Unfundamentalist

Above All, Love

Three Reasons Why We Don't Pray the Sinner's Prayer With Our Children

by Cindy Brandt in Christian Issues

Praying the prayer to ask Jesus into their hearts with children is the seminal moment in evangelical families. It is believed to be the moment they are saved into securing eternity in heaven, and a commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of their lives. It is a significant and momentous event, one worthy of celebrating. And yet, even though my husband and I are both Jesus-following Christians raised with evangelical backgrounds, we have decided to not pray the sinner’s prayer with our two kids. Here are three reasons why:

1. Children are children before they are sinners.

One of the more harmful teachings of fundamentalist families is to interpret children’s normal behavior as sin. For example, toddlers test boundaries because of the curiosity wired in them — it is a necessary developmental stage to establish their growing identity. And yet, I have seen Christian parents define normal toddler defiance as evidence of sin inherent in children. I believe this is driven by the desire to get children to a place of recognizing a need for the saving grace of Jesus as quickly as possible. Define the problem → provide the solution.

I think this has potential to do much damage to children’s psyches by denying their natural, human inclinations and judging that behavior as sinful. It becomes difficult for children to listen to their own intuition and God-given conscience because they have been taught to be self-abasing and self-denying.

I believe in sin and its… [Read more…] about Three Reasons Why We Don't Pray the Sinner's Prayer With Our Children

God or Country?

by in Current Events

I live on Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), I am a United States war veteran, and I am one of the people who contacted the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) about the “God Bless Our Troops” sign situated here on base.

When I first arrived at the base this past summer I noticed how beautiful and serene it is here. I was also overjoyed to meet some of the finest, most caring, and most giving individuals one could ever hope to come in contact with. I signed my boy up for soccer and now coach his football team.

I also, however, noticed a problem when I arrived at MCBH: a giant sign erected on the base that seemed to me to be entirely unconstitutional. I passed this sign every day. It was unavoidable — the road to the athletic field and the health clinic goes right by it.

The sign states, in no uncertain terms, that this base, which is supposed to be entirely neutral regarding religion, does in fact hold one deity above all others. This was unacceptable to me and so, in August, I contacted the MRFF to investigate whether or not the sign violated the Constitution of the United States. Their reply, in very plain words, explained that it did.

When I joined the United States Navy I took an oath to uphold the Constitution. This majestic product of the Enlightenment, was, and still very much is, an important part of my life. When I was honorably discharged, I did not renounce my oath, which is what makes this situation all the more heart wrenching for me. To see one of the… [Read more…] about God or Country?

The Narrow-Mindedness of Anti-Muslim Christians

by in Islam

View image | gettyimages.com

A couple of days ago we shared on our Facebook page this quote from Rev. John C. Dorhauer, the General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ:
“I want to say as clearly as I can, and in no uncertain terms, that the United Church of Christ stands in full solidarity with people of the Muslim faith. Their contribution to religion, to peace, to humanity, and to the goodness of all is to be celebrated. The United Church of Christ deplores the narrow-mindedness that fails to see this and seeks instead to engender fear, hatred, and anxiety.” — from Urgent Call for UCC Response to Anti-Muslim Rallies
That quote generated responses ranging from enthusiastic support to accusations of heresy. One particular exchange between a Facebook commenter and an Unfundamentalist Christian admin is a perfect illustration of the obstinate narrow-mindedness that Rev. Dorhauer referenced. I’ve transcribed the dialogue below or you can view a screenshot of the exchange.
Commenter: Gee, last time I checked, Christ never chopped anyone’s head off for not believing in Him, and as I read the Koran, I see it tells it’s followers to do just that, and to do unspeakable things to humans, and animals. Nowhere does God, that is YAHWEH, not Allah by the way, say to ever do any such thing. you cannot reconcile the Bible and the koran, Islam and Christianity, there is no reconciliation between the two. You are an Apostate preacher of heresy.… [Read more…] about The Narrow-Mindedness of Anti-Muslim Christians

A Gay Pastor Explains What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality

by in Christian Issues, LGBT

Unfundamentalist Christians founder John Shore recently shared a letter from a gay Christian who is struggling with his sexuality and faith. Among the many encouraging comments on that post was one from a gay pastor who beautifully explained his understanding of the Bible, Christianity, and sexuality.

This pastor graciously agreed to let me share his comment as blog post here. He wishes to remain anonymous because he is not out to his congregation (though he is out to his church’s leadership), but he describes himself as:

a gay pastor who spent decades running from my true affections. But now, after years of denial and fear, I finally realize that God lovingly formed me to be who I am, in my mother’s womb, and that the Lord embraces me as his loved gay child. The Truth has set me free, and I am free indeed.

Here’s his wonderful response to the letter writer on John’s blog:

May I respond to your concern about Romans 1? Paul was not saying that idolatry turns people gay; rather, he was saying that idolatry led to participation in shameful acts of lust. I believe most of the participants were heterosexuals who were acting contrary to their nature. Let me explain, using Cybele worship as an illustration.

Ten to fifteen years before Paul wrote his letter to Rome, Emperor Claudius permitted the worship of Cybele, a mother goddess, to take place in Rome. There were prominent temples to the goddess in Rome (where the letter was being sent to) and in Corinth (where Paul… [Read more…] about A Gay Pastor Explains What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality

No One Else Is Entitled to Our Bodies

by Lynette Cowper in Christian Issues

In China, millions of women have been forced to have abortions, whether they wanted them or not.

Because their government felt entitled to women’s bodies.

In many nations throughout the world, female genital mutilation is commonly practiced.

Because their communities feel entitled to women’s bodies.

In the US between 1900 and the 1970s between 100,000 and 150,000 women — disproportionately women of color, as well as poor women and the mentally challenged — were forcibly sterilized in federally funded eugenics programs.

Because our government felt entitled to women’s bodies.

A similar program saw 30% of Puerto Rican women sterilized by 1965. They were dishonestly told the procedure was reversible.

Because our government felt entitled to women’s bodies.

In many states, the law requires abortion providers to lie to their patients, rendering them incapable of informed consent.

Because those governments feel entitled to women’s bodies.

Hobby Lobby won the right to provide unequal medical insurance coverage to its female employees.

Because that company and others like it feel entitled to women’s bodies.

When women are raped, the questions always focus on her — what was she wearing, was she drunk, was she alone in a bad neighborhood, did she flirt, is she promiscuous, did she and the perp have a sexual history together?

Because the assumption is that men are entitled to women’s bodies.

Women’s choices… [Read more…] about No One Else Is Entitled to Our Bodies

Why Are There Tears in Heaven?

by in Christian Spirituality

“And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:4, NIV)

I’ve always wondered why there would be tears in heaven. The only reason I could imagine, amidst what I believe will be unimaginable beauty and celebration, was that someone I loved on earth wasn’t there.

But now I have new reasons. I recently participated in the Why Christian 2015 conference. This event, organized by recognized authors and speakers Nadia Bolz-Weber and Rachel Held Evans, brought 1,000 men and women to listen and respond to this question: Why, in the wake of centuries of corruption, hypocrisy, crusades, televangelists, and puppet ministries do we continue to follow Jesus? Why, amidst all the challenges and disappointments, do we still have skin in the game? And while that event gave me too much to ponder to summarize in one column, it did give me three reasons for tears in heaven.

First, the event was held in the historic St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis. Built in 1858, this beautiful, traditional church contained stained glass windows, stone carvings, pews, prayer rooms, and a library rich with wood carvings and filled with books. Where did we lose the idea that a church should reflect the awesome majesty of the glory of God. Moses instructed the people in how to build a temple that was an earthly copy of a divine reality (Exodus 25:8-9, 40). The sight of this… [Read more…] about Why Are There Tears in Heaven?

What Must I Believe to Be a Christian?

by Christian Chiakulas in Christian Spirituality

When somebody claims the title “Christian” for themselves, whether they are progressive or conservative or another “-ive,” chances are you can infer at least a few of their beliefs.

They believe that Jesus was God, that is almost beyond question; they probably also believe that Jesus – the “Son” – is one aspect of the Holy Trinity, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. They probably believe that Jesus died for the sins of humankind, and also that the Christian Bible is in at least some respect the Word of God. There’s a good chance they believe that Jesus was conceived by a virgin, that he performed miracles, and that he rose from the dead (again, in at least some respect) after three days.

Christians can argue doctrine and dogma, orthodoxy versus orthopraxy, the importance of Paul’s letters, whether the New Testament has precedence over the Old, and many other disputes, but the things I mentioned above are relatively secure. They are, in a sense, what separates Christians from people of other faiths or creeds who happen to admire Jesus, like Gandhi, or secular humanists who think the Sermon on the Mount just happens to encompass the best of human morality.

Recently I was involved in a religio-political debate with a distant family member I rarely see, and when things began to get heated, he ended the conversation with a pointed, “Well, as long as we can agree that Jesus was God, that he was born of a virgin, that he died on the cross for our sins, and that he rose… [Read more…] about What Must I Believe to Be a Christian?

Putting Words in Paul’s Mouth: “Women: Shut Up!”

by in Christian History, Christian Issues

1 Corinthians 14.34−35 reads:
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Here Paul writes in unambiguous terms a dictum applicable not just to a single church, but to “the churches,” repeating his injunction twice: women should remain silent, they aren’t allowed to speak, and then, in case you’re still looking for a way around this rule, he reminds us that “it is disgraceful” for women to speak in church. Paul couldn’t have been any clearer on the issue. Reading the text at face value, there’s simply no room for interpreting away his command.

Despite this clarity, few Christians actually follow Paul’s command. It’s often explained away as a cultural artifact, perhaps addressing a specific situation involving a group of unruly wives in Corinth. But an across-the-board prohibition against women speaking that’s applicable to the modern church? Surely not!

However, there are some significant textual issues behind these verses that cast doubt on whether Paul actually penned them.

First, it isn’t at all clear where these two verses actually belong in the text. Depending on which manuscript tradition you study, these verse appear either after v. 33 or after v. 40. There’s roughly equal manuscript support for each reading, so it’s not so much a… [Read more…] about Putting Words in Paul’s Mouth: “Women: Shut Up!”

Could you be so holy that you wouldn’t be sad when your children go to hell?

by Randal Rauser in Christian Issues

This guest post is written by Randal Rauser.

Christian theology has its share of whoppers (where “whopper” = a theological claim that collides with our moral intuitions, rational intuitions, or common sense). Among these whoppers we find the doctrines of the Trinity (How can God be one and three?!), incarnation (How can God become man?!), and substitutionary atonement (How can one person die for the sins of another?!).

But there may be no doctrine from the mainstream body of orthodoxy more staggering than “eternal conscious torment,” that doctrine which proposes hell involves the never-ending unimaginably intense torment of people in body and soul.

(How can it be right to torture one person for eternity?!)

Take Adolf Hitler, for example. Hitler was a bad dude. Indeed, they don’t come any worse. But one might think that even in the case of Hitler, a few million (or billion?) years of unimaginable torment might be enough.

Our intuitions certainly suggest that eternal conscious torment is excessive. Okay, more accurately, my intuitions suggest that eternal conscious torment is excessive. But I’ve talked with enough people to know that I’m not the only one with these intuitions. So for folks like me, eternal conscious torment is also a whopper.

And that brings us to the next question: what do we do with this whopper?

In this article I want to consider one possibility in defense of eternal conscious torment. And just… [Read more…] about Could you be so holy that you wouldn’t be sad when your children go to hell?

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