The Problem...

So, I took a quiz here called "What type of Christian are you?" These were the results:
Jerry Falwell Christian(a.k.a. "Historicist" or "Literalist")
You view the Bible as historically accurate and divinely inspired. You go to church every Sunday, with the Good Book in a Bible cover, and Wednesday night for Bible study. You've read at least one of the books in the apocalyptic "Left Behind" series, prefer your iced tea very sweet, and suspect Bill Clinton has murdered somebody somewhere in Arkansas. You're furious that people actually believe "The Da Vinci Code" and have bought a book debunking the novel. You wept uncontrollably all three times you went to see "The Passion of the Christ" and have ordered the DVD in bulk to give copies to friends. You may watch Eternal Word Television Network, and you adore Dr. Laura, Chuck Colson, James Dobson, and Rush Limbaugh. You enjoy some episodes of "Joan of Arcadia" but think it's not reverent enough--"Touched by an Angel" was better. If you're Catholic, you go to Latin Mass and weekly confession, though you don't have much to confess. You think homosexuals are sinful but try periodically to love them. You think the surrounding culture is so polluted that you shop at Christian bookstores, listen only to Christian radio and send your kids to Christian or parochial schools--or homeschool them. You give generously to your church and Christian charities. The Bible provides you not only a direct connection to God but a roadmap for how to lead your life.

Apparantly, believing that much of the Bible is literal automatically associates me with a number of stereotypes that make me either angry, or simply make me want to cry. This is the challenge my generation faces, and I think it is the reason we are so concerned with being "relevant." Honestly, I just get angry when I read something like this, especially on a website like "BeliefNet" that is supposed to be positively promoting a variety of religions. Anyway, I'd like to respond to this one!

Just for clarification - I do go to church every (well almost) Sunday, and Bible study on Tuesdays. I don't however carry my bible in a cover specifically designed for that purpose. My Bible is held together with duct tape, because, while I have a nice new one, I like the old one with all my notes and underlining in it. I have never read any book in the "Left Behind" series - I don't really devote much time to considering how the world will end. I'm more interested in living right now than I am in speculating and worrying about the future. I have nothing particularly against Bill Clinton, although I am rather tired of the type of political scandal he seems to symbolize. I could care less what people think about the Da Vinci code (which I also haven't read) except that it annoys me slightly that people in our "enlightened, intelligent culture" don't seem to know the definition of "fiction". I did see the Passion of the Christ, and it did impact me, and I did cry. However, I saw it only once, I didn't weep uncontrollably, I have not purchased it for anyone, and I will probably never watch it again. Dr. Laura is amusing in very small doses, Charles Colson writes some intelligent and insightful commentary on the Christian worldview (although slightly too conservative for me), James Dobson mostly annoys me (a friend saw a bumper sticker in Colorado Springs that said "Focus on Your Own D**N Family! - I just about died laughing when he told me), and I'm not even sure who Rush Limbaugh is. I loved almost every episode of Joan of Arcadia (I mean, who wouldn't be fascinated by a God that appears in physical form - and He said some pretty important stuff to Joan), and while I occasionally watched Touched by an Angel, it was generally too sappy and full of happy endings for my tastes. I try to love homosexuals more than periodically - in fact, I wonder why their sexual orientation has anything to do with me loving them or not. Aren't we commanded to love everyone? Hello, literal Bible reading people! I think the surrounding culture has an awful lot of positive things to offer, as well as some very negative things, and while I do shop at Christian bookstores, my book and music and clothing and entertainment spending is by no means limited to "Christian" products. I'm really bad at remembering to tithe - although I'm trying to work on that. The Bible is the Word of God, but He speaks to me directly too. And yes, I was homeschooled for about seven years, and would possibly homeschool my own children someday, but it has a whole lot more to do with freedom of decision, and my gratefulness for the time my mom invested in us, than in a need to "protect" my kids from the "evil" culture!

Joy and Sorrow

I got another great bit from Henri Nouwen in my email again today... so, here it is!

Our Spiritual Parents
Joy and sorrow are never separated. When our hearts rejoice at a spectacular view, we may miss our friends who cannot see it, and when we are overwhelmed with grief, we may discover what true friendship is all about. Joy is hidden in sorrow and sorrow in joy. If we try to avoid sorrow at all costs, we may never taste joy, and if we are suspicious of ecstasy, agony can never reach us either. Joy and sorrow are the parents of our spiritual growth.