We
undeniably live in the age of ever-expanding information technology.
Instant contact and communication with people on the other side of the
world is a reality that our predecessors could only dream of.
Christians
exist to communicate. Since Jesus Christ first gained his followers, one
of the essentials of following has been passing on the message and being
his witnesses to the world.
Indeed, the essential need for communicating goes
back to the beginning of time when God creatively communicated life into
existence as he ‘spoke’ (Genesis chapter 1). Jesus Christ, God’s living
Word was there in that creative communication (John 1:1).
Creative communication has been used throughout
history to pass on God’s Word. A major creative form of communication
came with Johann Gutenberg’s movable type printing press and his now
famous Gutenberg Bible printed in 1455. We went from carefully produced
handwritten manuscripts to the mass production printed page.
Now we have moved even further with books on CD Roms
and on to e-books - electronic books available through the Internet
instead of hard copies from the bookshop.
Today’s information technology (IT) continues to
develop with further exciting potential for greater communication. At
the same time the whole of the IT industry, especially through the
Internet, has opened the door, even more widely, to miscommunication and
increased communication of misinformation (both intentional and
unintentional).
Internet websites, chat rooms and forums, emails -
are all means to inform people and pass on knowledge that, in the past,
would only have been available to a limited number of people. Through
these means many people are having their horizons stretched. The growth
and learning opportunities through this IT are wonderful and encouraging
for many. However, this same IT is employed to rapidly and extensively
spread information that is unhealthy, unhelpful, distorted, deceptive,
false, careless and misleading.
Anybody can now have a forum to say anything - no
matter how carefully or carelessly thought through. And what is shared
through today’s IT can reach and influence vastly greater numbers of
people than former and more traditional means of communication.
IT provides us with great potential for creative
communication to thousands within a short time (even instantly). But it
also holds the potential for dangerous and misleading propaganda.
Unfortunately we are being provided great means for
communication - but no great means of developing skills of critical
thought and discernment. All too often, evidence shows that critical
thought and discernment is missing on both the part of those sending out
information, and those receiving it.
Recently the following statement appeared out of a
discussion forum, and was posted for further discussion:
‘Sometimes it seems to me as if 3/4 of the evil in
the world can be squarely laid at Christianity’s feet. The sexism, the
intolerance, the blind hate of gays and Jews and so many others.
Ignorance, people dying because of refusal to accept medicine. So much
anger everywhere. People killed for daring to THINK. It’s not all like
that, but how do you get past it? How do you not hate something that’s
done so much harm?’
Statements like these are often made and accepted
uncritically, without actually examining carefully what is being said.
The above comments are, unfortunately uninformed, lacking in
thoughtfulness, unfair and dishonest. The person who made these comments
lacks understanding of history, lacks global and
multi-ethnic/multi-religious perspective, and lacks perspective for the
overall wider picture of reality.
1. To suggest that it appears as if ¾ of the
world’s evils are caused by Christianity is an extremely biased and
careless suggestion. There is evil in places where Christianity is
absent or rejected. In countries where the predominant religious faith
is Hinduism, or Buddhism, or Islam (and where Christianity is rejected,
or barely tolerated) evil still exists. In these places there are laws
against murder, rape, theft, and more - the banning of Christianity has
not removed these evils. In fact, exploitation of women and children in
a wide variety of ways, for example, can be found in numerous countries
and places where Christianity has little or no influence. Christianity
does not encourage evil, and nor do most other world religions. If evils
are going to be revealed (and they should) it should be revealed
wherever they exist, and in whatever social and religious context they
occur. By blaming any one religion, or any one social or other cause for
the world’s evils, the reality of personal evil and responsibility is
being ignored. Evil exists, NOT because of Christianity,
but in spite of it. It exists because individuals exploit
others in their greed for power and possessions. It exists because
individuals choose to ignore the noble teachings of major religions,
especially Christianity. It exists because people do NOT want to
acknowledge the ‘old fashioned’ biblical claim that people are sinful
and in need of a Saviour.
2. To unfairly claim that sexism, intolerance,
blind hate of gays and Jews and so many others exists in Christianity,
shows ignorance or a deliberate and dishonest misrepresentation of
reality. Such things are NOT taught in Christianity -
though they may, to varying degrees be found in the Christian community
(these are two very different things). But to acknowledge they may exist
amongst SOME in the Christian community, and leave it at that is also
unfair. Such problems ALSO exist amongst some people in the Hindu
community, Islamic community, Buddhist community, and other communities
of faith (or lack of faith). It also fails to acknowledge the clear
teaching of Christianity that Christians are to love ALL people, but NOT
to love what they may do contrary to biblical and historical Christian
values. A claim such as this ignores the reality that Christians have
sheltered and cared for outcasts from the rest of society throughout the
ages. It ignores the fact that Christians are STILL sheltering and
caring for those who are different, and even reject the Christian faith,
because OTHERS (non-Christians) are rejecting/expelling/killing some who
are different or who do not belong to THEIR tribe/religion/society.
3. To blame Christianity for ignorance, people
dying because of refusal to accept medicine, again reveals ignorance or
dishonesty. While there are extreme Christian fringe groups that reject
the use of medicine and allow people to die for want of medical care,
this is NOT the stance of accepted and orthodox Christianity. It also
ignores the fact that throughout Christian history, and still today,
Christian medical professionals have provided health education and
extensive medical care in communities around the world - even where
other major religions predominate. Christian organisations have been at
the forefront of helping villagers find and use clean water, and
organised appropriate sewerage drainage systems - both a major factor in
improved health.
4. To suggest that Christianity is the cause of
so much anger everywhere is unrealistic, overly simplistic and careless
thinking, if not dishonest. Is there anger only in places where
Christianity is regarded as the predominant faith? Of course not! There
are multitudes of reasons for anger in different countries and places
around the world. Often they are caused by lack of care and concern for
others, for the environment, and more. Man’s inhumanity to man - and
particularly the exploitation of powerless (sick, aged, homeless etc),
women and children, all cause anger - and rightly so. But these abuses
are not taught by Christianity - nor found only in Christianised
communities. Previous comments (especially under point 1) are also
relevant here.
5. To claim or suggest that Christianity
encourages people to be killed for daring to THINK is grossly twisting
the truth. Yes, there have been, and still are, pockets of supposed
Christian believers who fear critical thought and analysis, such is a
minority view often limited to a small power group (some leaders) who
want to keep people in ignorance and cannot tolerate freedom of thought
and for others to think independently and differently. The same should
also be acknowledged for other major faiths. However, Christianity has
always taught the pursuit of learning and education. Again, throughout
history, Christians have established schools - especially for the
underprivileged. Colleges and universities, in many places, have their
origins in Christian education. Christians have been at the forefront of
social improvement and educating communities about the rights of the
sick and aged; the poor and needy; children; women; workers; and many
others. While a lot of today’s history books distort history by ignoring
to mention that many great reformers were what they were, and achieved
what they did, because of their deep Christian faith, commitment and
motivation, the realities of history can still be discovered by
thoughtful people today.
6. The originator of the forum statement made a
concession by acknowledging that ‘It’s not all like that’,
but then wonders how to get past the perceived problems of Christianity,
and how not to hate something that has supposedly done so much harm? The
way to get past it and not hate it is to be fair, honest, thoughtful,
and carefully consider what the actual evidence (not hearsay or vague
clichéd generalities)
reveals. Yes, there have been atrocities committed in the name of
religion (not just Christianity, but all other major religions, plus
many minor ones!), however, these reflected not the actual teachings,
but often the perversions of the Faith by the followers who were
following more political or personal power than obeying the guidance and
teachings of the Faith. Look beyond the failures of the followers and
consider carefully the actual teachings (and recognise that the
followers, NOT the Faith, failed and brought trouble and harm). Take
another, somewhat less jaundiced view of Christianity, and see the good
it has done around the world through its education and literacy
programmes; social welfare and practical care of the aged, the sick, the
suffering, the underprivileged, the needy and the social outcasts; its
medical contributions and often selfless service in the care of the sick
- including such socially stigmatised illnesses as leprosy and AIDS; its
many activities in raising the worth and dignity of individuals in
numerous situations and circumstances. To deliberately fail to
acknowledge these positives and focus only on the failures of the
followers is unbalanced, naïve or deliberately dishonest.
All of us, in our dealings with others, as well as
our dealings with history, need to carefully examine as much of the
evidence as is available - and even then we need to reserve our
judgement and be cautious in case we end up revealing both arrogance and
ignorance. We all need to genuinely try to be well-intentioned,
well-informed, thoughtful, fair and honest.
