Unfundamentalist

Above All, Love

Current Events

B.S.'s no BS speech at Liberty University should challenge all of us

by Chuck Queen in Christian Issues, Current Events

View image | gettyimages.com

Bernie Sanders is not a Christian. He is a Jew, though he does not profess to be deeply religious. However, the vision he recently expounded in a speech to the students and faculty of Liberty University, the school founded by the Baptist fundamentalist Jerry Falwell, sounded more Christian than many Christians.

The vision he offered was grounded in the golden rule: “In everything do to others as you would have them to do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). He quoted Amos: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (5:24).

He said that it would be a hard case to make that we are a just society, a society that lives by the golden rule. He spoke of the massive injustice in terms of income and wealth inequality. He said there is no justice “when so few have so much and so many have so little.”

He noted that our country has the highest rate of childhood poverty of any major country on earth. He said, “there is no justice when thousands of Americans die every single year because they do not have any health insurance and do not go to the doctor when they should.” He pointed out that we are “the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to people as a right.”

He said, “there is no justice when low income and working class mothers are forced to separate from their babies one or two weeks after birth and go back to work because they need… [Read more…] about B.S.'s no BS speech at Liberty University should challenge all of us

Why do so many conservatives oppose Pope Francis?

by Sean Bresnahan in Christian Issues, Current Events

I guess I’m a bit of a masochist.

The moment before I press “enter” to begin my first search of the day, I pause and ask myself, “do I enjoy misery?”

I question my sanity in this way because I know that as soon as my screen illuminates with bolded headlines, my heart will sink and my forehead tighten. I breathe out a heavy sigh.

“Pope Francis: Communist, or Antichrist?”

“Pope Francis: Most Dangerous Human Being on the Planet”

“Pope Francis: False Prophet, come to America”

I’m quite serious. It seems that even the vicar of Christ can be given such preposterous titles left normally for men like Adolph Hitler and Henry Kissinger. Though, as I recover from my abrupt laughter, I realize that I’m not incredibly surprised.

Conservative radio host Michael Savage declared on the June 16 edition of his show: “The pope is a danger to the world.” He continued by calling the Pope a “great deceiver,” “stealth Marxist,” “eco-wolf in pope’s clothing,” and compared him to the false prophet in the book of Revelation “directing mankind to worship the Antichrist.” Savage concluded that “we are living in global tyranny right now.”

The next day, Rush Limbaugh, another prominent conservative radio host, expressed similar sentiments, claiming that the Pope was aligning himself with those on the left who wished to “leave everybody … living equally in misery,” and confirming the claim that Francis was, indeed, a communist here… [Read more…] about Why do so many conservatives oppose Pope Francis?

I'm not a fan of the Pope and you shouldn't be either

by in Christian Issues, Current Events

As the hullabaloo over Pope Francis’ visit to America reaches a fever pitch, it’s important to keep in mind some sobering realities about the organization he leads.

The Pope has been widely lauded for his seemingly revolutionary statements, such as:

“Who am I to judge?”
“there is no Catholic God”
“when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person? We must always consider the person.”
“How I would like a church that is poor and for the poor”
“Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense.”

But these missives are little more than symbolic gestures entirely devoid of meaningful and substantive change. They’re reminiscent of a slick politician who promises hope and change in order to please his constituency, but behind the scenes continues to conduct business as usual.

And the Catholic Church is a business, one with enormous power. In America, the Catholic Church has 74 million members, employs 1 million people and spends $170 billion yearly. And that’s just in the United States. World-wide there are some 1.2 billion Catholics and vast financial resources.

But the size and power of the Catholic Church isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. What is troubling are many of the beliefs espoused by the Church, beliefs that are fully supported by the Pope and which every Catholic, whether they like them or not, are supposed to believe. These aren’t obscure bits of theological ephemera, they’re… [Read more…] about I'm not a fan of the Pope and you shouldn't be either

I caused a bomb scare on a military installation and got in less trouble than Ahmed Mohamed

by in Current Events

View image | gettyimages.com

I hadn’t even thought of this story in relation to the Ahmed Mohamed incident until I saw this tweet and realized that I knew exactly what happens when there’s really a bomb scare — because I’d once caused one myself — and that Ahmed’s story bore no resemblance to my own experience.

It was the summer of 2008 and I was installing WiMAX internet service for a three-story support building located in the middle of an Air Force base.

The project involved accessing the roof through a trapdoor in a bathroom on the third floor, setting up an antenna on the roof, running a cable down the outside of the building to the middle of the second floor, drilling a hole through the brick wall for the cable to enter the building, pulling a hundred feet of cable through that hole to the inside of the building, and then running the cable through various conduits and ceilings and walls to reach its final location in the basement.

I had finished drilling the hole through the wall and was in the middle of pulling the cable into the building when someone came jogging up the hallway telling everyone to evacuate immediately. I dropped my tools and filed out of the building along with the hundred or so other people who worked there.

We gathered at the designated evacuation point about a block away and watched as fire engines, police cars and an EOD team — complete with bomb suit and bomb robot — surrounded the building. Word quickly spread that… [Read more…] about I caused a bomb scare on a military installation and got in less trouble than Ahmed Mohamed

Why I Have Compassion for Defiant Court Clerk Kim Davis  

by Chuck Queen in Current Events

Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses, has been all over the news and internet this past week. Last Thursday U.S. District Judge David Bunning sent her to jail. The couples who originally sued in the case asked Bunning to fine her but not jail her. Bunning said that sending her to prison was his only alternative because he did not believe she would comply with his order if she were fined.

I have to admit I have looked at this woman with some disdain. I have thought, “Oh great, another example here in Kentucky (where I am from and where I minister) of Christian fundamentalism and religious hypocrisy to showcase to the world.” For the most part, when I heard her name mentioned on television or came across another news story or opinion piece about her I felt frustration welling up within me.

But something happened this past week that pierced through my defense mechanisms and touched my true self. I don’t know why, but when I read an article earlier in the week before the judgment by Bunning that talked about the real possibility of her being held in contempt of court (I knew this already, but for some reason when I read it this time) somehow the Spirit broke through. At least, that is how I understand it. Others may think differently.

Here’s what happened: I felt compassion. I experienced sympathy. I was moved with pity and sorrow.

Here’s why: It makes sense when someone faces consequences for standing up for what is just and fair and… [Read more…] about Why I Have Compassion for Defiant Court Clerk Kim Davis  

5 Ways You Can Help the Syrian Crisis

by in Current Events

Although the Syrian conflict has been going on for almost five years, it’s taken graphic images of dead children washing up on Turkish beaches for the world to really pay attention. The photos are disturbing, but it’s also disturbing that so many of us have largely ignored the Syrian crisis until we were confronted by heartbreaking images of suffering and death.

Over 12 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, over 5 million children have been affected by the crisis, over 7 million people have been displaced internally in Syria and over 4 million have been displaced to other countries. It’s a crisis of massive scale, and there’s no sign that it is going to get better any time soon.

As with most major crises, the best way to help is by giving financial support to those who can make the biggest difference.

To that end, here are five charities who are doing important work on the ground in the affected regions and who could use our donations. Each of these organizations has an “A” rating with Charity Watch and a 4-star rating with Charity Navigator.

Please consider giving to at least one of them…or even all five.

Save the Children — “Save the Children’s emergency responders are working across Europe providing aid and support. But they need your help to reach more refugee children. Your support will help us reach desperate children across Europe and in other locations where refugees are on the move.”

Mercy Corps — “Your gift to our Syria… [Read more…] about 5 Ways You Can Help the Syrian Crisis

Why I Support Kim Davis

by in Current Events

View image | gettyimages.com

Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis refuses to issue same-sex marriage licenses because doing so would violate her religious beliefs. While I vehemently disagree with Davis’ beliefs about same-sex marriage, I wholeheartedly support her for taking a stand for what she thinks is moral, and I admire her willingness to maintain her convictions in the face of enormous pressure. It’s an example that many of us would do well to heed.

With rare exceptions, I don’t think anyone should have to do something that violates their sincerely-held moral convictions. If morality has any meaning at all, then it’s something we should stand up for, regardless of political, social and even legal circumstances. Morality isn’t something that we should simply set aside for the sake of convenience, it’s something we should uphold no matter what the consequences.

And yes, there will be consequences. Every moral choice has implications that we must live with. In this case, Davis seems prepared to face the consequences of her stand. How many of us would be willing to face fines, jail, loss of our job and public humiliation over a moral issue? How many of us would instead choose the far easier path of capitulation?

Unfortunately, much of the discussion surrounding this case is focused on tangential issues. I’ve seen far too many attacks on Davis that focus on her alleged hypocrisy, especially in regards to her checkered marital history, as well as her apparent willingness to… [Read more…] about Why I Support Kim Davis

What I Wish Everyone Knew About Sex Addiction

by April Kelsey in Christian Issues, Current Events

Once again, Josh Duggar is in the news. And, once again, my heart is heavy.

Last week it was revealed that Josh had a paid account on Ashley Madison, a website for people seeking affairs. Josh subsequently released a statement in which he admitted being “unfaithful” to his wife Anna and having a “secret addiction” to pornography—implying that he is, perhaps, a sex addict.

I wouldn’t doubt it at all. I see the patterns clearly.

Josh’s story is very personal for me. In many ways, I have lived this story and continue to live it. I was raised in a fundamentalist household. I was a victim of sexual abuse. My family fell apart after my father’s indiscretions became too much to bear. I know too well what is happening in Anna Duggar’s world right now.

In light of this, here are 10 things I wish everyone understood about sex addiction:

Sex addition is real. The term “addiction” in this case is controversial; some people prefer “compulsion.” No matter what people choose to call it, it is a real physiological and psychological condition. Just like compulsive eating or alcoholism can be used to cope with stress, so can sex. The dopamine feedback cycles and resulting insensitivity a sex addict experiences through their behavior are the same as those experienced by other kinds of addicts.

Sex addiction is a coping strategy. Whether it is to assuage low self-esteem, relieve feelings of neglect or abandonment, or avoid the stress and boredom of… [Read more…] about What I Wish Everyone Knew About Sex Addiction

I Would Have Defended My Abuser, Too

by April Kelsey in Current Events, Fundamentalism

Last week, I learned that the Duggar family will be participating in a documentary on child sex abuse in conjunction with Darkness to Light and Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

Last month, Jill and Jessa Duggar appeared on Fox News to talk about their abuse experience and how they’ve forgiven their brother Josh for molesting them. In the interview, the young women minimized what was done to them, saying that Josh was merely “sexually curious” and that the abuse wasn’t that bad.

Though it turned my stomach, it did not surprise me at all. Had a TV reporter sat down with me at age 24, I would have said pretty much the same thing.

At age 8, I was similarly molested by someone close to me. At the time the abuse occurred, I knew that it was wrong, or at least very weird. But I didn’t understand it. Growing up in fundamentalism means that you often don’t have words to explain experiences that occur outside of your worldview–words like rape, consent, agency, autonomy, erotic, vagina, and molestation. For the first three years post-abuse, I was confused about what happened. I wasn’t angry, just confused. I didn’t know what had happened to me or how to contextualize it.

But then, when I was about 11 years old, the reality hit me out of the blue. Suddenly, I had a word to explain my experience. And with that word came the rage. I knew then, without a doubt,… [Read more…] about I Would Have Defended My Abuser, Too

Why I'm a Christian Who (Still) Supports Planned Parenthood

by in Christian Issues, Current Events

Last week an undercover video was released purporting to show that Planned Parenthood is in the business of selling fetal body parts. The video reinvigorated the anti-abortion movement and renewed calls to defund Planned Parenthood.

But despite what many are so loudly proclaiming, the video — when watched in its entirety and with a dose of common sense — doesn’t actually support the claim that Planned Parenthood is using “partial-birth abortions to sell baby parts.”

What it does show is that Planned Parenthood facilitates the donation of fetal tissue for medical research. This is entirely legal and entirely appropriate. Why shouldn’t cells from aborted fetuses be used for medical research with potentially life-saving applications? Would those opposed to abortion prefer that these resources be simply squandered? Since the abortion is going to happen anyway, what possible reason is there for not utilizing the aborted tissue?

Perhaps the biggest fallout from the video, however, comes from the “tone” with which the medical procedures are described, something for which Planned Parenthood has already apologized.

I don’t think there’s a need to apologize. Conversations between medical professionals are often seemingly callous and matter-of-fact. Anyone who’s spent time around those in the medical field — doctors, PAs, nurses, EMTs — has likely heard gruesome stories recounted in a completely offhanded manner. What’s unsettling to us is commonplace for those who deal… [Read more…] about Why I'm a Christian Who (Still) Supports Planned Parenthood