Century marks

Christian Century, July 12, 2003

NEW TESTAMENT POLITICS: As a Republican congressman, Bob Riley was a Bible-quoting conservative who opposed nearly all legislation supported by the liberal Americans for Democratic Action. But as governor of Alabama he's pushing a tax reform package that shifts the burden of taxation from the poor to wealthy individuals and corporations. And he is making the case for tax reform on moral and biblical grounds, arguing that the Bible opposes oppressing the poor. Alabama's tax structure is wildly regressive: those who earn less than $13,000 pay 10.9 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes, compared to 4.1 percent for those with incomes over $229,000. "I've spent a lot of time studying the New Testament," says Governor Riley, "and it has three philosophies: love God, love each other, and take care of the least among you. I don't think anyone can justify putting an income tax on someone who makes $4,600 a year." The state Christian Coalition has yet to take a stand on the reform proposal--which will go to a popular vote in September--although it has opposed the tax increases in the plan. The group's president pointed to Jesus' statement about rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, saying that the key question is: "How much is Caesar's?" (New York Times, June 10).

Whats a PARENT TO DO? Books on parenting tend to dole out contradictory advice: Let babies cry themselves to sleep; pick them up when they cry. Push children to read early; they will read when they are ready. The problem with all these books, says Dr. Frances Stott of Chicago's Erikson Institute, is they assume that what parents need most is information, whereas what they really need is support. Perhaps the best advice is contained in Always Kiss Me Good Night (edited by J. S. Salt), which includes advice culled from children themselves, ages eight to 11. For instance: "Encourage me. Listen to me when I am talking. When I'm crying say nice things. If I get in trouble let me face the consiquences [sic].... Sometimes can you play with me instead of saying no? Read to me (even though I can read)" (from Financial Times, June 14/15).

LOST AND FOUND: Thirty-seven years ago Time magazine asked on its cover: "Is God Dead?" More recently, Time's European edition (June 16) asked: "Where did God go?," which ponders what has happened to Christianity in Europe, where few people go to church anymore and the Christian faith has a minority status. Only in Ireland, Malta and Poland do more than half the people go to church weekly. More than half of those polled in France, Britain, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands say that religion is not important to them. Few European states have established churches any longer, and in two that do--Norway and Britain--there is pressure to disestablish them. With 37 million Muslims living in Europe, Christianity can no longer claim "official status" anyway. Still, the Christian faith is not dead. It has become more inward and private. Institutional religion is alive and well in some sectors, especially among immigrant populations. And each year more than 100,000 people, especially youth, make the trek to the Taize community in France where worship happens thrice daily. And the Alpha program, a 15-session introduction to Christianity, has spread to 38 countries in Europe with 5 million alumni.

UNREAL EXPERIENCE: Forest Hill Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, simulated the experience of a persecuted church for its youth group. The youth had their way to church blocked by emergency vehicles and were told they needed to sneak into the church. Once inside they were accosted by men in black, the lights went out and one adult leader was in tears. While they read the Bible by flashlight, they heard the sound of gunfire and several men in gas masks rushed in. The youth were then blindfolded, handcuffed, taken away in a truck and told they had "one chance to deny Christ, or you will be killed." When they refused, more gunshots and the youth were splattered with water, apparently to simulate the "faithful response" of some of their peers. When one young person began screaming and crying, she was released. But her family has filed a lawsuit against the church, alleging that she had painful and permanent injuries to her wrists and knee as well as severe and permanent mental and emotional trauma leading to nightmares and bad grades. The pastor says there was no yelling or abuse as part of the simulation and that the youth were given plenty of instruction about what was going to happen. "I didn't notice any of the young people being afraid," he said (ChristianityToday.com, June 16).

INTERPLANETARY LIFE? Not so long ago astronomers looking for planets with life on them were less popular then if they had confessed to having a foot fetish. Now scientists believe that, with more powerful telescopes and computers, we are likely to discover an earthlike planet in the next ten years. Just since 1995 more than 100 planets orbiting nearby stars have been discovered. One astronomer says there are easily 10 billion planets in our galaxy alone. Of course, if scientists discover earthlike planets, the drive to go there will be tremendous--an expensive and time-consuming enterprise (USA Today, June 4).