Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Can an Atheist Love Jesus?

I have heard the same question repeated over the last few days. It is this: Why would atheists even talk or care about religion when they don’t believe in it?

Let me give it a try.

First, I care about religion because it has a far and powerful reach into our political, social and policy debates in this country.

Second, I care because to apply or insert religion as the foundation for discerning right and wrong is dangerous and irresponsible and it happens every day.

Third, I care because I love Jesus.

Yup, you read it correctly. I love Jesus. Let me begin at number three and work my way back.

I was born into the Lutheran church and lived my life being shaped and formed by its teachings, doctrines and systems of belief. It told me who I was while telling me who you are.

 I learned to believe that all people were born with the inescapable burden of sin; a blemish that would follow us through our lives for which we must constantly work to assuage and keep in line. It didn’t take long to move the gaze from my own sin to your sin. From church I learned who was bad and who was good, who God liked and who he didn’t.

I became an ordained pastor in the same church, teaching the same doctrines that I had learned as a child. I witnessed others being shaped by it and heard the words from my parishioners who knew about the less-worthy; the non-Christian, the promiscuous, the girl with the dragon tattoo!

As a woman I experienced the patriarchy of the Christian church and began to question much of what I had spent my life learning. I eventually acquired so much knowledge I could no longer subscribe to the finite beliefs of Christianity.

It was Jesus who gave me this nudge and led me out of the church and into a new way of thinking and visioning the world around me.

Yup, Jesus.

I studied the gospels intently; read them in Greek and visited the places where these stories supposedly took place while I studied in Israel and Palestine. I read scholars from outside the church and discovered more about Jesus than I had growing up.

I love Jesus and the story of this ancient Semite because he profoundly and courageously acts for those who have been left out, put out or pushed down by the power of the day. Jesus addressed those within his community who had been relegated by the religious law to the status of worthless, dirty and impure.

From stories about women caught in the snares of the Levitirite of Marriage to those pushed out because of impurity from their menses, this Jesus was outrageous in his risk to talk to, teach and touch women. He did the same for those impoverished, with a withered hand, bent over back or leprous deterioration.

Jesus is about creating a society of balance, of justice, where everyone is given opportunity “to be”: to be safe, to be heard and to be validated.

I love Jesus and the story of this ancient dude. He is worth reading about and understanding, even more so without the whole divinity-thing.  Jesus is more powerful without being thought of as God.

I know that I could never pick up a stick, say some incantations and do what Harry Potter does. That’s magic, silly. We’re not magic. That’s just fantasy, not reality.

Same is true for Jesus. When Christians and any others who read his story focus on the supernatural powers he is purported to have, we place him in the same arena as Harry. Not meant for me, silly. Jesus is God, fantasy, not reality.

Christianity gets this wrong. The story of Jesus is intended as a model for living now. He is a person who exemplifies the individual power you and I have when we consistently work to build a society that is in balance for all.

This is a far more challenging Jesus than the magic-out-of-reach Jesus.

Without the moniker of divinity Jesus has even more potential to be a powerful force for change in our contemporary society, and that’ why I want you, me and everyone else to know about him,

Jesus is still important.

We also need to know more about Christianity, the Church and Biblebecause we cannot combat ignorance with ignorance. It will be our own reasoned interpretation of scripture that will curb and reduce religious claims, not ignoring or demeaning them.

The more we all know about God and Jesus, the closer we will get to a true separation of church and state. Only then will religion be allowed to flourish within its own compound of belief, choosing how to be present in the world without pushing to direct it.

Yes, I am an atheist who loves Jesus. Perhaps we could all benefit from such seeming contradictions.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

It Doesn't Matter If They Have "Faith"

I am worried.

About our country. About our society. About the growing reality that it appears we have forgotten how to think, how to disagree and challenge ideas, ideals and beliefs.

Why do we care if our presidential candidates have a “faith life”?  This article from the National Cathedral magazine has generated a lot of conversation and hype about which candidate is the "better religious". Who cares?

Why, in 2012, do we insist on tenaciously holding to old doctrines without equally insisting these same doctrines be questioned, challenged and debated for relevance?

When our current President states that it is our “faith” that has provided a “moral framework and vocabulary” for our nation, I wonder what he means? Who’s faith? In what? The scientific method? The stock market? Democracy? Equality?

When Obama then uses that idea of “faith” to automatically refer to a divine transcendent being, it reduces all other theories and approaches to morality, ethics, and good actions as null and void. More offensive, it affirms the wrongheaded idea that if you or I are not religious, or don’t have a “faith” we are unable to be good.

The discernment of right and wrong, the questions of how one ought to live (morality & ethics), has been discussed and debated since humans have recorded thought. The ancient Greeks were some of our most prolific thinkers in this area. It has not been limited to religion or a divine being, and it needs to not be now.

Unless our nation wants to embrace the belief that without religion or a divine transcendent being, one cannot be or do good, then what does it matter if our President is religious?

It doesn’t and shouldn’t. If we claim that any human being can do good, think wisely and live virtuously, with or without religion, then it does not matter. (Certainly we have witnessed many “men of faith” who have not lived up to those qualities).

When the Republican nominee for President states that “there is no greater force for good in the nation than Christian conscience in action”, I think about all the people who are agnostic, atheist, humanist, and non-Christian religious and wonder what they are worth? What a terrific statement of division. Thanks Mitt.

Claiming a faith life should not automatically license someone as “good and moral”. What it means is simply that someone either was taught, brought up or otherwise chose to believe in and trust a particular idea or way of engaging the world. Fine. Keep it out of policy making and politics.

Finally, that Obama says in the article that he is comforted at the end of the day because his faith teaches him that ultimately God is control is okay. I guess.

But wait a minute. If God is in control, why are there so many out-of-control situations? Why so many killed in suicide attacks? Why so many people dying of hunger, much of it caused by conflict, war and hate? Why are so many people without health care or employment? Why is there still prejudice and hate between races, genders, sexual orientations and religions? Why, why why?

To say that in the end God is in control is to open the door to the likes of Bryan Fischer and Pat Robinson who claim 9/11, Tsunami’s, earthquakes, and most recently the shooting in Aurora, CO, is because God is ticked at our waywardness.

We can’t have it both ways. Either, God is in control and we then need to check-in with our God-barometers every time we make a decision or respond to an event, or God isn’t and we don’t.

Who would be those God-barometer-interpreters? What happens if one persons hearing of God-directed politics and policies is different from another? Which one is right? How do we know?

This is a slippery-slope-of-a-religious-mud-slide that has the potential of careening down the side of our democratic foundation and smothering our right to think, choose, and challenge.

We need to stop it now.

Monday, August 13, 2012

God Did or Did Not...?

“God did not intend…

…for you to live this way, for you to behave like this, for you to have this much, for you to be with that person, for you to think like that, for you to know more than…”

God did not intend. It’s a precarious statement that is, unfortunately, used regularly and often.

 “God did not intend…” I say knowingly, claiming the knowledge of the divine’s mind as my own. I know, therefore I can judge, hate, separate and dismiss.

God did not intend, I say to those groups I don’t like or that person whose choices don’t coincide with mine. I don’t like you because you are everything I have learned is bad, and, by the way, I have an investment in being good so watch out.

I need to take care of my “goodness points”; my very life, or after life, depends on it. You and your badness bother me. Your existence sullies mine and if I get too close I might even get some on me. Yikes, can’t have that. I’ve worked hard for these points.

In Western Christianity this idea is wrapped up in the Doctrine of Original Sin; the package that delivers a lifetime of sin, repentance and struggle to each of us with a salvation embossed bow.

Here’s how it works. We are each born naturally bad. It is human nature. We are “sinful and unclean” and “in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.” Goodness is outside of us, badness inside.

Enter religion, God, Jesus, Elohim and… you get the picture; the goodness we need is in them.

Religion is about reigning in our naturally bad tendencies that we cannot, on our own volition, handle or delete.  If goodness is outside of us, we have to get it inside, and the church is our vehicle.

We get baptized, take communion, go to temple, pray daily, contribute time and talents, and otherwise work to fulfill the prescribed formulas of getting the good in, and subduing the bad.

A letter was posted on Twitter last week. It was a scanned copy of a handwritten note from a father to his gay son. The brevity of sentiment was as heart wrenching as the overall message: I no longer recognize you as my child. In a few poorly constructed sentences, a father abandons his role as parent, guide and unconditional giver of love to his child.

Ouch. One of those scribbled lines of communication said this: “God did not intend for this unnatural lifestyle.” And so… because I know what God thinks, hopes and wants, I am justified in turning my back on your existence.

No, that’s not okay. The truth is, we don’t know. Nobody does.

But we need an excuse to hate, and God is convenient. We use religion, God, and the Doctrine of Original Sin to demarcate our judgment and hate within categories in which we have become all too comfortable operating; good and bad.

I am good, you are bad, so I get to hate, shame, judge and despise you and do it feeling vindicated and pure.

It’s a shame - on us and our knee jerk reaction to the hurt, pain, and suffering caused by humans. Rather than admit we occasionally deviate from our natural good nature, we blame our sometimes bad choices on the fact that we are born with a predilection toward the bad, dark, shadow….and poor us, we just can’t help it.

I don’t buy it.  It’s simply intellectually lazy, unhelpful, unhealthful and unreasonable.

Western religion begins and ends with the Doctrine of Original Sin because we need a safe and acceptable place to house our fears of the “other” and fear of our own wants and desires.

No more. We need to reassess and move on.

It is time to let go of this idea – this “Doctrine Default Demarcat-er” – and rehearse a new mantra.

We are born good. Kindness, love, empathy, compassion, generosity…these are all our natural response.

We are self-determined and have the capacity to choose, do and live good.  

“We” are good. We.  You and me. Him and her. Them and us. We are all good, which is the beginning to changing everything… 

Thursday, August 9, 2012

God's Values on NPR

Americans often speak of core values:  some are patriotic and American, some God-centered, while others are strictly Christian. But really, what are they? What are these values tossed about to validate positions, prejudices and partisan politics?

In the August 9, Morning Edition interview with Sofia Martinez, she and her co-worker answer this by talking about  needing “a good moral compass” and mention the “desensitization of our children to violence and sex…”  They say it like Democrats and Obama himself have created the world of violence and sex on the internet, TV, films and elsewhere. Can anyone say “deregulation?” Be sure to follow it up by  “Republican”.

Finally, the co-worker proclaims her vote for Romney because he is “closer to God’s values.”

Ok. And what are they?

The Old Testament God is angry and jealous as often as He is merciful and just. This God destroyed the entire city of Jericho; men, women and children.  This is the very same One who commanded a father to kill his son.

What values are “God’s values”?

Jesus in the New Testament repeatedly acted on behalf of those members of society who had been put out, ostracized and oppressed because they didn’t fit into the boundaries carved out by religious law. Hmmm, think of gays and lesbians, immigrants and non-Christians. Seems Jesus might be willing to stand up for their inclusion rather than exclusion.

Again, what values are “God’s values” and who, pray-tell, gets to decide?

We frivolously lob, fling and chuck the language of morals, ethics, good and bad as if it were a game where the winner gets to be the true American. We then tie them to “a God” (my God, my Rules, my Righteous hate), and skewer those not “like us” with the spear of being “immoral” and without values. 

The message: If you don’t believe as I do, if you don’t worship the same God in the same way as me, or come to the same “God-given” conclusions, then I get to label you as immoral.

This is a dangerous and irresponsible game. And, it is our country, our children and our future that is getting hurt.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Following Myself

We can follow all kinds of people on Twitter, but at this point in my life, I am interested in following myself.

I came late to the controversy that hovered around Ashley Judd’s puffy face in March. At the time I was embroiled in my own battle with vindictive women who would rather break down another younger, intelligent and vibrant woman than admit they were wrong.

Since leaving that position and place, I have rediscovered my voice, strength and passion and am finally following myself. This is not an easy or comfortable road to take. Our cultural norms direct women to follow a man, fashion trends, gossip and just about anything or anyone that will keep us thin and attractive.

In her article “Ashley Judd Slaps Media in the Face for Speculation Over Her ‘Puffy’ Appearance”  Ms. Judd boldly engages the media and everyone else who continues the tradition of claiming ownership over the bodies, minds and existence of women. Go Ashley! As a pastor, I was measured and assessed regularly. There was no part of my body that was off limits. Every Sunday there was at least one comment about what I was wearing, how my hair looked or if I had gained or lost weight. Most people were concerned with whether or not I was appropriately dressed for a religious leader, which basically meant I needed to not look like a woman. No obvious curves or signs of sexuality. It was only months after beginning at my first congregation in Queens, NY that I gave up my red lipstick (which I loved to wear – MAC Russian Red!). Judd bravely names patriarchy as the source of such promulgated misogyny. She’s right. She also states that patriarchy is not limited to men, but is kept alive by both genders. Right again. Following myself instead of the direction and intimidation of patriarchy in our society is hard to do. It is a big risk to take. The bulls eye target becomes etched on our person just as Hawthorne’s “A” was fixed on Hester in “The Scarlet Letter”. When we dare to own ourselves, refuse the lower rank beneath men and do not agree to compete with other women for men’s approval of our beauty, mind or actions, we are a threat. Funny how the letter “A” was scarlet; the very same color of my Russian Red that agitated so many good Christian folks.   We need to “Reclaim the Red” and all that it means for the power of women!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Dump It

My book, Religion Made Me Fat, narrates a good dump.

Like most good dumps, it can take some time and effort to complete the process, but when finished, we feel lighter, healthier and just better.

It all began in earnest on the day my dad brought a load of crap to my house.  He was  retired from being a pastor and bishop, and had time to clean out closets and garages and no longer thought he and my mom should have to keep my junk. So he came with a load from my past - high school, college, Peace Corps, graduate school. It was my turn to decide what to do with all the shit.

He left the boxes in my back yard with a question: What of it did I want to keep and what did I want to take to the dump?

Keep or dump, became a central question for my life and decision making: who was I going to choose to be, what would I choose to believe and how was I going to choose to interact and behave in this world.

As good as an individual dumping can be, we do not live in a vacuum. We are part of a larger community and society. Our culture has a collective story that shapes how we think of each other and which dictates laws and policies about how we can treat each other.

We need to take a societal dump.


  1. We need to let go of the Doctrine of Original Sin
  2. We need to move beyond the Doctrine of the Atonement and the notion that there is a “heaven” somewhere out there that is better than what we have here. (As opposed to a new $5m study.)
  3. We need to stop using male centric language to refer to a deity, including “God”.