1/6/10
Brit Hume, you are a sad, pathetic slab of granite worthy of our pity. I have to give thanks to you, actually, because you gave me my first whiff of cultural criticism: at a time when I considered all journalists beyond reproach (in my early teens), I remember you at ABC covering the White House, and I suddenely realized there were actually professional broadcasters who were utterly full of shit.
I know that sounds like faint praise - that's because it is. But it's important for all kids to have that moment when the curtain is pulled back and the puppeteer is revealed to be a mediocre sham; it inspires us to greatness. We think "if this schmo can do it, why can't I?"
Brit Hume's son killed himself in 1998, and that made the newly-minted Fox anchor turn even more whole-heartedly to Jesus - which is none of our business, since losing a child is the hardest thing anybody has to endure. It's just too bad that his headlong dive into evangelical Christianity gave him such a woeful grasp on any other religion.
But that's how Evangelicals are: they focus all of their wants, desires, unspoken daddy issues, self-loathing and lust for certitude into their Christian fantasy - while all other faiths, facts and philosophy immediately atrophy into nothingness. They become so theologically brittle that they cease understanding how they sound to other people.
When Brit Hume offers Tiger Woods the Christian faith as a way towards forgiveness and redemption, it's obvious he's being sincere... but it's also obvious that Hume can't begin to understand what a fucking moron he sounds like. He gave up that self-awareness in his religious conversion, and speaks with the kind of righteous moral certitude that makes the rest of us want to vomit.
Buddhists don't offer forgiveness and redemption because, by and large, they don't allow you into such self-hate in the first place. They don't even speak that language. Most Buddhism is about inner well-being, accepting the ever-shifting nature of the world, and recognizing "you're only very small and life flows on within you and without you." If anything, it's the most humane, humility-based belief system in the world.
I'm redoubling my efforts to get back to meditation and the tenets of Buddhism this year, but since I haven't yet, I'd like to say this: I am so fucking sick of Christians talking about Christianity outside of church. It's all so boring. PUT A SOCK IN IT. What I wouldn't GIVE to hear a pundit singing the gracious praises of agnosticism.
"Come to agnosticism, Tiger! We offer forgiveness and redemption because WE DON'T GIVE A SHIT!"
Posted by Ian Williams at January 6, 2010 11:58 PM
I love the brilliant term "theologically brittle" and plan to make further use of it, with attribution. :-)I know YOU know better than to paint all practicing Christians with the same gunky brush. A smug, ossified evangelical ANYTHING would be about as comfortable in our parish as a toothless weasel.
Can you tune out the ridiculous cant? It helps; I promise.
P.S. Wouldn't an agnostic pundit be too conflicted or unsure to sing the praises of, well, a habitual state of doubt? But if I find one (Beliefnet.com? Salon.com?), I'll let you know. ;-)
ian, i will keep you in my prayers
There's something about Buddhism that's fundamentally different than Christianity: at its root it's a set of rigorous tenets regarding suffering, compassion and what it means to be human, not something with a Credo. It's an 'and' religion not an 'exclusive or' religions. Someone can be Buddhist and also be Shinto. Or even Christian for some values of Christianity.
The real truth of Christ is existential: one becomes more the best possible person one can by living Christ's teachings. Actions not words. It's possible -- though some flavors of Christianity reject this -- to be a Christian and understand the supernatual aspects of the Bible strictly as metaphor and as a pre-scientific world-view.
If you focus on the core truths of Buddhism and Christianity they say almost exactly the same things, basically 1 Corinthians 13: we see the world imperfectly, and the only abiding truth is that we need to love and care for one another.
Look at it this way, it could be a lot worse. Christian evangelist zealots can be annoying and say things you find stupid and ignorant. Similar zealots of other religions blow shit up.
who blows up abortion clinics?
Christianity: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree.
Makes perfect sense.
(http://www.motifake.com/demotivational-poster/0712/christianity-explained-god-demotivational-poster-1198455582.jpg)
Brit Hume's comments don't bother me. Tiger Woods' misogyny does.
Since I have entered the world of Facebook, I have been surprised to see the number of friends from childhood, college, law school who have become very religious and write exclusively on their walls about faith and religion. People turn to religion to better themselves and their lives. Brit Hume was trying to offer a helping hand to Tiger Woods. . . so what's the big deal?
I wonder if my teenagers will be more excited about going to Mass if I tell them we'll be worshipping a "cosmic Jewish Zombie". (ref: Paul's comment above)
Hey, worth a try! (LOL)
The facebook proselytizers make me want to close my account.
LFMD - I think the distasteful part was that Hume outright said that because Woods is a Buddhist, he will not be able to obtain the "kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith."
I'd further add that Brit Hume's comments were not just denigrating to other belief systems, it was active recruitment for anyone listening, which has no place on television shows not specifically advertised for that purpose.
Kent, I'd argue you have to pick and choose Christ's teachings in the Bible in order to come up with our accepted definition of "Christlike" - there are plenty of bits in the gnostic gospels you have to ignore. But point taken overall.
I'm just tired of hearing about it, especially from the mouths of so many white Republicans, for whom Christianity is a daily act of sickening hypocrisy.
I read this entry, Ian, and realized something, too. Let me rephrase something you wrote above:
I remember you at UNC covering college life, and now I suddenly realize there are professional writers who are utterly full of shit.
It saddens me greatly. I loved reading your blog. I loved hearing about other thoughts beyond my world, other interests of yours and loved hearing about your lovely Lucy.
I admired your incredible grasp of the English language, the depth of which you used to write. I even have a little list of phrases that would stun me in how they so expertly and perfectly captured the essence of what you were trying to convey.
Lately, however, all of that is lost, lost in the hatred you have toward a group of people of which I am a part. I think I have had enough.
My God doesn't love religion; He loves relationships. Therefore, despite your demands, I will kindly NOT limit my Christianity to inside my church.
2 Corinthians 3:14 NIV
But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.Maybe one day you will not find Christianity so "boring" or as the scripture says, "dull."
amen. enough with the bigotry
I keep revisiting this post to see new comments, because the topic interests me greatly.
I disagree with those who think Ian's blog-rant was bigoted. It was tough on Christians who are hypocritical and overly prescriptive and closed-minded, sure. I may have added to the fire by asking Ian, in the very first comment today, not to paint us all with the same brush. (cliches are me)
But Ian was promoting anti-bigotry. He was promoting MYOB-ness in public life when it comes to private (sexual) peccadilloes. If Hume were on an all-evangelical channel, no problemo with his "generous offer" to Tiger Woods. But instead he ill-used his public platform as a news anchor. He could have written a private letter and I wouldn't even have a problem with that (although Tiger might!).
Faith is a double-edged sword. It can be beautiful and compassionate and help to improve lives in both material and spiritual ways. It can also foster suspicion and prejudice. Probably we can all agree on this.
@going up:
Matthew 6:5-6 ESV
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Ian didn't claim to hate you, nor did he issue any demand that you keep your Christianity in the church. I will honestly never understand how American protestants think they merit their sense of wounded persecution. It's so... privileged.
I have a Brit Hume that works with me.. a technician (ie lower level worker) who has a lot of direct contact with the kids likes to encourage them to "seek Jesus" to rid themselves of "the devil" in them and then they may not need medication, etc. As much as I respect this lovely gentleman and think he has every right to believe this I think this is an inappropriate thing to do in his professional role. Just like Brit Hume.
I think I wouldn't even mind if these folks (my coworker and Brit) just said "this is what works for me..." but to go one step further and say "this is what you should do" is taking it too far when you are in a professional role I think. It's fine in church or just out in your community but not like this.
Just imagine had Brit Hume said "I think Tiger needs to become a fundamentalist Mormon. Certain sects of Mormons believe polygamy is okay and therefore this makes sense for Tiger at this time. Or maybe Islam since they often agree that more than one woman is reasonable." Anyone hearing that would think Brit Hume was off his rocker and making suggestions that were unreasonable on national TV. In this country, on Fox News at least, proselytizers Christianity is just "being a good American". Blech!
I have often wondered what a conversation about religion with Father Cathie (being a fellow Episcopalian myselt) and Ian would sound like.
As someone who believes in God, but feels uncomfortable talking too much about it with others outside of church, I sometimes feel awkward when others talk too much about it outside of church, but I also admire those who feel confident and comfortable enough to "preach" to others - no matter what the religion, even Ian's discussion of agnosticism.
At my daughter's elementary Christmas sing-along in kindergarten, they performed songs about Kwanzaa, Hanakkuh, a Spanish song, but they would not sing a Christian based Christmas song. It was clear that that was specifically excluded. For some reason, that really bothered me. I love that she is learning about other religions, but don't know why she couldn't sing about hers.
Never fear; Fr. Cathie and I have had many conversations. Most of them end up with both of us laughing at something her husband did.
but not when talking about religion
We're working on it...
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=news.display_article&mode=s&NewsID=5270
"Moral certainty is the reward of the true believer" - Gordon Livngston
I've often said that as far as religion in social circles goes, it should be treated like a pastime or hobby. In other words, if you wear a Union Pacific t-shirt to a picnic, you're telling me you like trains and if I choose to ask you about it, then you may geek out all you want about your affection for railroads. However, if I see that shirt and choose NOT to address the 800 pound elephant on your shirt, please respect MY wishes NOT to talk about it.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
It's not just for Church, it's not just for polite conversation. It is part of being Christian. Hume's biggest mistake was not standing up later when he got criticized. He was suggesting that Woods would find inner peace in Christianity. It is his belief and he clearly was in a position to say so.
If you don't like it change the channel.
Freedom of speech is just like freedom of religion in this country. Everyone can excercise it even if YOU don't agree with it. Plenty of folks don't think fundamentalist Muslims should get to excercise their religion in the US because others of that ilk have done such horrible acts.
"What I wouldn't GIVE to hear a pundit singing the gracious praises of agnosticism"
If only there were someone who was so inclined, there might be more of them. Frankly, I think Ian is so blinded by hatred of the LDS church that it realy clouds his view.
Perhaps non-Christians will start practicing Christianity when Fox News starts practicing journalism.