A nation of religious illiterates
Do you marvel at the proclaimed allegience to the Christian faith on the part of a huge percentage of the nation's population, coupled with a belief system embraced by those same people largely at odds with the most basic tenets of that faith?
Are you looking for a reason for the shallowness of contemporary religious discourse? The inability of even the religiously committed to discuss their faith coherently? The inconsistancy of the profession of so many American Christians with their actual lifestyle in sexual and other matters? ?
Are you astounded at the widespread scorn heaped on the Lutherans with integrity- the ones who objected to Missouri Synod District President Rev. David Benke's participation in that multi-god worship service in Yankee Stadium in the aftermath of 9/11?
Are you puzzled by the success of the minimalist Kieschnick wing of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod- a denomination historically known for its theological integrity?
Above all, are you bemused by the devotion of the American public to the Cult of the Lowest Common Denominator?
This LA Times article explains it all very well.
We are a nation of religious illiterates. And you know... it's remarkably hard to have an intelligent conversation about religion with sonebody who doesn't know what the hell they're talking about. The level of ignorance most Americans display about the religion which they, themselves, profess- whatever it might be- is just about as abysmal as their total lack of even the most basic knowledge about any other religion. How, in such a situation, is intelligent dialogue and discussion on ultimate matters remotely possible?
Oh. And while we're on the subject of that post- 9/11 idolatryfest so many Christians have instinctively defended....may I nominate Bill O'Reilly of Fox News as the poster child for the kind of ignorance of which this article speaks? His absurd, shallow and one-sided segment following the Missouri Synod's all-too-brief suspension of Benke was an example of contemporary religious ignorance at its worst.
Are you looking for a reason for the shallowness of contemporary religious discourse? The inability of even the religiously committed to discuss their faith coherently? The inconsistancy of the profession of so many American Christians with their actual lifestyle in sexual and other matters? ?
Are you astounded at the widespread scorn heaped on the Lutherans with integrity- the ones who objected to Missouri Synod District President Rev. David Benke's participation in that multi-god worship service in Yankee Stadium in the aftermath of 9/11?
Are you puzzled by the success of the minimalist Kieschnick wing of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod- a denomination historically known for its theological integrity?
Above all, are you bemused by the devotion of the American public to the Cult of the Lowest Common Denominator?
This LA Times article explains it all very well.
We are a nation of religious illiterates. And you know... it's remarkably hard to have an intelligent conversation about religion with sonebody who doesn't know what the hell they're talking about. The level of ignorance most Americans display about the religion which they, themselves, profess- whatever it might be- is just about as abysmal as their total lack of even the most basic knowledge about any other religion. How, in such a situation, is intelligent dialogue and discussion on ultimate matters remotely possible?
Oh. And while we're on the subject of that post- 9/11 idolatryfest so many Christians have instinctively defended....may I nominate Bill O'Reilly of Fox News as the poster child for the kind of ignorance of which this article speaks? His absurd, shallow and one-sided segment following the Missouri Synod's all-too-brief suspension of Benke was an example of contemporary religious ignorance at its worst.
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