A couple years ago, I wrote an essay about how atheists view religion, and last night some family friends came over. We had a lengthy and fruitful debate about a variety of topics, but one of which was about how Christianity is starting to decline in the United States. Our friends were about as excited about the decline as I was, and although we used different language (I was speaking in Foucauldian terms, he historical/religious), we both agreed that the decline would help restore the authenticity of religious faith.
In my previous essay (link above), I had written that atheists find it difficult to view religion as an authentic mode of belief because it was the dominant power structure, adding that demagogues had hijacked it, making it incredibly difficult to distinguish between actual Christians and those who were either along for the ride or who used it to conveniently justify their own prejudices.
Christianity's popular decline will force two things to happen: Being a Christian (think of Heideggerian connotations) will be more difficult as the religion evolves to cope with shifting demographics, and widespread acceptance of previously maligned minorities, forcing religious believers to rethink what believing really means. Many Christians are already inspired toward social justice and positive social change through their religious belief, so these, I would go so far as to say, are already ahead, but those who favored discrimination will have to quickly make amends or be abandoned. Furthermore, those who have been defeated on this and other issues will face the most daunting theological challenges as their positions not only fail to satisfy the needs of their constituents, but also fail to sway outsiders to their cause. No longer can simply calling one a "Christian" be sufficient when expressing prejudiced opinions, but it also can no longer shield one from ridicule or rejection; no longer do those calling themselves Christians automatically gain moral high ground for otherwise unpopular and xenophobic opinions.
The second thing that will happen is that Christianity will be forced to cope with competing ideologies, and must quickly learn to play nicely with others. Immediately following 9/11, the leaders of the Christian Conservative movement moved to assert power and began attacking, both verbally and legislatively, a whole swath of minority groups that they had previously battled. Jerry Falwell, on the 700 Club the day after 9/11, listed virtually every non-Christian minority and placed direct blame on them for the WTC attacks simply by virtue of not being in line with his narrow ideology. This trend continued unabated to the present day, with the Christianists (in conversation, I regrettably reverted to "Christians" as a gross generalization. Old habits die hard) acting largely with impunity, passing same-sex marriage bans across the nation, injecting their own brand of bad theology into science classrooms, and wielding undue influence on public school reading material and sex education. The latter has yet to be corrected. Through it all, this large group of Knights Templar employed xenophobic rhetoric unbecoming of a movement connected--supposedly--to such an altruistic figure, and this rhetoric largely went unchallenged for a good span of time until the oppressed (specifically the LGBQ* community) organized and began to gain sympathy for their cause. Because of the success of the LGBQ community and the hateful rhetoric of the Christianists, people--especially Millennials--saw the Christianists for what they were and came out, regardless of their own sexual identities, in support for LGBQ rights.
What further complicates the issue--and also further incentivizes support for minority causes--is that many LGBTQϟ people once were and/or want to be religious. This is a very important phenomenon. While I myself don't quite understand it--I don't understand why African Americans are religious either, but that's neither here nor there--it takes some serious frakking guts to want to be open to religious belief after what they've been through. There is a very unique opportunity being given to religious belief here, and were religious leaders to take it, LGBTQ Christians would not only help proliferate the religion like no one else could, but also do wonders for helping certain Christian communities resemble, to a significant degree, what it was when it first started. But there is a caveat to be established, a certain warning to be sounded, because it is at the same likely that religious leaders may still view LGBTQ people with disdain: the unfair and equally condemning "Hate the sin, love the sinner" refrain, which is merely thinly-veiled contempt.
At this point, I feel I should address why I wrote this essay. If I'm an atheist, what interest do I have in the issues facing a demographic I am no longer a part of? In the 11 years I've spent studying and following this issue, the less sure I can be that it's the fault of Christianity itself. Furthermore, I don't think it's quite fair to leave those who are open to change in the religious community in the dust. There are people who are called to social justice and are really trying to make Christianity resemble its original intentions, instead of using it as a platform for their own prejudices and a weapon of disenfranchisement against people they don't understand.
We would be better off if we take the opportunity to get involved, to--forgive the metaphor--reforge their swords into plowshares. A mutual understanding benefits everyone in our society and allows everyone to get what they want. My real hope is that there is something beyond simply fending off the Christianists every election cycle, a way out of the mutual distrust we have felt for one another for so long.
Don't forget, also, that we may get something out of such an exchange: We receive the recognition and the respect we need, leading to the expansion of minority rights, among other issues that we care about. I personally want to restore NASA's budget, boost science education in public schools, and counteract global climate change. There are many on the other side of the religious divide that are more than willing to join us on these initiatives. Theological evolution? Sure, I'll take it, as long as the science remains intact. Christians are also called to be "good stewards" of the Earth, and thus have a divinely-mandated duty to stop climate change. Let's get them on board!
There is another reason why we should come to an understanding: The debate itself is so much fun!
*: The transgender/transsexual communities continue to get shafted by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer community, so their struggle continues. So little is still known about them by outsiders, and they are still unfairly delegitimized by greater society. I am leaving them out only because they have not yet gained full recognition and are still fighting. I am personally sympathetic to their cause.
ϟ: I will include them here because I am not discussing the civil rights movement
