I grew up in the typical white-trash corn-bread USA neighborhood. I read all the childhood bible stories (you know the ark and flood and mosses and etc.. ) and thought they were great fun (I was around 8ish). I went to a faith-revival and got totally convinced there was a god and could feel all the evil leave me and god/holy spirit enter (I was 15ish). Then I started going to various churches all over the place and would ask them what they taught as truth: I wanted to pick the best one (I was 16ish). I realized then that all these Christian churches were entirely way off from one another. So I started digging into the history of the church. At the same time I also started Uni. Of course Uni is an eye opener. I’m an open-to-new-idea’s sort of person. So I absorbed all that Uni had to offer and kept reading history. One day I realized there was no god. Its been one of the best things I’ve ever accomplished.
It’s funny I have a friend of mine who I met at a church (when I was ~15). Back then he wasn’t much into Religion – say as much as a typical American kid. I’d lost touch with him for years and then met him again last year. Now he is very much into the Lord. He sees spirits, talks in tongues, yup - pretty much the whole thing. To him the world makes sense. So much sense that he will not let his child into public school. Nope, just home school for her. The Lord provides. Really, other than that he’s kind of normal (works for MCI I think) but he can obviously be a little off the deep end. And that’s the scary thing about religion. For every 1000 normal persons who just want to feel good about life, think there is someone to talk to when alone, and help get over the notion of death (eternal life with god and virgins) there is someone who is a little nutzO.
Let me digress, though I think a normal fundamental American Christian is relatively harmless; lets imagine this harmless Christian takes a trip to Nippon. How does she view the Religious Shinto shrines in all of the houses? Would she, like me, find it quant and a part of a fascinating and ancient culture? Be interesting enough to ask about them? Maybe offer a cup of Green Tea to the houses ancestors? Or will she think – these people need to be saved. Oh Lord please help these people realize that through your only begotten son they can find ever lasting .... I imagine this woman subconsciously may think somewhat condescendingly about these Japanese with their evil Shinto hrines. Poor poor lost souls. Maybe she doesn’t preach to them – but they are lost souls to her.
Multiply this woman by the 10s of millions of American Christians that travel the world. Think about how we are viewed in the world…Not very highly I can tell you that much....Is there a connection? Maybe not .. .. but I think so.
