Religious musings

There are a few right-wing Christians that I read on the blogosphere. Some of them presumptuously think the phrase right-wing Christian is redundant, but that's another matter.

What I find odd is this.

Tthe self-professed Christians that I read write about a lot of religious stuff. But you hardly ever see them invoke what Jesus Christ himself actually (or was recorded to have) said, did or preached.

In case you didn't notice, CHRIST is the first part of the word CHRISTianity. That's not a coincidence.

It's also odd that these right-wing Christians have bizarre a fixation with the Old Testament, particularly its sexual admonitions. Leviticus' statement against homosexuality, for example, was part of a long list of Jewish* traditional customs (*-the people long persecuted as 'Christ killers').

It's even more odd that you consider these Christians have such a fixation with the Old Testament, even though the Old Testament recorded events from the pre-Christian period.

If Christianity is supposedly based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, then shouldn't that man's teachings be at the heart of the religion? And why do right-wing self-professed Christians skip over the teachings of their prophet in order to advance their socio-ideological agenda?

It's time people admitted that the practice of religion is never pure. Those who follow it take to the table with them the pre-conceptions of their country, their society, their culture and their political beliefs.

There is no logical reason why Christian Protestants and Christian Catholics should be at each other's throats in Northern Ireland. I don't think murder and thuggery is sanctioned by any major Christian denomination. But in reality, the conflict isn't about religion. Religion is merely a proxy for culture and nationalism. Protestantism is a proxy for British-ness and Catholicism symbolizes Irish-ness, even if the British and Irish are actually going to Church much less often than they used to. Religion is less an active part of their daily lives and more a symbol that represents their identity.

Both right- and left-wing Christians (and yes, there are many of the latter) do not shed their ideological baggage at the church doorway. What this means in practice is that each group focuses on the aspects of Christianity (or its interpretations) that suit their particular ideological bent. Right-wing Christians, in this country, fixate especially on the sexual stuff. Left-wing Christians focus on the peace and social justice aspects. Each conveniently tends to gloss over the parts they don't agree with.