Chris Jepson: The grace truth bestows

I’ve been hearing of late that some conservative Christians believe there is a war on Christianity in America. They claim that Christians are being discriminated against for simply practicing their religious beliefs.

This is what I do not understand about such an assertion: Some Christians will—based on their religious beliefs—faithfully discriminate against America’s gay community but when called out on their intolerance, when challenged on their bigotry they claim “discrimination!” themselves. Is this irony or hypocrisy or both?

It would appear to the most unbiased observer that such Christians are attempting to have it both ways. Discriminate without being publicly called-out, challenged on exactly what they themselves are doing. This would be laughable except for the pain such double standards inflict.

It is challenging to discuss faith and public policy in America. Believers in “X” claim they have God on their side and, as such, that “fact” trumps everything else. Sacred texts are offered-up as incontrovertible proof as to the truth of their claims. They would have public policy reflect the tenets of their religion and require us all to conduct our lives based on their belief system. This would be societally OK if we lived, say, in Saudi Arabia or Iran. Fortunately, we do not live in a religious state.

I state the obvious when I say that the U.S. Constitution makes no mention of God (not one word) and strictly prohibits the promulgation of “a” religion in/through government. America’s Founding Fathers were acutely aware of the incredibly destructive religious wars that decimated Europe for nearly 150 years, from approximately 1550 to 1700.

Yet, today, many of our fellow citizens unquestionably attempt to insert their religious beliefs into public policy, whether it is access to birth control, abortion rights, gay rights or gay marriage. Part of me says, “Well, that is what elections are all about,” and in a democracy do we not live by the results of a voting majority?

The recent Supreme Court decision on gay marriage is unquestionably controversial because it challenges a historic understanding of what constitutes such a union. I appreciate that gay marriage is unsettling to those who believe their truth prohibits such unions. Many conservative Christians are angry that a court made gay marriage the law of the land. But, folks, that boat has left the dock and if Catholic Ireland can approve gay marriage, well, it is only a matter of time before Americans hopefully look back in wonder and amazement over why there was ever such rancor.

I’ve been reading William James on pragmatism and recommend his most American of perspectives. James gave a series of lectures in the early 20th century that I believe would help us rethink how Americans today confront the challenges before us. James — in “What Pragmatism Means” — offered that, “ideas become true just in so far as they help us get into satisfactory relation with other parts of our experience.”

In other words, truth is what works. James wrote, “The truth of an idea is not a stagnant property inherent in it. Truth happens to an idea. It becomes true, is made true by events. Its verity is in fact an event, a process: the process namely of its verifying itself.”

As true as any sacred text is our awareness today that our gay brothers and sisters are our brethren (to employ a religious term), worthy of every consideration we allow ourselves. I recommend we all do so with the grace and comfort such truth bestows.