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Charles Barkley, the former basketball player and 11-time NBA All-Star, has drawn some attention recently for calling Republicans "fake Christians" in an interview with Wolf Blitzer.
Barkley, a registered independent and Barack Obama fan, also stated in an earlier interview that he had left the Republican Party, which he had been an outspoken member of, because members had "lost their damn minds."
Charles Barkley is certainly a unique character who is mocked by some for his colorful way of speaking and his controversial commentary. After announcing his retirement, he joked, "just what America needs -- another unemployed black man." However, Sir Charles, as his fans call him, might have a point.
Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that a great number of Republicans, specifically religious Republicans, possess admirable morals and a real dedication to their faith. I will attempt, however, to draw a distinction between the way I interpret my faith and the way some vocal members of the far right have hijacked it.
As Barkley asserts, many in the extreme religious right use their faith simply as a means to judge others and to send themselves on "holier-than-thou" ego trips. Too many conservative evangelicals such as the Rev. Pat Robertson and the recently deceased Jerry Falwell use Christianity as a tool to discriminate and spread hatred. While Christianity and tolerance certainly are not two incompatible words, you wouldn't realize it after listening to many evangelical preachers.
Selectively using certain Bible passages to support their message of intolerance, these false Christians have missed the bigger message of acceptance, love, charity and openness which permeates the foundations of Christianity. Barkley criticized the way some on the religious right hide behind the word "morality" to sling attacks, insults and hate-filled declarations on others in order to progress their personal beliefs.
While Christianity is certainly the largest religion in our country, this issue is not Christian-specific and speaks to a fundamental issue regarding faith. To have faith does not mean to be disrespectful or hateful to others who do not share your beliefs. Indeed, while the message of some on the far right and those in the Islamic extremist movements are not exactly the same, they are very similar and both groups have attacked Americans in the name of their faith.
Islamist extremists have used Islam, which preaches peace and tolerance, as a way to legitimize heinous terrorist attacks. In the same vein, the extreme right has used the Bible -- which also preaches peace and tolerance -- to kill or ostracize those outside its "ivory tower" and have ironically echoed Al Qaida through calling for the forceful, and sometimes violent, conversion of non-believers.
There is a fundamental disconnect between how those in the far religious right and how those in the religious mainstream view the world and understand their faith. Falwell, for instance, claimed that "AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals" which may remind many of the much reviled Westboro Baptist Church which claim that tragedies such as the April 16 shootings occur because America has induced God's wrath because we "tolerate gays." I apologize for picking on Falwell as he is no longer alive to defend himself, but let's face it, like thousands before him, his message of intolerance, bigotry, ignorance and spite sadly echo beyond the grave.
For me, and for many within the religious mainstream, religious faith can never be used to justify feelings of hate and desire for the pain and suffering of fellow human beings. Viewing others as inferior, as many of the extreme right view minorities including homosexuals and Muslims, is unconscionable and is no more acceptable today than it was during Hitler's era or when slavery was commonplace.
For me, being Christian means accepting a multitude of opinions, following Jesus by embracing humankind in all of its diversity, helping those less fortunate through stewardship rather than through self-serving tirades on morality and being secure and comfortable enough in my faith that I am not forced by insecurities to constantly -- and vocally -- use it for the detriment of others.
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my hat is off, matthew
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well put!! good job, matthew!
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One of the best things I've read in the CT.
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Great article. We need more voices like yours.
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I agree with David. One of the best CT articles I've ever read. Well done.
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Simply fantastic.
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Matthew, you are wise beyond your years. Thank you for this beautifully written commentary.
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Amazingly well written.
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There were an awful lot of strawmen in that editorial. The writer seems to confuse "disagree with" and "hate". "Hate" is when you kill or threaten people because you disagree with them as we saw with the Daniel Pearl case. Saying "I disagree with your way of life" is not Hate. I never heard Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell threaten people with violence. I wonder how the writer views those who consider religious people to be intellectually inferior. Are those anti-Christian people guilty of an unconscionable crime the same as the Nazis?
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Henry posts "I never heard Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell threaten people with violence." Excuse me but not that long ago Robertson wanted Chavez "taken out."
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O.K...this author says that Islam preaches "Peace and Tolerance". So, show me where in the Koran that Muhammed preaches "Peace and Tolerance" of other religions? I've actually read the Koran and all I find is "Subjugation" of other religions - which is coherent with "Islam" which means "Submission". Sura 9.29: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection. Jeez...and people call this a "Religion of Peace?
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I can pick passages out of the Bible to justify just about anything. Mainstream Islam does teach peace and tolerance. The most common greeting among Muslims is Salaam Alekum, which means peach unto you, for example. Islam means submission, but it is to the will of God which pretty much mirrors Christianity, Judaism, etc. This kind of putting down of religions other than your own is exactly the author's point. As a side note, I can't help but wonder how many Muslims you actually know.
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Sorry. Salaam Alekum actually means peace unto you. Although I suspect a good Muslim would offer you his fruit as well if he had any.
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Engrish, you have a lot to learn. I can tell by your statements that you have read neither the Bible - much less the Koran. And...I'm not religious at all (I do not believe in a God or Gods), but I have no problems dealing with the doctrines of Christuianity, Judaism, B'nai Bharith, Hinduism or Buddism etc. - I can live with them all. But I have read the Koran, and I know the hate that it advocates. I suggest others read the Koran, too. An etext version may be found at: http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/HolKora.html
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I have read both. You get out of it what you want, I suppose. I suggest you get in contact with someone from the Muslim Student Association, the Muslim Volunteers Association or the Islamic Student Assembly and have a chat with a Real Live Muslim. You might just learn something, In Sha' Allah.
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As a brief note to 'jlwade3', the translation of Islam to 'submission' refers to the personnal submission of mind and body to God, similar to the Christian concept of being a 'servent to God'.
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This is one of the most ridiculous articles I have ever read. I understand that 99.9% of media, especially journalists, are liberal; but this article is so contradicting. I, for one, am very religious and to say because I am a Republican means I am a fake Christian is completely out of line. Let me ask you how many times you go to church a year? Have you ever read the Bible? If you were to read the Bible, and believe what is said, you would understand where Republicans get their morals and values from. I want to point out something you have said in your article.. "To have faith does not mean to be disrespectful or hateful to others who do not share your beliefs". My advice to you, Matt Eldridge, is to take your own words and start following them in every day to day situation. A true Christian, Republican/Democrat/Independent/whatever, is someone who has faith in Jesus Christ. We should all take a step back and not be so narrow-minded and think about the more important things in life.
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Ms. Loveless, the article clearly states "some vocal members of the far right." It very specifically does NOT say that because you are a Republican that you are a fake Christian. There are definitely some groups out there who claim to be Christian and who espouse hateful rhetoric against those who have opposing views. The below mentioned Westboro Baptist Church's URL is www.godhatesfags.com. I think that pretty much says it all.
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Kelly - your prosecutorial questions are exactly the holier-than-thou rhetoric that this article decries and your accusation of narrow-mindedness is directly hypocritical to your claim that this is a product of liberal media. You are exactly the type fake Christian that we're talking about.
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I am sorry that you are so angry. I believe that we are Christian by brother and sister not by politics. I will pray for you.
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