Posted on 11/24/2015 7:45:41 AM PST by Salvation
I have started reading through a recently published book called Subtracting Christianity: Essays on American Culture and Society. It is an anthology of the writings of Joseph Sobran (1946-2010), long-time editor at National Review and a keen observer of culture and its intersection with faith. I recommend it highly, for its penetrating observations and its sober portrait of what happens when we remove Christianity from our culture, the same Christianity that was fundamental in our making.
I'd like to present just a short passage from the first article in the book, and then add some feeble comments of my own. I'm sure that as I read through the articles I will post more reflections, but for today, I offer just this brief meditation.
Sobran writes beautifully of the strange resistance that the world has for Christ:
Great as Shakespeare is, I never lose sleep over anything he said. . . By the same token nobody ever feels guilty about anything Plato or Aristotle said . . . We aren't tempted to resist them as we are tempted to resist Christ (Subtracting Christianity pp. 1-2).
I have often pondered the world's special hatred for and resistance to Christ and His Body, the Church; it is unparalleled. Few of the Protestant denominations experience this hatred. The Buddhists don't seem to be subject to it, nor do the Muslims even despite all the recent terrorism.
There is almost a knee -- jerk, visceral reaction to Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church that is so over the top, so irrational, that one has to marvel at it. The world doth protest too much. Why?
Is it fear? Perhaps. But the Church is not powerful enough to “force our views†on everyone, as some who hate us say we do.
There is no rational explanation for the intense fear and hatred of the world for Christ and Catholicism except to echo the words of Christ Himself:
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without cause' (Jn 15:18-25).
Yes, they hated Him without cause -- at least any rational cause. For indeed, there must be a cause. But it is so irrational and hateful that I surmise it must be that Satan himself is interacting with our flesh. Satan hates Christ in a way that he doesn't hate Mohammed, or Luther, or Deepak Chopra. Christ is a true threat, so Satan rages. And the world and flesh draw from this rage and fear.
Think I'm exaggerating? Try to get excerpts from the Quran studied in public school and the reaction is almost non-existent. But try to get a gospel studied and the lawsuits and public outrage are nearly instantaneous. Why do the "Christmas wars" target not only nativity sets and Santa (who, by the way, is a secular remake of St. Nicholas), but now even the colors red and green? Talk about excessive and over-the-top; the rage and fear is out of control!
Sobran says it well: Christ makes people lose sleep in ways that others do not. His words and teachings touch a core that others never do. That the world bristles is a compliment. Jesus Christ has to be taken seriously. You may be mad, or sad, or glad, but no one goes away from Jesus Christ unchanged or merely "informed." His words have an authority that demand a response. And the world seems to know this and thus bristles at Jesus. Some love Him, some hate Him, but few are neutral to Him.
Ask yourself, "Why is this so?" Could it be that Christ really is who He says He is: Lord and God? Could it be that it is His voice echoing in your conscience? Call this the argument from irrational hatred and fear. Rank it up there with the argument from motion or the argument from design. This strange, irrational, and excessive fear; this anger toward and even hatred of Christ attests to the truth of His claims to be the One whom we will either love or hate. We cannot serve two masters (cf Mat 6:24).
Shakespeare doesn't make you lose sleep, neither does Plato or Aristotle. Why is that?
To every secularist and atheist, I direct these questions: Why do you protest Christ and His Church so much? Why do you exaggerate our power? If we really are irrelevant, if our "day is over" and we are laughably outdated, then why the fear, anger, and protest? Do our "myths" scare you? But if they are mere myths, then why the fear and protest? Why don't you direct the same wrath at Buddha? Is it that still, small voice in your conscience?
What is it? Why your sleepless wrath?
Sobran observes the odd spectacle of greater intensity for Christ from his opponents than his friends in these words:
Sometimes I think the anti --- Christian forces take Christ more seriously than most nominal Christians do…[Indeed] Such a strong and unique personality [as Christ had] could only meet strong and unique resistance. That is why Christians shouldn’t resent the resistance of those who refuse to celebrate his birth [and protest us doing so]. In their way, these people are his witnesses too. (Ibid pp 7-8)
Monsignor Pope Ping!
A quote that struck me long ago:
“Since the life of Christ is in every way bitter to the I and the Self and the Me...therefore Nature hath a horror of it”
Some folks find that offensive. The believer, I think, finds it quite a relief. I do.
There are those who hate Christianity and call their hatred an all-embracing love for all religions.
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.
G.K. Chesterton
Amen.
Probably two good reasons why atheists and seculars react in such a way. The first one is 'they' deep down know there is the God and Creator of all and He has rules they don't like. They also think God is a 'bully' to press rules on humans. So it all goes back to pride and arrogance. They know, but reject Him.
The reason seculars also despise Christians in the US is because they know we will not 'go away' very easily. They want us to retreat to our churches and be relegated to 'ghetto' status.
Good points. I’ve settled on Romans 1 as my anaswer to the perennial “But what about the________ people? Do you really think God would send them to Hell for not knowing?”
Romans 1 says men knew and KNOW but suppress the truth. If a tribal man does not suppress the truth, I’m convinced God will reveal Christ to Him. The Spirit is not limited by geography or language. Some Muslims report being given a vision or dream of Jesus that led them to Him. Once in faith, the miraculous likely recedes because “the righteous shall live by faith”. The point is God can save anyone, ANYWHERE, if they are open to His Son.
Although I do prefer the Protestant brand of Christianity.
Thanks for that Chesterton quote.
Indeed...most people do not get in a hateful lather over a fairy tale. Their response is usually “it’s the idea we hate.” Back to square one with them...”They are just ideas so what are you so worked up about.”
Then the conversation goes into “well if there is a God why is there suffering.” So you have to point out that if God is responsible for the bad why not give credit for the good? They never answer that and then call God a ‘bully.’
Then you have them. It’s about His ‘Rules’ they don’t like. So about this time you know in the conversation the “God does not exist” meme fails because you just found out they don’t like Him.
No one goes through all the trouble and emotion atheists do to combat an idea they think is a fairy tale. So yes, this confirms what the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 1.
Protestants are hated as much as Catholics. Ask the Buddhists how the Chi-coms treat them. Ask the Jews how things are going for them in the world.
The most tolerated and power dominating religions on the earth today are atheists, Satanists and Islamists. These groups hate the sight and sound of all Christians and Jews.
Ping to read later. I remember Joe Sobran from when he used to publish in National Review. And for the essay The Reluctant Anarchist.
I remember Sobran as being a bigger anti-Semite than Pat Buchanan and even Robert Novak.
Actually investigated and documented at both ends (New Mexico and Spain.) The Indians had seen her numerous times, but she never left her cloister.
A private aside to avoid the anti-Catholic Protestants having it to latch onto. And I agree with Msgr. Pope.
For some today the hatred is from when the Catholic Church as a political institution as well as being the center of Christianity. These folks can’t separate the two and that the political Catholic Church that ruled parts of Italy and its mission of proclaiming the gospel. One unfortunately sees this particular reason for hating the Catholic Church is in some Protestant sects where they are continuing to fight the wars of the Protestant Reformation.
And atheists use these same arguments in addition to their attacks on scripture.
Fixed that for you.
Petty soon they'll be saying Trump, Carson and Cruz are even bigger that hat.
Because the sight and sound of Christians and Jews reminds the atheists, Satanists, and Islamists that their belief systems are NOT from God.
Below are excerpts from two individuals from America's history, one who had a distinct role in its founding, and another whose summation of the life of Jesus poses important challenges even today.
Sobran reminds me of the reactions to Jesus of these two individuals, and of how they chose to express those reactions.
It was over two centuries ago, the same Thomas Jefferson who penned that Declaration of Independence which, he wrote, reflected "the American mind" of the time, in others of his writings, Jefferson stated that Jesus "preached philanthropy and universal charity and benevolence," that "a system of morals is presented to us [by Jesus], which, if filled up in the style and spirit of the rich fragments he left us, would be the most perfect and sublime that has ever been taught by man."
He wrote, "His moral doctrines...were more pure and perfect than those of the most correct of the philosophers...and they went far beyond both in inculcating universal philanthropy, not only to kindred and friends, to neighbors and countrymen, but to all mankind, gathering all into one family, under the bonds of love, charity, peace, common wants, and common aids," which, Jefferson said, "will evince the peculiar superiority of the system of Jesus over all others."
Comparing the Hebrew code which, according to Jefferson, "laid hold of actions only," "He [Jesus] pushed his scrutinies into the heart of man; erected his tribunal in the region of his thoughts, and purified the waters at the fountain head."
The other American, quoted below, was an A.M.E. Bishop and State of Ohio Legislator, speaking in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the U. S. of America, within the first decade following the Civil War:
"Withdraw from Christendom the Bible, the Church with its sacraments and ministry, and Christian morality and hopes, and aspirations for time and eternity; repeal all the laws that are founded in the Christian Scriptures; remove the Christian humanities in the form of hospitals and asylums, and reformatories and institutions of mercy utterly unknown to unchristian countries; destroy the literature, the culture, the institutions of learning, the art, the refinement, the place of woman in her home and in society, which owe their origin and power to Christianity; blot out all faith in Divine Providence, love, and righteousness; turn back every believer in Christ to his former state; remove all thought or hope of the forgiveness of sins by a just but gracious God; erase the name of Christ from every register it sanctifies—in a word annihilate all the legitimate and logical effects of Christianity in Christendom—just accomplish in fact what multitudes of gifted and learned minds are wishing and trying to accomplish by their science, philosophy, and criticism, and what multitudes of the common people desire and seek, and not only would all progress toward and unto perfection cease, but not one of the shining lights of infidelity would shine much longer. Yes, the bitterest enemies of this holy and blessed religion, owe their ability to be enemies to its sacred revelations - to the inspiration and sublimity of that faith which reflects its glories on their hostile natures. They live in the strength of that which they would destroy. They are raised to their seats of opportunity and power by the grace of Him they would crucify afresh; and is it to be thought that they are stronger than that which gives them strength? Can it be supposed that a religion which civilizes and subdues, and elevates and blesses will succumb to the enmities it may arouse and quicken in its onward march? Are we to tremble for the ark of God when God is its upholder, and protector, and preserver?” - Dr. Benjaming W. Arnett, St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Urbana, Ohio, Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon, November 1876
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