The American Christian: A Believer Among The Dismissers

This is worth reading and pondering as a Christian.  By Francis Poretto ...

Large majorities are supposed to allow their members comfort. Strength in numbers and all that. At least, that's the theory.

In their responses to the 2000 Census, 74% of Americans self-identified as Christians. That qualifies as a very large majority. Nor is it likely that the 2010 Census will deliver a far smaller number. Yet many Christians regularly report a sense of marginalization, of being held in contempt, even of being under siege.

If their experiences have been anything like mine, they have good reason to feel as they do.

"You're much too smart to believe all that superstitious crap."

"It's all about money."

"What makes your religion better than any other?"

"So explain to me about the Crusades and the Inquisition."

"You're just afraid to die."

All of the above have been said to me, when the speaker became aware that I'm a practicing Catholic who takes his faith seriously. The raw disdain for the Christian faith was always undisguised.

In a recent exchange at a party, which began as a discussion of political subjects, my companion startled me by announcing that his low opinion of President George W. Bush is because of Bush's Christianity. To him, it means that Bush is wooden of intellect; that he needs "the comfort of an imposed structure." I was struck speechless, though only for a moment.

"Are you aware that you're speaking to a practicing Catholic?"

It was his turn to be speechless. Our conversation had been conducted on a very high intellectual plane up to then. He wanted to say "but you're much too smart for that." I could see the "but" forming on his lips. He refrained, turned away, and sought another conversation elsewhere.

...

Here we are: a majority of our nation, clear on what our faith means to us, and capable of expressing our convictions sensibly. Yet we're being marginalized culturally and politically. Our positions on various social and political issues are dismissed as inherently illegitimate. Those of us who put ourselves forward, whether for elective office or merely as representatives of a significant viewpoint, are routinely treated roughly, dismissed and insulted because of our faith. The upshot is we're growing ever more reticent about the things that nominally matter most to us.

A haughty minority of self-nominated ideological and cultural critics is intimidating us into silence and passivity.