Oppress: (Verb) 1. to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power: a people oppressed by totalitarianism.
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A few days ago I was engaged in a interesting discussion on how Christians in the United States are being oppressed by Government forces, secular corruption and overall Evil. Examples of this oppression included the activities of various legal groups, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), who have lodged official and at times legal challenges against the mixing of religion and public place or institutions. Many of those issues have been in debate for decades and the Courts have often sided with the Plaintiffs in their lawsuits against Cities, School Districts, etc. Another example cited to me was the saying of "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" as evidence that Christians are under attack in a decaying society. Yet another was the "widespread" banning of prayer meetings in private homes.
I've heard this claim from Glen Beck as well. Progressives and especially President Obama are out to destroy the United States, turn it into a European/Socialist style Country while eroding Christian values. There are other voices on the Right such as Sean Hannity, who I've heard share the same concerns. Beck and Hannity aside, many people who feel this way do so sincerely. I think they truly believe their faith is under attack and if they don't fight back, the world will perish. Too often, they are made fun of. Also too often, they seem to want their particular vision of Christ to prevail over all others. Which is something I have a real issue with.
If the problem is purely "oppression" then I'm left scratching my head why more Christians and Christian leaders weren't supportive of the New York City mosque which wasn't really a Mosque but rather a Community center. I know the Muslims are all out to get us, (including my dentist,) but if oppression of a person's faith is an evil, corrupt act, isn't any example of that equally evil and corrupt? GOP Candidate Newt Gingrich said in the last debate that he'd require any Muslim who wanted to serve in his administration to sign a loyalty pledge. Are there any other faiths that he'd require the same from? Why not? The US has convicted spies of all shapes and sizes, of various faiths, yes? What of the Catholics, Jews or others who have been found guilty. (I know, I know-their Countrymen never slaughtered three thousand Americans, did they?
To me, one of the fundamental issues I have with organised religion is that everyone feel theirs is the correct one. I grew up on Team Methodist, but can't remember who our biggest rivals were. There wasn't a lot of talk about that in the 1970's when I last attended Church on a regular basis. It reminds me of Tom Lehrer's classic, "National Brotherhood Week."
Trying to find some research on the issue of oppression, I turned to the Association of Religion Data Archives, (ARDA.) They analyze data of this type and have some interesting results. The United States of America is one of the very most "free" Countries in the world in terms of a person being able to practice the religion of his/her choice. Want to worship God, a goat or a gopher? This is where you want to be.
To the best of my knowledge, there are no Federal laws that prohibit the practice of any recognized religion in the Unites States. I know of no State or Local laws that prevent any person living in this Country from pursuing any faith of their choice. Yes, there are limits where you may practice your faith, but generally speaking, it doesn't get any more free than here in the US. Church's in fact, receive special treatment from our Federal Government in the form of a "tax free status," which saves US Churches millions of dollars a year. The Federal Government does not petition Churches to spend their monies this way or that. (While the reverse is most certainly not true.)
Just because you may not be permitted to place a Cross on government property, doesn't mean you have to abandon your faith. In fact, if you don't try and push your faith on anything to do with anything Government, (Courts, Public Schools, etc...) you're not going to have a problem that way.
Some are disturbed by the lack of the word "God" in many public school mission statements. If we can substitute "God" with God, Allah or any symbolic head of a faith group," I'd say go for it. But if we can't include all religions, then we shouldn't include any in those mission statements pertaining to our public institutions.
We should remember that private schools, with a Christian foundation have the freedom to incorporate as much religion as they want with no interference from the Federal Government. Which is how it should be.
As far as Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas. I think its political correctness run amuk and people should just get a grip. Just because I say Merry Christmas to people during December every year doesn't mean that I'm insensitive to any Non Christians. I'm not, its just Christmastime, ok? For most of us, it means a time to go shopping and spend money we don't really have. Its not often said as an affirmation of ones faith. Honest to God.
As far as the Pledge of Allegiance goes, remember the original version from 1892 did not have the words "under God" in it. Rather, the addition of those words came fifty six year later in a non Governmental way. The Knights of Columbus, the nations largest Catholic fraternal organisation, endorsed it but it wasn't until President Eisenhower in 1954, the day after hearing an especially fiery sermon from preacher George MacPherson Dougherty, who supported its use. Whether this was something President Eisenhower had been mulling over for a while or something inspired by that sermon is unknown to me. Several Courts have found compelling children to say this oath violates their Constitutional rights, while others have found otherwise. Bottom line to me, the Government isn't preventing anyone from saying it, just in some case, stepping in saying to a public school, it can't be forced on anyone.
It would be far easier for me to make the case that Muslims, Gays, Minorities, etc. are oppressed than Christians. Christians can build Churches almost anywhere they want to. Christians can get married with ease. Married Christians have little trouble collecting death benefits from their spouses's Social Security. And so on...
Why do some Christians feel oppressed?
I don't know. My hunch is it has to do with building a cause, stirring up emotion to make its followers feel persecuted and therefore under a common yoke. Adversity brings groups together and manufactured adversity works about as well as the real stuff. I also think its a control thing. The more frightened and outcast a group can be made to feel, the more closely they'll bond together. As attendance at Churches worldwide declines, studies are showing individuals are feeling more spiritual. Perhaps some of the smaller denominations are manipulating their congregations to fight falling numbers.
I don't think Christians, certainly no mainstream branch in the USA today is oppressed. Conversely, I do find many aspects of the Christian Church as a whole somewhat oppressive of people who worship a different God than they do and prefer a partner of the same sex. I think Christians oppress more often than the other way around...
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