The End Of Christianity?

The other day the Pope admonished the people of France that marriage equality would threaten family and society. This is a man who lives in a palace, expects to be treated like an emperor and runs his church like it’s still the 15^th century. He tells the people of Africa that it’s a sin for them to use condoms as AIDS sweeps over the continent like wildfire. And he tells the nuns of America to stop helping the poor so much and start screaming about homosexuality, birth control and abortion. Meanwhile Liberty University, the school founded by the supposedly family values loving Rev. Jerry Falwell, wants to give Donald Trump an honorary degree. Last spring Anne Graham Lotz--daughter of “America’s pastor” Billy Graham--told the people of North Carolina in effect that her god would smite them if they didn’t vote for that state’s hate on the gays constitutional amendment. And every day a huge parade of nuts and loons take to the airwaves and internet with their tortured combovers and garish costumes to preach vile, hateful insanity in the name of Jesus…and they all have their hands out. “Gi’ me! Gi’ me! Gi’ me!” Those who have not been suckered in by their message look on at all of this and see a giant freak show. It’s like a scary, evil circus and the so-called leaders come off as carnival hucksters and conmen. There is no message of love, compassion or hope. It’s all about fear, and greed, and the desire for political power.

I know that these people do not represent all Christians. I know that many Christians are turned off by the freak show. And some do their best to stand up against the message of hate and offer something different. But it seems most just don’t care enough to shout down the shouters. When are we going to see these money sucking whores and fear-driven haters denounced in no uncertain terms by the multitudes who see Christianity in a different light? Are they even out there? Many in Europe have already given up on Christianity, and a large percentage of America’s youth have turned their backs on Christianity, too. I think it will eventually be the same all over the world. Religions die. Religions have been dying since the beginning of civilization. And it seems to me that Christianity is on its deathbed, and a whole bunch of people who claim to represent it have shoved a pillow over its face to hasten the end.