“Comfortable Myths” And Why Christianity Isn’t One
Benjamin Corey
The other day I wrote a
post called Why I Couldn’t Be An Atheist Even If I Wanted To, where I wrote
about some personal reflections and emotions that I experience when I consider
the vastness and complexity of the universe. It wasn’t so much a post about
atheism as it was a post about what I feel– I’ve worked hard to build as
many bridges with atheists as possible, so I definitely wasn’t looking to pick
a fight when I wrote it. All in all, the response from my atheist friends was
kind and thoughtful, as usual. However, also as usual, there are a few who make
unhelpful comments– probably because they didn’t read this post before
commenting.
At this point in my life,
comments don’t bother me that much. Heck, I’ve got the religious right putting out books warning parents to keep their kids away
from my friends and I, so a stray comment usually doesn’t bother me
that much.
Except, one stayed with me
and I’ve been pondering it for days. The commenter was dismissive, calling my
belief system a “comfortable myth,” that they didn’t need.
Here’s what bothers me
about calling Christianity a comfortable myth: following Jesus isn’t all
unicorns and rainbows. If anything it has made my life more difficult and far
less comfortable than what it could be.
Comfortable myth? I wish
that were true. Here’s what a comfortable myth would look like to me:
“Do whatever you want. Take
care of number one, and don’t feel guilty about it. Live your life now– and
make sure you don’t shortchange yourself.”
That would be a comfortable
myth. That would be a narrative that would be easy. It’s even the narrative I’m
daily tempted to live, but fight with ever fiber in my being.
But the one I’m living now?
Nope.
For someone to say that
Christianity is a comfortable myth could only mean two things:
Comments
Post a Comment