Going where responsibility leads
Writing the Scientology article really made me stop and think about responsibility.
As Christians, we're responsible for the way our faith is exhibited to others and it's something we shouldn't take lightly. To some Christians, that means we should approach things from an evangelical standpoint and accept the responsibility to "go and make disciples of all nations" as it says in Matthew 28:19. Responsiblity then becomes a mission to convert the world to Christianity, and to some potential converts that can become not only off-putting, but also incendiary and irrelevant. While I find truth in Christianity and think that others would do well to study and live it as well, that doesn't include the desire to say that other religions are invalid. Moral superiority seems anti-Christian more than it does Christian regardless of the intent, so rather than say Christianity is the only way, I tend to leave room for the possibility that there is validity in Scientology, or any other religion if a person feels like drawing that conclusion. Depending upon whom you ask, I suppose this is either not a big deal or a huge Christian violation.
Perhaps the need to say that one religion is better than another stems from fear, or perhaps it has something to do with our need for seemingly constant reassurance. If others believe as we believe then there is less risk that we could be wrong, and that goes a long way toward helping us build self-esteem and a sense of emotional security.
My agent, who is a Christian, said something interesting about this type of insecurity after reading the Scientology article. She has a couple of clients who are Scientologists, and she told me her fear upon learning about their religion was that they might try to change her. But after getting to know them, she realized that they're nice guys with very interesting lives and careers and that there is really nothing to fear. I realized the same thing as I was writing the article, and it made me wonder how I had arrived at the idea that Scientologists were something to be afraid of in the first place. It could have come from the media, or cyber hysteria, or perhaps from Tom Cruise's judgment of Brooke Shields' postpartum depression. All of those things combined had probably led me to believe that Scientologists might try to tell me that they had everything figured out and that I was going about life all wrong as a Christian and especially as a lesbian. But when I actually went to the Scientology Church and made the effort to learn about Scientology first hand, there was no hard sell and there was no hint of frustration with my faith, sexuality, or anything else. The Scientologists that I met were nice, fascinating to have a conversation with, and completely at ease with their own spirituality. As a Christian, I learned from their example.
The idea that Scientology is a cult that sucks you in and won't be happy until you accept its beliefs is a common misconception. But wouldn't a Scientologist probably say the same thing about Christianity? Or might a Buddhist say the same thing about Mormonism? No one wants to feel like beliefs are being forced upon them from the outside, or that their faith is somehow considered to be inferior to another's by nature. Faith wells up from within and external movements can come across as judgment and intimidation, which is precisely why it seems to be far more important to be a positive example than an effective conversion therapist. Although Jesus preached about his own convictions and expected others to see the light, he also led by example and became the most powerful example in the history of our faith. It was his example and not his words that left the most lasting impression.
I do feel a responsibility to Christianity to help propel it, which is probably an effect of the evangelical influence that has been with me since college, but for me that means being willing to let others decide what is best for them. I think it's great that Scientologists find peace in their religion. Same goes for Buddhists, Jews, Mormons, and countless others. As long people live life with a greater good in mind, a greater purpose is served. And perhaps that is exactly the point.
As Christians, we're responsible for the way our faith is exhibited to others and it's something we shouldn't take lightly. To some Christians, that means we should approach things from an evangelical standpoint and accept the responsibility to "go and make disciples of all nations" as it says in Matthew 28:19. Responsiblity then becomes a mission to convert the world to Christianity, and to some potential converts that can become not only off-putting, but also incendiary and irrelevant. While I find truth in Christianity and think that others would do well to study and live it as well, that doesn't include the desire to say that other religions are invalid. Moral superiority seems anti-Christian more than it does Christian regardless of the intent, so rather than say Christianity is the only way, I tend to leave room for the possibility that there is validity in Scientology, or any other religion if a person feels like drawing that conclusion. Depending upon whom you ask, I suppose this is either not a big deal or a huge Christian violation.
Perhaps the need to say that one religion is better than another stems from fear, or perhaps it has something to do with our need for seemingly constant reassurance. If others believe as we believe then there is less risk that we could be wrong, and that goes a long way toward helping us build self-esteem and a sense of emotional security.
My agent, who is a Christian, said something interesting about this type of insecurity after reading the Scientology article. She has a couple of clients who are Scientologists, and she told me her fear upon learning about their religion was that they might try to change her. But after getting to know them, she realized that they're nice guys with very interesting lives and careers and that there is really nothing to fear. I realized the same thing as I was writing the article, and it made me wonder how I had arrived at the idea that Scientologists were something to be afraid of in the first place. It could have come from the media, or cyber hysteria, or perhaps from Tom Cruise's judgment of Brooke Shields' postpartum depression. All of those things combined had probably led me to believe that Scientologists might try to tell me that they had everything figured out and that I was going about life all wrong as a Christian and especially as a lesbian. But when I actually went to the Scientology Church and made the effort to learn about Scientology first hand, there was no hard sell and there was no hint of frustration with my faith, sexuality, or anything else. The Scientologists that I met were nice, fascinating to have a conversation with, and completely at ease with their own spirituality. As a Christian, I learned from their example.
The idea that Scientology is a cult that sucks you in and won't be happy until you accept its beliefs is a common misconception. But wouldn't a Scientologist probably say the same thing about Christianity? Or might a Buddhist say the same thing about Mormonism? No one wants to feel like beliefs are being forced upon them from the outside, or that their faith is somehow considered to be inferior to another's by nature. Faith wells up from within and external movements can come across as judgment and intimidation, which is precisely why it seems to be far more important to be a positive example than an effective conversion therapist. Although Jesus preached about his own convictions and expected others to see the light, he also led by example and became the most powerful example in the history of our faith. It was his example and not his words that left the most lasting impression.
I do feel a responsibility to Christianity to help propel it, which is probably an effect of the evangelical influence that has been with me since college, but for me that means being willing to let others decide what is best for them. I think it's great that Scientologists find peace in their religion. Same goes for Buddhists, Jews, Mormons, and countless others. As long people live life with a greater good in mind, a greater purpose is served. And perhaps that is exactly the point.
posted by Jen Austin at 10:31 AM
1 Comments:
But isn't the ultimate goal SALVATION?
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