The Modern Babel: American Patriotism

How can American Christians delude themselves to believe that PRIDE is ever seen as acceptable in the eyes of God?

Pride includes the notion of American patriotism in the sense that one's pride in the United States of America is used as an excuse for behavior that is less that Godly (ie torture, war, nuclear proliferation, environmental degradation, uncontrolled capitalism, etc).  God is clear that he hates pride more than anything, as it was the downfall of the archangel Lucifer as well as a major hinderance for humanity to be in relationship with Christ. 

The United States is not, and I repeat, is not God's gift to the world.  Yes, good has come from the work of the country, but we are talking about a nation that was largely founded upon stolen land, exploitation, and the benefits of habitual inequality to retain a patriarchal and anglo-saxon dominated system.  To value patriotism in the sense that we, as American citizens, must always agree and support the actions of the governing powers over us, as well as the actions of our military, even when they violate Biblical law is outrageous and I refuse to align myself with that worldview.

As the United States has posited itself as a 'shining city on a hill', we have used our 'moral' pride to place our existence above those of others in an inherently ethnocentric manner. We have legitimized our decadence and somehow allowed exploitative capitalism and Christianity to become ideological partners. Our pride in ourselves as a 'modern' society and our pride in our human created system of government will be a downfall in the cohesion of the nation if this mindset is not adjusted.

All humans are created equal, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion, political identification, sexual orientation, social status, occupation, education level, and nationality.  The United States is no different than other nations, we have just used pride as a vehicle for comparative success through violence and exploitation.   

The Gendered Church

The conservative American Christian community continues to contradict itself in terms of Biblical interpretation and is increasingly becoming less-Christ-like in this process.  A basic tenet of Christianity and a general rule understood by God from creation is that all humans are equal, yet the Christian right continuously assaults that basic premise of our faith from all angles.  The highly patriarchal complex that has controlled the church for centuries clings to culturally relevant verses to excuse its modern male-centered sexist view of gender. 

Why are verses that instruct women to wear head coverings within church buildings disregarded even in conservative circles as 'culturally specific' to a certain time and others that say a woman should remain silent upheld? It seems convenient divergence from strict interpretation is tolerated in some cases where male-dominated church hierarchies feel the need not to press the issue, but they switch right back to their hardline views on a 'woman's place' when their (male's) power has the possibility to come into question.

If we are all equal under God, and all spiritual beings as well as physical, then why adhere to archaic views of gender if power is not driving force?

Keeping the Church and State Separate

I believe in keeping God sacred and the conscription of his laws meant for his followers.  Thus, I fervently believe in the separation of church and state.  Through keeping the affairs of the church and those of the government separate from one another, protection is then given to people of faith, groups of people with diverse faiths, and those who choose to not practice any religion whatsoever. The concept of a "free" country hinges upon this basic principle in that the agenda of the church does not corrupt the decisions and actions taken by a governing body who speaks for a pluralistic population with a wide body of differing people. It as well allows for religious systems to develop peacefully and to be remain true to their beliefs since the government has no power to contort them for their own devices.

Christ never was a politician who attempted to change the views of the government he lived within, why should Christianity do that to the United States? All this about this country being a "Christian nation" is utter bullshit. I think the last thing Jesus would want is for his way to be institutionalized among humans, that only allows for restriction of religious expression in Christianity as well as the church being used as a means of social control and oppression as it has been used in the past in countless societies. I refuse to see my God, whom I am deeply devoted to be used to control people who live in this nation for the sake of our freedom. No one wants the message of Christ shoved down their throat, He didn't show his love and path to eternal life that way and neither should Christian Americans. Showing Christ is much more effective than just talking about what everyone should and should not do and expecting complete submission by the masses.

Keep Christ sacred, the church and state must remain separate.

out of vanguard

With Vanguard behind me and a BA under my belt, I look toward the future with both optimism and vigilance. Applying to graduate school as well as staying afloat through the spring is weighing heavily on my mind and I question the decision to stay in Costa Mesa rather than simply move back up north. The economic savings alone could make such a move practical, however I fear that my emotional well-being would not be addressed appropriately if such a relocation were to take place. I require my familiar social surroundings, knowing all too well that the space in which I have been living within for the past three and a half years still exists, I would be unable to rip myself from interacting with my recent companions in this stage of life. So from this moment in thought I know my current trajectory into the future of my continuing life is correct and true to what is best for me as an individual as a social being. I pray that I flourish as a human in the months to come as I begin the rest of my life. For now, the escape of reading has engrossed my time to allow me to diverge from reality to another plain of existence created for me. Oh how I treasure imagination... 

proud member of the christian left

There has been a emergence of a new term in the US and its existence as a term and as a group of people is in debate and controversy.  The Christian left is seen as a reaction to the Christian or "Religious" Right and I must say that I am a part of this demographic.  I am anti-war, anti-death penalty, against overturning Roe v. Wade, in support of equality for homosexuals, for affirmative action, against instituted prayer in public schools, against private school vouchers, anti-torture, in support of 'spreading the wealth' through progressive taxation, and against the general fundatmentalist view of the world.  Christians have been pegged for having the opposite views on ALL of the following and I am ok with that. Christian DOES NOT equal patriotic, Republican, capitalist, and especially judgmental. I am tired of being expected to fall in line with ideologies that are deemed as "Christian" that I do not agree with on Christian grounds. Its bullshit, and I refuse to fit into the character of "Christian conservative'. 

Are we human?

One aspect of the "American way" that is supposed to be in sync with Christianity is patriotism. 21st century american patriotism is based upon one outstanding principle that the Bible clearly states God hates most, pride. We were all taught to "be proud to be an american" and to "have pride in our country". I think we as Christians need to deconstruct what we are saying and what we are teaching young citizens. We are indoctrinated to believe that America is (for lack of a better term" the shit and all other nations are inferior, even those on par with us in the world, they still are not at our level.

I think there is value in supporting our nation and hoping the best decisions are made in our name, it is where we live, however, countries are not static entities that are constant, they rise and fall and in 100 years the USA may not even exist, who knows.

I choose not to combine my faith with bullshit "patriotism" that calls me to have pride. God hates pride, especially when it causes people to be ethnocentric and value human life based upon place of birth, residence, and world view. This is why I choose not to say the pledge of allegiance, why should I be told to pledge my allegiance to a piece of cloth that's meaning changes with every generation and election?

Pride is wrong, therefore I have a problem with calling myself 'patriotic' when that concept is intertwined within the word. 

Lastly, I pose the question (which was taken from song by the killers): Are we human?  As I listened to this song, my answer is yes, but it is a deeper yes than a pure look at my anatomical state.  To be human is to be human. Not American, or any other national identity based on borders, we are all simply human. This is a truth which I feel must be understood.

here it is

I've decided to start blogging for a couple reasons...basically I want a place in which to put thoughts to type, allow others to think about those thoughts at the same time that I do, and provide a place to make my thoughts and opinions legitimized in a safe place. Thats it.