Christianity versus Democracy

Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola has my vote for this week's Satan Incarnate. He's not so different, really, from the Catholic hierarchy in this country, particularly Archbishop (now Cardinal) O'Malley of Boston and our own Cardinal George of Chicago, both of whom lobbied (illegally, be it known) against gay rights. Akinola is just more outspoken, because repression plays well in Africa.

Archbishop Peter J. Akinola, primate of the Church of Nigeria and leader of the conservative wing of the communion, recently threw his prestige and resources behind a new law that criminalizes same-sex marriage in his country and denies gay citizens the freedoms to assemble and petition their government. The law also infringes upon press and religious freedom by authorizing Nigeria's government to prosecute newspapers that publicize same-sex associations and religious organizations that permit same-sex unions.

Were Archbishop Akinola a solitary figure and Nigeria an isolated church, his support for institutionalized bigotry would be significant only within his own country. But the archbishop is perhaps the most powerful member of a global alliance of conservative bishops and theologians, generously supported by foundations and individual donors in the United States, who seek to dominate the Anglican Communion and expel those who oppose them, particularly the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. Failing that, the archbishop and his allies have talked of forming their own purified communion -- possibly with Archbishop Akinola at its head.

Because the conflict over homosexuality is not unique to Anglicanism, civil libertarians in this country, and other people as well, should also be aware of the archbishop and his movement. Gifts from such wealthy donors as Howard Ahmanson Jr. and the Bradley, Coors and Scaife families, or their foundations, allow the Washington-based Institute on Religion and Democracy to sponsor so-called "renewal" movements that fight the inclusion of gays and lesbians within the Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches and in the United Church of Christ. Should the institute succeed in "renewing" these churches, what we see in Nigeria today may well be on the agenda of the Christian right tomorrow.

This is something deserving of more thought, but it raises an idea that's been at the back of my mind for a while: the Abrahamic religions can very easily become anti-democratic and work to the destruction of Western culture. I realize as stated some people will see that statement as incendiary, but I think there is more than a little truth to it. (Note that the law that Akinola supports is very similar in concept, at least, to the notorious Proposition 2 that was passed in Colorado some years back and found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, which advanced the radical idea that the state cannot summarily remove a group of citizens from the political process without a damned good, rational reason.)

In bare outline, take a religion that is based on belief in received wisdom, received, mind you, from an unassailable source -- God. These are religions that originated in societies in which hierarchy and obedience to authority were the norm, the idea of the king as a god and a priesthood who were the only ones able to mediate between God and the people. Tack on the rather bizarre idea that the holy writings are literally factual in all respects (granted, that originated with a splinter group, but seems to be gaining currency as rational thought falls more and more into disfavor).

Now, plop that down into a social system based on the rule of laws arrived at by rational, open discussion and consensus -- government by the governed. Authority rests in the will of the people (as restrained by their founding principles), with mechanisms to assure that all viewpoints can be heard and all citizens have equality under the law.

Now, ask yourself, what, in the United States, is most under assault right now? It is guarantees of freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, privacy, and the right to make personal decisions without government interference. And where are these attacks coming from? Mostly from the so-called "Christian" conservatives, who also support the likes of Peter Akinola as he uses his influence to destroy the Anglican Church and turn Nigeria into a theocracy. (Granted, the radically PC left also has a grudge against free speech, but they're pretty laughable as a force in American society at this point.)

So, in essence, Christianity as espoused by its conservative elements (most of them, at least -- there are notable exceptions) is un-American. Even anti-American.

A bare sketch, but certainly worth some thought.