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.