalization and exclusion is pervasive and normal. To illustrate my point, I tell students to go to the downtown farmer's market and watch "who buys from who," and you'll see some of the most organic, seemingly spontaneous racial and ethnic segregation appear in the crowds of thousands. But ... it's so endemic that most people there don't recognize it or notice it ... it's as innocuous to them as birds chirping.
And in my classes, it's nearly impossible to each religion or ethics because the scholarly expose of those topics is so outside local pop culture that ... expertise is derided as personal opinion. Yesterday, as department chair, I spent an hour consoling a religion colleague that the disengagement and lack of attendance in his classes is not his fault. While some days before I had to decide if I had to report another for pages of transphobic slurs shared on institutional email. Neither policy nor reminders of the compassion of Christ had any effect.
There are good people here. But more and more I overhear from fellow parents, waiting at the playground for their children, that we have to leave. That this place has become more and more hostile. And now that I see it starting to affect my children, 5 and 2, I don't see a place for us here.