Fundamentalism's Responsibility for Today's Problems

Fundamentalism and Today’s Problems

The third quarter of the 19^th century witnessed a perfect storm, the consequences of which continue to plague the 21^st century. That storm included the publication of Darwin’s Origin of the Species, the War Between the States, rising secularism (good or bad depending on your perspective), and biblical scholarship known as “higher criticism.” Conservative American Christianity reacted by consolidating a movement that would be labeled “Fundamentalism,” the concentration of their theological teaching at Princeton University and Seminary (“the Princeton Movement”), and the publication of a series of pamphlets between 1910 and 1915 called The Fundamentals. Without any authorization or denominational approval, those pamphlets demanded that to be a true Christian one must BELIEVE:

1.      Verbal inspiration of the Bible

2.      Literal, inerrant interpretation of that Bible

3.      Biological virgin birth of Jesus

4.      Blood atonement for human sin (What kind of god demands human sacrifice?)

5.      Physical, corporeal resurrection of Jesus

6.      Literal, physical return of Jesus

The intellectual pinnacle of this movement was Blackstone’s Jesus is Coming and the Scofield Reference Bible. With its claim that the world was created in 4004 BCE, this book, more than any other among Fundamentalists, is responsible for the ongoing claims for creationism and intelligent (?) design.

The first half of the 20^th century saw the movement divide between those who had a social conscience and lived the Social Gospel and those premillenarian, even more apocalyptic groups who withdrew from social engagement. Evangelicals engaged in intentional conversion of the world while being slightly less authoritarian and more cooperative with other Christian groups. Fundamentalist seemed to go underground for a time but emerged with a vengeance in the 1970s under the leadership of Jerry Falwell, Pat Roberson, James Dobson, and more recently men like Ralph Reed and Richard Lamb.

Now to the point of my argument. The progeny of Fundamentalism include:

1.      Anti-intellectualism [creationism, intelligent design, denial of biological evolution (a concept from hell in the words of a Georgia Congressman who happens to be a medical doctor!), legitimate rape, efforts to subvert Boards of Education, etc]

2.      Anti-feminism (denial of voting rights until the 20^th century, anti-abortion legislation, refusal to recognize female pastors in many of their churches, etc.)

3.      Continuing pre and postmillenarianism and dispensationalism that has many of them aggressively advocating and acting for the apocalyptic end of time

4.      Unbridled militancy in the world seeking domination of others, the elimination of different religions, especially Islam, irrational support of removal of gun control (Before you get your knickers in a knot, I believe in the Second Amendment).

This progeny and much more is responsible for the chaos, partisanship, lack of statesmanship, and lack of moral clarity in this country.

If you are interested and seeking sound scholarship in this area, I recommend:

Karen Armstrong: The Battle for God

Charles Kimball: When Religion Becomes Evil

Marcus Borg: The Evolution of the Word

James Carroll: Jerusalem, Jerusalem

God abhors violence

God abhors violence (and we humans keep forgetting).

When the post-Exilic priestly writers compiled the Torah (the first five writings in the Bible) in the 6^th century BCE, they viewed their history through lenses that gave testimony to their belief that Yahweh is one and they are His/Her witness to the world. They were honest enough to include the good, the bad, and the ugly. James Carroll, author of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, says there are over 600 verses in the Tanak (Bible) that speak of God’s wrath, anger, and violence. But over and over that violence is rejected and love and mercy are affirmed.

The very first act of God in the Bible is attacking the violence of chaos and void and turning it into creation that is repeatedly called “good.” Man’s first act of violence, Cain killing Able, is redeemed by God’s mark of protection placed on Cain. In the Noah myth God’s anger results in near total annihilation of humankind, but GOD REPENTS of His action and promises never to do that again until the end (that’s another story). The Abraham and Isaac story, among everything else that it teaches, is an absolute rejection of human sacrifice as obedience to God (remember that for later). The violence of slavery in Egypt is rejected and overcome by the gift of deliverance. The violence of human selfishness, greed, and anger is overcome with the gift of the Law to guide us in compassion and service to others. The violence of death and destruction at the hands of the Babylonians is overcome by love and Return. The writers acknowledged that Yahweh began as a desert, warrior god but claim that He presented Himself personally to Moses in a burning bush and went on to become the God of Second Isaiah and Lord of all the universe.

Before you spout the anti-semitic lie that the God of the Old Testament was a god of wrath and judgment and the God of the New Testament is a god of love and mercy, I recommend you read the text carefully. The Christian text begins with the violence of a God who demands human sacrifice (remember Abraham?) so He can forgive and love us. It ends (The Revelation of John) with one of the bloodiest pieces of religious literature in history. Jesus did not die to appease an angry god; he LIVED to remind his world that the kingdom of God comes to earth in the care of the sick, hungry, naked, orphaned, marginalized. The world killed Jesus, and the Christian story says God rejected that violence through the story of resurrection. Jesus’ Jewish followers under the guidance of James eventually “got it.” Hellenistic Christianity returned to the violence of the world and reduced the kingdom of God to some far off ideal and made an idol of Jesus.

The Sword Verses and jihad have been a source of criticism and condemnation of Islam for many Jews and Christians. In context, it is necessary to remember that Muhammad and the Quran challenged the violence of polytheism, mistreatment of widows and orphans, licentiousness, and thievery. SOME of his followers, then and now, have prostituted that message of love and mercy. Allah has rejected the violence of the world by giving us the Five Pillars.

God abhors violence in any form. Yahweh abhors the violence of taking land through settlements based on the thin justification of a “promise.” God abhors the violence of racial, religious, and gender bigotry, the violence of state execution, unbridled gun violence, the violence of killing the unborn, the violence of wanton destruction of creation. Allah abhors the violence of ignorance, subjugation of girls and women, the violence of religious war.

God abhors violence by anyone in any form. The only legitimate response to human violence is Tikkun, love God and neighbor, complete surrender to the will of God as revealed in the best of the world’s religious texts. The family of Abraham embodies all of this.

Libertarian/Republican: Half truth, half moral

Libertarian/Republican: Half right, half moral

            Libertarianism is grounded in the Virtue of Selfishness of Any Rand. It has three principal tenets: laissez-faire economics, small government, and individual freedom. They all contain half truths and, consequently, are half moral.

            Laissez-faire capitalism is half true in its recognition of the value of incentives and human desire to accumulate wealth. But even Adam Smith, the 18^th century author of this idea, warned us to beware of capitalists gathered behind closed doors. Their one objective will be to abuse and take advantage of the rest of us. What is completely absent from this theory is concern for the disadvantaged and compassion for the helpless. Community driven capitalism is a far better idea.

            Small government is workable when societies and nations are small. It was workable for the first one hundred years of our nation’s history. But population grew; society became more complex, and our role in the international community increased. Size of government should be dictated by the needs of the society it serves. Efficiency and effectiveness should be the guiding requirements, not an abstract, impersonal idea or concept of “size.”

            Individual freedom that honors the dignity and worth of each and every one of us should be preserved. But individual, egotistical, license that denies or ignores our responsibility for others is moral decay. It ignores the ethics of Jesus of Nazareth and the principles and benefits of the Judaeo-Christian tradition to western civilization and the world.

            We have just witnessed the parade of moral midgets at CPAC. They are smart, intelligent people---Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Ann Coulter, Paul Ryan, etc. They are also morally deficient, guided only by the virtues of selfishness whether it is education, healthcare, children’s programs, immigration, etc. That combination is cause for concern! IQ is important but EI (emotional intelligence) is far more desirable.

            Marcus Borg described the Roman empire of the first century CE as politically oppressive, economically exploitative, chronically violent, and religiously sanctioned. This is precisely the platform of CPAC, Libertarians, and contemporary Republicans. They are intent on imposing American hegemony on the world, exploiting the earth and world resources to the abuse of others, chronically enforcing military domination, and all the while sanctioning their efforts with a claim of fundamentalist Christianity. [Remember the mental gymnastics they went through to justify support of a Mormon candidate?!]

            Double speak was the order of the day at CPAC as all the pretty candidates tap danced across the stage. If this is our alternative for 2016 and, God forbid they win, we are in for dark days.

Thoughts on violence

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 31,000 people die each year in the US from gunshot wounds. This is an average of just over 87 per day. About 30 of those are murders, more than 50 take their own lives, and others are accidents.

If lives don't get your attention, how about this. Gunshot wounds and deaths cost the US over $12 billion, that's billion with a B, a year in court costs, insurance costs, and government health programs. In 2010 medical care for a fatal shooting cost $28,700. In 2010 lost work revenues were $5.4 billion, court costs of $4.7 billion, Medicaid and Medicare costs of $1.4 billion, $180 million in mental health care costs, $224 million to process insurance claims, and $133 million in response call costs. These numbers are from Ted Miller's analysis for Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. An interesting conclusion was that about half of Medicaid's medical costs go to this atrocity.

The Buddha said that the three roots of evil are greed, hate, and delusion. My suspicion is that all three are at work here. US citizens own over 300 million guns-----that's just under one per citizen. The recent frenzy in gun purchases and ammunition hoarding is evidence of all three. I would associate greed with the criminal elements' obsessive use of violence in all levels of crime--drugs, prostitution, etc. I would associate hatred, paranoia, and fear (a manifestation of hatred) with the frenzy mentioned above. Delusion is the overpowering cause of the assumption that you combat violence with violence. Delusion drives misinterpretation of the Second Amendment. Delusion drives the misplaced trust in retaliation (only) and misconception that violence preserves peace.

Background checks? YES!

Improved mental health treatment? YES!

Eradication of homelessness? YES!

Confiscation of excessively powerful weapons? YES!

We are better than this. I find it irrationally insane that the nation that claims to be so religious, so Christian is at the same time so violent and quick to answer force with force. Guns kill, so do people. Guns are the symptom of much deeper problems that deserve, yes require our creative attention. An idiot can shoot a gun. Caring, compassionate people solve problems.

www.haroldlittleton.com

hallittleton@gmail.com

Thoughts on violence

Senator Marco Rubio

An open letter to Senator Marco Rubio
Dear Senator:
Congratulations on your party's recognition of you and choosing you to give the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union. You are the personification of many good and positive values that have made this country great.
Your work ethic is admirable; your Florida mentor speaks very highly of your dedication and tireless efforts in serving the community where you grew up and continue to live. Your sense of responsibility and making the very best of the opportunities given to you despite initial economic hardship are commendable. Your commitment to your faith and your family exemplify a personal level-headedness and integrity all too often missing today. Your youth, intelligence, and articulation have earned you statue and recognition that many will want rewarded even further.
Unfortunately, you are also the personification of many negative values  that challenge and threaten our country today. These have earned you recognition from Democratic opponents as a force to be reckoned with in the future. Those values, in my opinion, are:
1. a libertarian philosophy that does not recognize the historical and moral shortcomings of laissez-faire economics (history has proved this to be morally bankrupt and let me quickly say as morally bankrupt as communism), that has distorted the true meaning of freedom (true freedom recognizes the difference between what I can do and what I should do as a responsible citizen of society and the world), and that is ignorant of the requirements of contemporary society (population, communication, transportation, etc.) in its demands for smaller government. [Let me quickly say that I am in favor of efficiency and effectiveness over size!]
2. a tired, very tired old Republican same song and verse that offers nothing new to move us forward and serve the needs of our citizens today. You continue obstructionism and negativity.
3. a blind and ignorant repetition of lies and groundless charges such as, the Obama administration is out to destroy our Second Amendment rights. This is fabrication, distortion, and an outright lie. It seems to be your and your party's plan to tell the lie often enough, so that, the American public will be deceived.
4. lastly, and sadly, even being a co-sponsor in the Senate of comprehensive immigration reform, you do not have the integrity to say you agree with President Obama on a responsible path to citizenship and falsely accuse him of weak borders and irresponsible Homeland Security. It is well and good to disagree on substantive issues; it is childish and immature to oppose for opposition sake because you did not phrase it their way to begin with.
Senator Rubio, you have the potential to lead. Please gird yourself with truth and integrity and a deep and selfless service of the American people.
Respectfully

First Amendment vs First (Greatest) Commandment

            Our society/culture could well be characterized as one of chaos, confusion, and double talk. Up is down, and wrong is right. One need look no further than the demands to impose sectarian prayer with mandatory Bible reading in schools and religion-specific rituals and icons in the public forum accompanied by the irrational and misinformed insistence that the right to have a semi-automatic rifle and multi-capacity ammunition holders is necessary for freedom.

            I quickly admit that these are complex issues, but I was saddened recently when I put a copy of the Constitution beside a copy of scripture based on and revered by the Judeo-Christian traditions. A contrasting parallel grabbed my attention.

            When Jesus of Nazareth was asked what is the greatest (First) commandment [Matthew 22: 37; Mark 12: 28-31; Luke 10: 25-28], he quoted his scripture (Deut.6:5) saying we are to love God completely. The Bible thumpers and denominational leaders of our society say the First Amendment means the imposition of their beliefs and morals on the rest of us. They have made an idol of their god and scripture and ignored the heart of the message. [Southern Baptists leadership’s attack on the Boy Scouts’ recent reversal of policy on gay leadership would be funny if it weren’t so pathetically sad.]

            Then Jesus followed without hesitation with his admonition for the Second commandment, again quoting his scripture (Leviticus 19: 18), saying to love our neighbor as ourselves. The NRA and violence-obsessed culture responds by saying that guns are required to reduce the killing in our schools and on our streets. In their paranoia the “tyranny” our founders identified has become our own government. Love and concern for neighbor is absent in their (lack of) thinking.

            This is the double speak I mentioned earlier. The freedom of religion (anti-establishment and free exercise) has become the power to impose beliefs and hand-picked morals on this country. The freedom to bear arms as intended has become the license to stock pile these weapons, bear concealed weapons in public, shoot at will if you think you are threatened, neighborhood vigilantes who answer to no one, perverted mentality that says we must kill to be safe. That is like saying we must continue to eat to prevent obesity.

            Everyone is entitled to their own opinion; they are not entitled to their own facts. Silence is complicity. I refuse to yield the moral ground to ignorant, misinformed, self-centered militants with no concern or compassion beyond themselves.