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Had an intriguing chat Friday morning – WAY too early for normal coherence – with a fellow author about the way Christians are viewed by some folks. Both of us are published in the Christian marketplace, both in fiction as well as nonfiction. I’ve also published quite a lot outside that field.
The basis of the conversation was my own continued confusion about where I need to write…something about which I’ve talked a lot here already. Won’t bore you with it again – except to say that it’s a something I struggle with almost every time I sit down at the computer. Just when I think I’ve settled the issue, something rears up to stir everything again.
But in the course of our counseling session, we started talking about another friend of mine, who is an atheist. I have to admit I don’t totally understand atheism. Yes, I’m not an idiot. I know WHAT it is. I just don’t understand how folks can get there without denying a serious part of themselves.
Agnostic, yes. Used to be one myself, among a few other things. My own spiritual path is so convoluted that it would make a maze-maker dizzy.
The next segue (it was a LONG conversation for 5am) moved us into dealing with folks (which we both have to do) who think of the body of Christ as this vast right-wing, conservative monolith to be held in revulsion.
Hm.
I have to admit that this irritates me. Part of my job is to know and understand the depth and breadth of the body of Christ from Charismatic Episcopalians to the Brethren and Quakers. I see things coming out of the Emergent church that stirs a wild hope deep in my soul. I hear about the good the relief agencies are doing, and it makes my eyes burn with tears of joy. One Xn agency hit New Orleans after Katrina and brought aid to more than 5,000 families before the government could get off their keister. I have a friend who travels with two different agencies, cooking. That’s what he does…goes to areas hit by war, storms, quakes, whatever, and he is a part of the kitchen crew. He cooks for the locals, the workers, anyone who needs it. He never preaches or tries to convert anyone – not his thing. He just cooks because that’s what he can do to help.
Yep, I also am quite aware of the more narrow-minded mongers of hate in the name of Christ – those I’d like to personally remove from the gene pool.
But we ain’t all them.
And I don’t really mean that comment about the gene pool. As an American, I can defend their right of speech, even as I find what they say abhorent and anti-biblical. As a Christian, I try not to fall into the same trap that they are in of judging their fellow Christians, even though that seems to be the campaign of many, in the name of clarifying the “Christian truth.”
I am even friends with some, just as I am friends with many unbelievers, and the occasional atheist.
I will have to admit that one of the greatest compliments I’ve had in a long time came from friend Jamie, who listened to one of my tirades about those who paint all Christians with the same brush, then said quietly, “Maybe that’s because they don’t have a friend named Ramona who reminds them otherwise.”
I cried.
I’m getting ready for Christmas. I’m actually decorating this year, and today put up the tree and lights. As usual, the holiday will be a quiet one for me and Rach, however. It usually is. That can be good, sometimes, even preferable. A reminder than it was once very quiet in a certain notable stable.
On the other hand, I’m becoming more politically active, and as I find articles that I think worthy of passing on, I may post them here.
I suppose that one of my problems with writing for only one market is that I despise labels and the restrictions therein.
Can you tell?
2 Comments
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On November 23rd, 2006 at 2:12 pm, Judith said:
Hi Ramona,
I’m glad that I am not the only one who has put up the tree and decorations already.
Involvement in the community and helping others is something that comes from caring about your fellow man. I don’t know if there is a direct correlation to a person’s faith in God. I think the common denominator is the desire to make the community stronger and help others. Any other motivating factors… don’t know.
Best wishes to you and Rachel.
On November 24th, 2006 at 4:38 pm, ramona said:
Hi, Judith!
Yep, still working on the tree. I picked up more decorations from my mom’s house yesterday.
I don’t think I was clear about something in the other post. I don’t think a giving nature is only present in those who practice a religion or a belief in God…although I have seen those who weren’t giving change upon conversion.
No…what I referring to in denying part of ourselves is an intensely spiritual nature, that often seeks out something greater than ourselves…that higher power. Atheism, even at its weakest definition, denies that existence. Atheism isn’t just a refusal to worship or follow the Judeo-Christian Yahweh. It’s the belief that no such power exists at all, in any culture. Some forms of atheism admit that we are spiritual creatures and embrace such philosophies as Buddhism, which proclaims no deities. Other forms deny even that part of ourselves.
I think my problem is that I’ve had enough supernatural experiences in my faith that I simply can’t go toward atheism, or even an agnostic belief, anymore. To do so would be to deny something intrinsic in my being. But that’s just me.