Inflammatory Comments

Yesterday I read an interview of Sam Harris in the Sun magazine. Sam is the author of the bestselling book, The End of Faith, who postulates that religion is at the root of many of the world’s issues, particularly war, and that we ought to have less tolerance for those who believe in what he calls ‘mythology’. I have to say I’m with him on breaking the mythology- it does seem a bit ridiculous to believe so literally in a virgin birth. But I’m not interested in fighting about that one today. I’m not even interested in discussing the idea of less tolerance, which seems like a questionable scheme. I am interested in how this mythology is related to a chain email that I received the other day entitled “Let’s Say I Break into Your House”.
I will admit that most of my friends are liberals, so I’m always shocked when people think to send me patriotic, god-fearing propaganda. I expect it from my Dad, but not my friends. This chain email compared someone breaking into your house and wanting to stay (even though they did the dishes and made your bed) to an illegal immigrant entering the country and taking a job as a maid. Granted, it was a clever analogy. They made very good points if you believe that Americans (note the capitol A for American- say it and be proud!) are the only ones entitled to a nice big house that uses way too much electricity, simply because they were born in this country. See, I’m getting all riled up here. That is not what I meant to do.
I meant to discuss our mythologies. Sam Harris says that we are more likely to fight over religion than even politics. Harris suggests we can be sensible when it comes to disagreeing about many things, but “discourse breaks down on the subject of God, because this is the nature of dogma: it’s the thing you’re certain about but refuse to talk about, because your certainty is ill-founded.” (p. 13)
It is this steadfast belief in our own mythologies that feed into our sense of entitlement. That is the biggest problem I see in America today: Entitlement. The world owes everyone in America something, and God is going to help them get it. I saw a gigantic red pickup truck yesterday with decorative running lights and scrolling letters appliquéd on the back windshield that said “Powered By God”. What does that mean? God came down and fueled your vehicle? God paid your car bill last month? There was also an American flag waving on the antenna.
What I’m wondering is, how does identification with a God make people feel that they deserve more than, say, a Mexican? Is it the old Protestant/Catholic debate rearing its ugly head? Every once in a while, just turn on TBN, the religious channel (yes, that is what we do around here for fun some nights) and listen to what they’re preaching. Listen to what they are selling to the public: the idea that God is on the side of America. God loves those that give themselves up to him- that is, the Christian God. No other God, just the Christian one.
I do understand people wanting to keep what they have worked really hard for, I do. I’ve worked hard all my life, but I think it would do us all some good to share. I try to imagine working as hard as I do and still going home with pennies at the end of the day. I don’t have the answer to immigration issues, but I do know that spreading hate emails is not going to help. I do know that holding on with all your might to the material objects that you own is not going to help anything (you know, at the end of the movie the greedy guy always buys the farm).
Here’s how the email ends:

“Why can't people see how ridiculous this is?! [allowing immigrants in]
Only in America....If you agree, pass it on (in English).
Share it if you see the value of it as a good simile.
If not blow it off along with your future Social Security funds.”

Oh, I’m beginning to think that Sam Harris is right. Maybe we shouldn’t be so tolerant.