Religion? Oy Vey.

These are interesting times to be a Christian. These are even more interesting times to be a Christian who is embracing the Jewish faith. We are living in a time of increased politicization among right wing evangelical Christians and a time of growing Islamophobia in our nation, and in our world.

It's no wonder that people harbor such hatred for the Christian faith. I hate to admit it, but I definitely talk shit about my fellow Christians. In fact, I dislike to recognize them as practicing the same faith that I do -- their Christianity doesn't look like my Christianity. Hell, even the term "Christian" burns me like acid. The name Jesus makes me cringe. And yet, this is a faith that I belong to and willingly except. It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, does it?

I suppose I would call myself a follower of Jesus. He's definitely not the one I take issue with. He had some pretty good things to say. So what do I call myself? A Follower of He Who Must Not Be Named? You Know Who? I feel like Harry Potter is going to jump out and accuse me of being a Death Eater.

But sometimes, that's what it feels like. Simply because I am an Episcopalian, because I grew up hearing stories about That Guy, we'll call him יֵשׁ֡וּעַ (Jeshua), I am associated with that dirty word. That word that means hellfire and brimstone. That word that means intolerance and ignorance. That word that means just plain stupidity for even thinking there was something else out there.

Now don't get me wrong, I am under no illusions that I am being or have even been persecuted for my faith. The plight of the Jewish and the Muslim people of the world is no where near comparable to my own.

So where do I stand? How do I deal with this small scale misunderstanding that, regardless of its size, seems to eat me to the core? What do I do when I am told that all Christians are just really bad Jews who do good deeds only so that they can get to heaven? What do I do when someone randomly points out to me that as a Muslim, they can practice Jewish rituals, but that Christian ones are completely off limits, and one of the worst things a Muslim can take part in?

To those who fear me or hate me because I am a Christian, I say: I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO BE CHRISTIAN! I DON'T EVEN EXPECT YOU TO BE RELIGIOUS! Believe in something, don't believe in something, that's up to you. But please don't try to single me out because my beliefs are different that yours.

I am simultaneously practicing Christianity and Judaism to the best of my ability. I have to live with the fact that it is going to be very difficult for me to find a community of people who believe the same things I do. I can't afford to be intolerant of differing beliefs. But even if I had the largest faith community in the world, I would learn nothing without the input of those who disagree with me.

It seems to me that there are so few people who understand, or who are willing to understand. We all have these preconceived notions of what a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Baha'i (I could go on) is and fundamentally believes. Maybe if we asked sometime, we would be surprised.

Anyway, that's my two cents for the time being.

Peace and Love,
AGW