Recently, someone I know in passing posted a political cartoon that showed Tim Tebow declaring that he is a Christian, and a passing reporter tells him to "keep it to himself." In the next panel, NBA player Jason Collins declares that he is gay, and the same reporter is shown eagerly asking for his story and calling him a hero.
The individual who posted this then went on to say that soon Christians won't want to identify themselves because of all the hate and persecution they face today, and went on to say that it is harder and harder to be a Christian these days.
Now to start off, I want to point out that the cartoon itself is bullshit. I don't care what your views on Christianity or homosexuality are, the idea that no one cares that Tebow is a Christian is beyond preposterous. I am as far from a sports fan as one can get, and I know who Tim Tebow is.
Is that because he's a great player? No, I know the names of maybe two other NFL players, and I had to think hard to come up with them. But I sure as heck know Tim Tebow's name. I don't know what position he plays, or what team he is on, but I know him for one signature fact: He's a proud Christian.
It is pretty much ALL I know about him. The fact that he does a Rodin-inspred pose to pray before games is such a well documented occurrence that it spawned the meme of 'Tebowing,' wherein someone crouches down on one knee in imitation of the athlete's signature move.
To think that no one is interested in the man's faith is the most ridiculous form of pig-headed self delusion. As to the hoopla surrounding Mr. Collins' revelation (I actually had not heard about it until reading the aforementioned comic, I assume there was one?) that is because it has not happened before.
A professional athlete, especially an NBA player (as opposed to say, a golfer,) coming out as gay is newsworthy because it is news (as in new.) As a novel event, and one sure to inspire heated discussion, which is how the news media (mainstream or not, thank you,) makes it's bread, of course people will report on it.
But Tim Tebow? Isn't he like last year's news? Has he murdered a white woman and led police on a painfully slow chase lately? If not, the fact that he belongs to the single most prevalent religion in this country hardly seems like a reason for reporters to beat down his door for interviews (if he is like, really bad at footballing lately or something, and people are talking about that or something, I don't honestly know, but the Christian thing seems pretty passé.)
Now that that is out of the way, let's discuss the whole 'persecution of Christians' thing. As a white (nominally) Christian male of between 25-45 years of age, I think I can speak a little on the subject of being safely in the majority.
And I certainly will not deny the charges that people attack Christians and Christianity in general. If you go on the internet (and you really shouldn't other than to read my blogs,) you will find tons of hateful memes and jokes about Christianity, or pictures of those wacky Westboro Baptist kids out doing their hilarious 'we want everyone to hate us' schtick (wait, you mean they're serious?) and painting all Christians with the same brush.
So let me put this right out there. Of course Christians are being persecuted. Of course Christians are the subject of hate speech, and of course people point to isolated individuals with crazy ideals and appalling actions and hold them up as representatives of Christianity in general, in an unfair attempt to tarnish the reputation of the entire faith.
You know who else has to endure such hateful treatment and shameful ignominy? Every other fucking group in the country.
"People are making fun of Christians!"
"People are trying to keep us from worshipping how we want!"
"People are portraying us in a negative light in the media!"
All true. Now grow the hell up.
You don't like the fact that some people don't like you for your religion? Why the hell should you be any different from the other dozens of religions? Go complain to your non-radical Muslim friend (it's true! They do exist!) about people not understanding that you are not all hate-mongering zealots. Go tell your Jewish neighbor that you are tired of people pushing their religions in your face (like say, in winter, when he lights up that tacky menorah.) And when you are at the company picnic, turn to your Jainist coworker how you are sick of people not understanding your faith as you swat the flies that try to land on your cheeseburger.
But don't act like you've been singled out for excoriation by a callous, unfeeling world of nonbelievers whose sole aim is to destroy your faith and mock your belief system.
Because you aren't that special.
People all over the country are actively involved with not liking others who are different. People all over the country, regardless of their religious beliefs are forced to bear scorn from others of different sects. And from sea to whining sea, people are complaining that other people around them don't show the proper respect for their faith.
It's probably the one thing that unites all creeds and faiths; Jews, Hindus, Atheists, Zoroastrians, Muslims (Sunni and Shia,) Sikhs and Subgenii all complain of having to put up with scorn, ignorance, insults, persecution, mockery and active attempts to convert them to a different, 'true' faith. Happens to everyone sooner or later.
It's just so much funnier when Christians do it.
Because let's face it, while we don't live in a "Christian nation" inasmuch as there is room for all creeds here, and that people of all faiths have been and ever will be instrumental in creating the awesome nation we have today (seriously, no matter what flaws we have today, if you don't see how great a country we have here, you cray,) but we are about as Christian as you can get short of a complete theocracy when it comes to overall cultural background count.
Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices are ingrained into the fabric of this nation's culture, altering our calendar, our governmental policies, and the very language itself (another hot button issue I've mentioned before.) If you accuse your differently-faithed friend of being a Judas, he or she will not be offended that you are using a term from your religion, he or she will be offended that you are accusing them of betrayal. Should you identify someone as a good samaritan for their altruism, they are more likely to simply thank you for the compliment than to look quizzically at you and point out that that particular region now goes by a different name. And when you tell a non-Christian associate who shares a problem with you that said difficulty is simply their cross to bear, they aren't going to be upset that you are using your own religion to describe their situation, they're just going to think you are a jerk for not giving a crap about their problem.
Piss and moan all you want whenever someone says we shouldn't put the ten commandments in every courthouse, but I'll bet I can find more non-Christians who not only know when Christmas is, but who can explain its religious significance than Christians who can explain what Purim is, or the differences in Shiites and Sunnis, or can explain the beliefs of... crap, who are those guys with the long beards and the nifty turbans? Is it 'terrorists?' I'll just go with 'terrorists' (seems to work for the TSA.)
It's like when white guys complain that we are pictured badly in the media and openly mocked, like in those commercials, where we are shown as bumbling idiots, incapable of taking care of children, relying instead on the infinitely wiser women, born with the innate talent of nurturing, to save us from our own stupidity. Does that happen? All the time. Is it hurtful to those of us who actually do know one end of a baby from the other? Yup. Does it make us look like whiny little bitches to say this to women and minorities who can hop online and look at how they were openly portrayed in the past? Big yup (seriously though, check out the old time ads, they are awesomely funny, as long as you are white and male, in which case, high five, brother oppressor, we rule!)
Jesus had a few choice words about loving thy neighbor and turning the other cheek. Maybe it's time to actually go back and read those teachings, and put your own sufferings in perspective. If the cross you must bear is being denied total religious supremacy over all God's other misguided children ("what? I can't erect a nativity scene on government space, funded by the taxes of my neighbors of all religions? They'll be throwing us to the lions next!") then maybe you don't actually need to turn your cheek at all. Your cheek is fine.
Because Jesus died on the cross, surely you can stand being an oppressed majority.
Here endeth the lesson, go in peace. Amen
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