Near the end of his life, Karl Marx famously lamented, "I am not a Marxist." His words reflected a frustration with individuals and societies he thought had distorted the true message of his writings.
If Jesus returned to Earth today and found himself in America, would he say, "I am not a Christian?"
Would he look upon mega-churches, television stations and millionaire preachers and see his essence reflected? Would he rather visit an anti-gay rally or a homeless shelter?
Eighty-five percent of Americans call themselves Christian. When studying Israel, the official Jewish state (where 77 percent of citizens call themselves Jewish), it is necessary to understand Judaism. Following this logic, the consideration of religion in the United States is crucial to the study of its people.
Most Americans, whether conservative or liberal, believe that "religion is beneficial for society and for individuals." Given that the overwhelming majority of Americans consider themselves Christian, does an examination of our society validate this belief?
A study published in The Journal of Religion and Society on the correlation between religiosity and society found that, "In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies." Most would agree that these six factors are fair indices of societal health.
Interestingly, most of the same indices could be considered representative of America's level of sin and adherence to modern Christian doctrine. It is important to note that this study does not contest the notion that true religiosity is beneficial to society. It only measures the relationship between the percentage of individuals identifying themselves as religious and a nation's societal health. True religiosity is impossible to measure empirically.
Although the Bible is riddled with contradictions and ambiguity, Jesus' words do convey a clear message. If nothing else, righteousness in his eyes entailed a love of God and a compassion for all humans.
How does the United States live up to the standards set by Jesus himself? A Christian nation, by definition, should behave in a manner that is congruent with the teachings of Christ as written in the Bible.
Americans seem to be neglecting the lessons of their savior. In the United States, 18 percent of children live in poverty. Only 8 percent of children in Sweden, whose population is largely nonreligious, are poverty stricken. Ideas such as privatizing Social Security, eliminating welfare and a disdain for public health care are hard to justify from a Christian perspective. If church leaders spent more time inspiring volunteer service and charity in their congregations, and less time blaming others for the ills of society, the United States would be a far better nation. How can individuals call themselves Christian but not make great strides to help those in need?
Consider the fact that 75 percent of us believe that "God helps those who help themselves" is a lesson from the Bible. Wouldn't that be a relief if it were? Imagine if Jesus had uttered these words, rather than Benjamin Franklin. It would certainly help to ease the tension between selfish desires and righteousness. Instead, many Christians in the United States choose to adopt this creed as if it was uttered by their savior on the cross.
Living in a fully righteous manner in accordance with Jesus' true philosophy would mean giving up the American way of life.
Instead, many self-professed Christians choose to deny the incompatibility of the humble, selfless path of Jesus with the Smithian doctrine of self-help and prosperity.
Capitalism, and the mentality that it espouses, stand in stark contrast to any serious interpretation of Christ's words. Passages like, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," all but preclude anyone from being simultaneously wealthy and pious. Even so, many challenge the accepted meanings and translations of scripture in order to make their otherwise reprehensible actions and values seem Christian in nature.
The problem with Christianity is that it is irreconcilable with the American dream. For centuries, humans have been yearning for a way to synthesize religion with principles the Bible has been used to justify every imaginable human tendency and system of rule. Allusions to the public good are ignored, while the most damning passages are highlighted and used to stir up hate to reinforce self-serving ideologies.
No one is perfect. It is simply human to occasionally act in a way that contradicts one's values. Even the most faithful are sometime led astray by the undeniable forces of temptation and greed. Yet, at the very least, a true Christian must actually believe the words of Jesus.
As written in Leviticus, his message is clear: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." To be a Christian, compassion must remain a central tenet of one's belief. Even the most cursory examination of scripture will reveal this, while more thorough readings reaffirm the same underlying principal.
If America is a Christian society, one should be able to see true Christian values in the actions of the nation and the people comprising its citizenry.
Greenleigh is government sophomore.
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