The Public Image of Christianity Is Formed by What Is Seen

[MineralMan]

The most prominent Christian voices heard and seen in the news media are those of evangelicals, fundamentalists and the so-called "Christian Right." They are the people creating the general public view of what a Christian is and what American Christians stand for.

If I were a progressive Christian leader, I would be deeply offended that my faith was being represented in that light. I would strive to speak out against the messages that appear so frequently in our public media. I would not be cowed by some sense of fairness to those "Christians" who deliver a message that is far-removed from mine. I would counter those terrible images with my voice.

I'm not a Christian, though. I'm a progressive, but I'm an atheist. Nobody listens to me if I speak about what Christianity is or should be. That's actually a fair thing. However, I keep watching for progressive Christians to speak out loudly and often against the misrepresentations that are allowed to be heard so widely.

The fundamentalist and dominionist Christian Right is vocal, loud, and influential. It is becoming, or has already become, the standard of what identifies American Christianity. Does that not disturb Christians who disagree with those voices? Are they not ready to stand up for their own positions? Are they too timid to speak out?

Let's hear from progressive Christianity as loudly and often as we hear from the travesty that is fundamentalism, dominionism and what is wrongly called evangelicalism, please.

I can't do it effectively. You can. You should. Perhaps you must.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. A movement does seem to be forming:

http://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian I'm not religious, but I have a lot of left-wing friends who are - mostly Episcopalians, and they have no time for the fundamentalists. Some of the local churches are very active in efforts to help the homeless, sending aid to Haiti, etc. I think they are more concerned with their charitable missions (actually doing what Jesus said they are supposed to do) than blowing their own horns, but unfortunately loud, angry people get all the attention.

[MineralMan]

3. Yes. They continue to do good things, but fail to

present a counterpoint to the vocal and negative image being put forward by the right-wingers. I think that is a mistake. I also know many progressive Christians, most of them Lutherans. They are good people, but do not speak out.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. They are speaking out. What, specifically, should they do

that they aren't doing? There are web sites, other social media, gatherings, some big names like Rev. Barber, who are speaking out. What else do you suggest?

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. K & R

[Cartoonist]

4. The paradox

It's not that simple, MM.

For us atheists, it's easy to criticize religious thinking. We often go to the source, religion itself. In order for xians to criticize another xian, they would have to criticize themselves.

[MineralMan]

5. And before criticizing, they'd have to look closely at themselves.

It's a dilemma, isn't it? So, the answer seems to be: "Say nothing. Don't make waves."

I get it now.

[Cartoonist]

6. Not themselves

They'd have to examine religion.

[MineralMan]

7. Well, for many people, religion is an integral part of how they

identify themselves. So, examining their religion is also self-examination.

Christianity generally encourages self-examination. A paradox, I think.

[Mariana]

8. In this group, we recently had a Christian say outright

that she will not condemn a brother of the faith. That attitude appears to be very widespread.

[MineralMan]

9. Well, it has scriptural support. Or many believe it does.

However, the recorded words that Jesus was supposed to have said include many criticisms of people. He is supposed to have been very much against people who were hypocrites, and spoke against those frequently.

Perhaps progressive Christians could follow that example and speak out against the hypocrites among them. But, the same Jesus was supposed to have recommending against judging others, although that statement was tempered by adding "lest ye also be judged." Personally, I'd be more worried about being judged for being silent in the face of evil than for speaking against it, somehow.

But, what do I know. I'm an accursed, vile atheist, after all.

[Major Nikon]

31. You also have no shortage of Catholics defending their church

...who refuse to condemn the church’s official stances on bigotry or their practice of covering up child rape.

Then there’s the often repeated “no true Christian...” fallacy that is used to dismiss bad behavior.

[yallerdawg]

10. The voices are out there - you just have to listen.

Link to tweet

The Man Behind Moral Mondays

"A conversation with Reverend Doctor William Barber, who is leading the progressive charge against right-wing policies in North Carolina"

How would you describe the philosophy behind Moral Mondays?

When we looked at the preponderance of this legislation that was passed and was being planned, we said, let’s look at the deep values of our constitution. We read where it says that in North Carolina, all political power should only be used for the good of the whole. We saw that our constitution of 1868, passed by blacks and whites, guaranteed equal protection and it guaranteed public education, both as a constitutional value and a moral value. Then we looked at the federal constitution and saw that the deep values in that are the common good—promoting the general welfare. The first word, before you even get to freedom and liberty, is the establishment of justice.

Then we went to the Bible. We saw that every major faith says that love and justice should be at the center of public policy. Isaiah 10 says, “Woe unto those who make unjust laws that rob the right of the poor.” And we said, wait a minute, when you look at these policies, it’s not only bad policy, but it’s immoral and extreme. And we said that we had to stand up as a coalition—not liberal vs. conservative (that’s too small, too limited, too tired), or Republican vs. Democrat. We had to have a moral challenge because these policies they were passing, in rapid-fire, were constitutionally inconsistent, morally indefensible, and economically insane.

[MineralMan]

12. Gosh. I didn't see those tweets.

I think I'm talking about speaking out to be heard by the masses, via mass media. How many people do you follow on Twitter, after all. I'm sure you understand my point, but you are still attempting to conflate quiet protest with public condemnation.

See, I want to hear condemnation of evil people. I'm not hearing that from Christians.

[yallerdawg]

14. You've never heard of Rev. Barber, the Moral Movement, Moral Mondays?

I see.

And "you're not hearing condemnation of evil people from Christians?" I thought that was one of your bones to pick...

[MineralMan]

16. Not by name, frankly.

However, I'm familiar with you, and I'm listening.

[Tanuki]

17. Maybe you would be interested in attending a public event. For example:

https://www.publictheologyracialjustice.org/events/2018/4/13/mobile-course-in-public-theology-and-activism
"Mobile Course in Public Theology and ActivismFriday, April 13, 20181:00 PM  5:00 PMThe Temple, Congregation Ohabai Sholom5015 Harding PikeNashville, TN, 37205United States(map)Google Calendar  ICS

The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has emerged from more than a decade of work by grassroots community and religious leaders, organizations and movements fighting to end systemic racism, poverty, militarism, environmental destruction & related injustices and to build a just, sustainable and participatory society. The Campaign aims to build a broad and deep national moral movement — rooted in the leadership of poor people and reflecting the great moral teachings — to unite our country from the bottom up.

Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival kicks off a 15-state public event tour to address issues of systemic racism, poverty, militarism, and ecological devastation in the states. The events are being co-led by grassroots organizations, local faith leaders, and other people of conscience, as well as the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chairs of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.

Vanderbilt Divinity and the Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative will be hosting the Repairers of the Breach and the Poor People's Campaign for a Mobile Course in Public Theology and Activism.

See details below.

Date: April 13, 2018

Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: The Temple, Congregation Ohabai Sholom, Rabbi Shana Mackler, hostess, in collaboration with Vanderbilt Divinity School, Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative, and the following congregations, organizations, and institutions of higher education:

American Baptist College (Forrest Harris)
Belmont United Methodist Church (Paul Purdue)                           
Brookmeade United Church of Christ (Sharon Temple)                  
Congregation Ohabai Sholom (Shana Mackler)                  
East End United Methodist Church (Judi Hoffman)                       
Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (Jay Hartley)         
Faith and Culture Center (Muslim) (Nahed Zehr)                           
Faith Matters Network (Jen Bailey)
1st Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville(Gail Seavey)            
Fisk University (Jason Curry)
Glendale Baptist Church (Amy Mears and April Baker)                   
Islamic Center of Nashville (Ossama Bahlul and Rashed Fakrehdin)  
Second Presbyterian Church (Mary Louise McCullough)
Scarritt Bennett Center (Sarah Wilke)
Vanderbilt Divinity School (Teresa Smallwood)                    
West End United Methodist Church (Carol Cavin-Dillon)               
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Donavan Drake) 
New Covenant Christian Church (Rev. Dr. Judy Cummings) 

LEARN MORE (at link)

Earlier Event: November 2
...........
Or maybe.....

https://www.koinoniafarm.org/symposium/

 

 

[MineralMan]

21. If that comes to the Twin Cities in Minnesota, I'll

try to attend.

[Tanuki]

23. You could start here:

http://www.fccminneapolis.org/lent-sunday-adult-ed-poor-peoples-campaign-a-national-call-for-moral-revival/


And here.....

http://spokesman-recorder.com/2018/02/14/massive-wave-of-civil-disobedience-predicted/

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

22. Rev. Barber is very well-known and has received a lot of MSM publicity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Barber_II He is also a leader in the NAACP.

[Tanuki]

30. In case you missed this:

https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/5/1650392/-Moral-Mondays-Leader-Drops-the-Mic-at-MLK-March-in-Memphis?detail=emailLL

[Tanuki]

13. Yes...Repairers of the Breach is organized throughout the country

https://m.facebook.com/brepairers/

https://www.breachrepairers.org

[yallerdawg]

15. "Who We Are"

Repairers of the Breach is a nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that seeks to build a moral agenda rooted in a framework that uplifts our deepest moral and constitutional values to redeem the heart and soul of our country. We challenge the position that the preeminent moral issues are prayer in public schools, abortion, and property rights. Instead, we declare that the moral public concerns of our faith traditions are how our society treats the poor, women, LGBTQ people, children, workers, immigrants, communities of color, and the sick. Our deepest moral traditions point to equal protection under the law, the desire for peace within and among nations, the dignity of all people, and the responsibility to care for our common home.

[TygrBright]

11. Just as is the Public (World) Image of America

Let's keep escalating the blame on us progressive Americans who support actual Democracy, don't want our government run on an Oligarchic pay-for-play basis, support gun control, women's rights, Black Lives Matter, higher minimum wage, labor unions, and the other things we regard as "real" America.

'cause obviously the growing negative world perception of America and Americans is our fault. We're not speaking out loudly enough, condemning the alt-right vigorously enough, or distancing ourselves emphatically enough from those Americans who are drinking the Russian kool-aid.

WE ARE TO BLAME! WE MUST DO BETTER! IT'S OUR FAULT!

Okay, there. Fixed that.

Got it, progressive Christian believers? Just do that. Problem solved.

helpfully,
Bright

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. Robert E. Lee's 4x grandson:

http://progressive.org/dispatches/speak-up-and-speak-out-rev-rob-lee-180215/

[MineralMan]

20. That's good. He spoke to readers of Progressive.

Meanwhile the Falwells and the Perkins are in the mainstream media. There's a serious imbalance.

[Mariana]

24. The Falwells and the Perkins are much more popular.

They've become very rich because so many Christians agree with them and send them money. Meanwhile, Reverend Lee's congregation were so offended by his remarks that he had to leave his church.

[MineralMan]

25. Yes, and that's the problem.

[yallerdawg]

26. Rev. Robert Wright Lee IV Statement On Leaving His Church After Speaking Out Against White Supremacy

It began when MTV invited me to speak out at the Video Music Awards in Los Angeles as a descendent of Robert E. Lee who is committed to speaking out against white supremacy and the hatred that had permeated our country. The event was in the immediate aftermath of the gathering of White Supremacist in Charlottesville who were rallying around a statue of my ancestor Robert E. Lee. I strongly support the removal of these monuments to the Confederacy and feel it is my duty as a descendent to speak out against White Supremacy.

It was my deep honor to introduce and stand side-by-side Susan Bro whose daughter Heather died tragically in Charlottesville.

My presence at the church as a descendent of Robert E. Lee and an outspoken opponent of White Supremacy had already attracted attention, but with my appearance on MTV the media’s focus on my church reached an all time high. A faction of church members were concerned about my speech and that I lifted up Black Lives Matter movement, the Women’ s March, and Heather Heyer as examples of racial justice work.

Most importantly I do not want this episode to be a distraction from the sacred work of confronting white supremacy in all its forms. My calling and my vocation has led me to speak out against violence and oppression in any form, and I want to especially challenge white Christians in America to take seriously the deadly legacy of slavery in our country and commit ourselves to follow Jesus into a time of deep reflection, repentance and reconciliation.

http://auburnseminary.org/rev-robert-wright-lee-iv-statement-leaving-church-speaking-white-supremacy-mtv-video-music-awards/

[guillaumeb]

27. I do it here, and I do it in actual life.

But the media has their own preferred narrative.

[trotsky]

28. Oh yeah your big media conspiracy.

Explain how that works again?

[guillaumeb]

29. MM explained it similarly to how I have done it.

Above, in the post.