Christianity, despite taking a bit of a ratings hit here in North America, is still one of the world’s major religions. More importantly, many of the students at UFV and citizens of Abbotsford in general claim Jesus Christ as their personal lord and saviour.
While Christians themselves see their personal faith as a positive influence, Christianity is often said to be a source of much conflict and intolerance throughout the world. I spoke with a real life Christian recently in an effort to better understand this often maligned yet endearingly spunky faith.
Q: What kind of Christian are you?
A: A raging fundamentalist […] In all seriousness, it pisses me off to see people hijacking my faith for their political agenda.
Q: How do you respond to people who say Christianity has been a major cause of war over the last 300 years?
A: This actually kind of ties into what I was saying in my last answer. Christianity itself isn’t a major cause of war over the last 300 years, but it has often been co-opted by political leaders to justify armed conflict.
Q: Sunday is the day of rest. Do Christians also take a rest from judging other people on Sunday?
A: I think most Christians see resting on Sunday as a gift, more than an obligation. It’s an excuse to take a much-needed break from all the stresses of the week and recoup. As for the judgement thing, sometimes Christians forget what Jesus said in Matthew 7:3-5: “Why do you stare at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
Q: Do you think the Valley’s agrarian outlook promotes Christianity, or is it mainly the immigrant thing?
A: To be honest, I don’t live in the Bible belt, and am neither a farmer, nor first generation Canadian so I’m kind of stumped.
Q: In a cage match who would win: Dawkins or Hitchens?
A: Hitchens has a bit of an edge because he’s younger and more spry. He’s also a little more aggressive in his anti-theist pronouncements, which could translate well in a fight, so I’d say 3:2 odds on Hitchens.
Q: Who had the bigger pipe, C.S. Lewis or Tolkien? Tobacco of course.
A: Smoking is a much more central part of Tolkien’s fiction, so I’m willing to bet that reflects his own habits.
Q: Are churches like giant committees for God? Are they as boring as a board meeting?
A: Budget meetings are the worst! Of course there are always administrative things that need to be taken care of and that’s never fun. We do have some people at my church who love to take care of that stuff, so if that’s the way they want to serve, more power to them!
Q: Does making a joyful noise for the Lord have a sexual connotation?
A: [laughs] Not particularly. But the Bible does celebrate sex in other passages. Ever read Song of Solomon?
Q: What do you say to people who view Christianity as an outdated belief system?
A: Some of the best ideas are the oldest. You shouldn’t dismiss something just because it’s been around for a while.
Q: Have you test-driven any other religions? Can I interest you in a 2010 Buddha?
A: I think it’s important to educate myself about other religions, their belief systems, and traditions. I make a point of reading a variety of holy texts like the Qur’an as well as commentary from atheists and those of world views different from my own to not only gain a better understanding of their position, but to continually challenge my own perspective. Some Christians can be very insular, but if what I believe is true, it will hold up under scrutiny and so far it has.
Q: What do you feel Christianity adds to your life?
A: So many things: moral guidance, a caring community of fellow believers, assurance of God’s providence, a measure of inner peace, fulfilment, and hope. I feel like being a Christian helps motivate me to want to be a better person and continually evaluate the way I lead my life. Christ’s central teaching was compassion. It’s what he displayed in his life and death and what he encourages in his followers.
Q: When did you become a Christian?
A: I was raised by Christian parents, but I really came to terms with my faith when I chose to be baptised as a teenager.
Q: Where do you go from here?
A: Well it is Sunday, so you can probably find me at Church.
