Geoff Baggett’s blog today referred to a news article about Congressman Pete Stark from California, who has just come out of the closet as the highest-ranking government official to admit that he is an atheist, or non-theist as they call themselves these days.
It’s true that Americans have a right and a responsibility to determine the values of the people they vote into office, so there is benefit in knowing the core beliefs of those who would be our leaders. At least, with Pete Stark, Californians know what they have endorsed as representing them.
On March 14, the San Francisco Chronicle ran the story about Congressman Stark and made some observations by a pollster about the importance of religious beliefs in the democratic process.
Pollster Ben Tulchin stated, “California…, is probably one of the most nonreligious states in the country -- maybe the most nonreligious state.'' He went on to say, that in polling in California "we rarely target voters by religion.''
That doesn't mean Californians "are not religious, don't believe in God, or don't go to services,'' he cautioned. For example, he said, "you have a fast-growing population in Latinos, and religion does matter to them, and religious issues matter to them. But on a day-to-day basis, religion doesn't play a significant role in most Californians' lives in a way that shapes their politics on a daily basis,'' he said.
In other words, people who have always voted for Stark will vote for him, anyway.
They may be “Christians” by profession…but atheists in practice.
It’s easy to criticize California voters, but I wonder how many Christians are doing the same thing. Every time we leave God out of the equation when we make choices in our own lives, we are practicing atheism…even while we profess Christ. Most of us really don’t let God play a significant role in our lives in a way that shapes our actions on a day to day basis. We live as though He does not exist.
Is there an atheist in your closet?
It’s true that Americans have a right and a responsibility to determine the values of the people they vote into office, so there is benefit in knowing the core beliefs of those who would be our leaders. At least, with Pete Stark, Californians know what they have endorsed as representing them.
On March 14, the San Francisco Chronicle ran the story about Congressman Stark and made some observations by a pollster about the importance of religious beliefs in the democratic process.
Pollster Ben Tulchin stated, “California…, is probably one of the most nonreligious states in the country -- maybe the most nonreligious state.'' He went on to say, that in polling in California "we rarely target voters by religion.''
That doesn't mean Californians "are not religious, don't believe in God, or don't go to services,'' he cautioned. For example, he said, "you have a fast-growing population in Latinos, and religion does matter to them, and religious issues matter to them. But on a day-to-day basis, religion doesn't play a significant role in most Californians' lives in a way that shapes their politics on a daily basis,'' he said.
In other words, people who have always voted for Stark will vote for him, anyway.
They may be “Christians” by profession…but atheists in practice.
It’s easy to criticize California voters, but I wonder how many Christians are doing the same thing. Every time we leave God out of the equation when we make choices in our own lives, we are practicing atheism…even while we profess Christ. Most of us really don’t let God play a significant role in our lives in a way that shapes our actions on a day to day basis. We live as though He does not exist.
Is there an atheist in your closet?
8 comments:
Dropped in for a visit. Great post. Good to see that you're interested in following God and rasing these kinds of concerns. Bravo!
Greg-
I appreciate your kind words. Your own post about the "Exodus Church" was very perceptive, I think. The statement "but (the Exodus Church) needs the map of Scripture and the directedness of the Spirit to find the way" was a rather telling observation. Perhaps the weakness of the emergent church is that by its very nature it is a body rushing from slavery instead of one rushing toward glorious victory. It's hard to realize a goal when you are looking over your shoulder.
Kat
I tried to highlight the importance of the map of Scripture and the directedness of the Holy Spirit in my book, Living Spirituality. I think the issue and reality of Christian spirituality is essential today. Seems like many are wandering around in the desert seeking to find our their way out - and this is supposedly spirituality.
I agree that one of the drawbacks of some emerging thought is that it defines itself by only what it is against. Perhaps, this can change and develop in the future.
Greg-
I downloaded the first chapter of Living Spirituality and agree with your contention that "the spiritual predicament confronting Christians today presents a two-fold challenge: the rising attraction to cultural and non-Christian forms of spirituality on the one hand, and the impoverishment of Christian spirituality on the other."
Many can easily see the threat of cultural/non-Christian spirituality, I think, but would have a harder time recognizing the experience/reason-based challenge to true life in the Spirit. Instead, it's, "I feel/think, therefore God's Spirit must agree with mine." That's more dangerous ground than the overt threat of popular spirituality. And it really does expose the atheist in the closet.
Guess I'll have to buy the book if I want to read the rest of the story. :)
Kat
Fellow bloggers can view chapter 1 at http://www.livingspirituality.org/2007/02/unity.html
Sorry I gave the wrong address for your blog, Greg. The blogsite should be: http://www.livingspirituality.org/index.html
Kat
Thanks Kat. I can agree that "I feel" within Christian folk is often more dangerous ground, but it is also a non-Christian form of what is supposedly spiritual. I actually devote a good part of the book to this interconnected problem and its solutions. While there is nothing wrong with feelings, the problem is the tendency today to 'absolutize' our feelings and just assume we can trust them.
Greg-
What are the roots of "non-Christian" spirituality? Fear? Desire for power? Empty need to connect man's spirit to something?
We have a lot of friends who serve as tribal missionaries in other countries. All pagan peoples have developed their own concept of spiritual beings, I think, and all seem to be based on a fear/appeasement model in some way.
Kat
Kat
Yes, I agree about the 'fear' and 'power' factors. Both are rooted in sin. But I assume another element would be information or the lack of it in some cultural contexts.
Greg
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