THIS is becoming an increasingly uncomfortable time to be a person of faith.
Deeply-held beliefs are being challenged at what seems like every turn.
A key tenet of all religions is that we’re supposed to be going out and proselytising – both proclaiming our own faith and urging people to join us. Instead it is becoming awkward to identify yourself as a person of faith.
In my case that faith is Christianity, and my feelings of unease are prompted not by those of other faiths and none, but by how fellow Christians are presenting themselves and what that implies about me.
We feature very seldom on the news, but when we do the tenor of the intervention is of a kind that leaves me embarrassed at the association.
There have been two such headline grabbers in the last seven days.
One has been courtesy of Conservative Party leadership hopeful Jacob Rees-Mogg.
He has been laying out his opposition to abortion - including in cases of rape - and same-sex marriage, both of which, he points out are contrary to “the teachings of the Catholic Church”.
“Marriage is a sacrament and the view of what marriage is is taken by the Church, not parliament,” he told Good Morning Britain.
“I support the teaching of the Catholic Church. The marriage issue is the important thing, this is not how people arrange their lives.”
The interview raised similar headlines to those produced during the interminable British general election campaign in June when evangelical Christian Tim Farron was leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Then, the news stories centred on just how far his conscience would allow him to accept those voters in same-sex relationships who were “sinning”.
There is of course the point that both men were answering questions put to them by knowing media in search of a controversial headline.
But still…
The impression everyone is left with is that to be a believer is to have an unnatural interest in the sex lives of complete strangers and wish to control the difficult decisions being made by victims of terrible, criminal violation.
That to be a Christian is to be censorious, judgmental and, well, ignorant.
Ignorant of the actual clear teachings of their own religion.
Yes there are passages in the Bible dating back to ancient times relating to how society should organise itself then, but most of that has been jettisoned.
Few people in 2017 eschew “clothing woven of two kinds of material” or eating any kind of seafood.
Meanwhile, as has been pointed out, Jacob Rees-Mogg has voted consistently to replace Trident with a new nuclear weaponry system, against an investigation into the Iraq War and for military action against Daesh - three times.
It seems while we should all adhere strictly to marriage between a man and woman, `Thou shalt not kill’? Not so much.
It’s not a Christianity I recognise.
Meanwhile, in another part of the theological forest, nice middle-class Nigel and Sally Rowe have been explaining in very reasonable tones why they have had to take their children out of their Church of England school on the Isle of Wight because they are “confused” over a fellow pupil who is transgender.
They very reasonably explained how much “compassion and support” they had for the child and its family, and how much love they were filled with in general – while effectively shunning a child at infant school.
Again, it was not quite that straightforward. The church’s General Synod this summer voted by 284 to 78 to offer special services to welcome transgender people to the Anglican faith.
It was after the parents received a letter saying that, under the Equality Act, boys and girls can dress any way they like.
The Rowes said other children would become confused.
And indeed they may, but surely the job of parents is to explain things to their children and help clear up confusion.
They should be dab hands at that, given they are sending their children to a school that has at the centre of its faith the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and the Trinity.
For me, the clue about Christianity is all in the name.
When asked by a lawyer which is the great commandment in the law, Jesus replied that there are only two – “to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” and “to love thy neighbour as thyself”.
And I don’t believe by love he meant coerce and control but rather live and let live.
b.archer@irishnews.com
@BimpeIN
