Dear Augustine,
One of the things that I appreciate about my parish is that while individual members might be politically involved [and for the most part bend more to the left]...usually, the church itself seems to stay out of politics. Or at least that's my perception. And perhaps it's just because I don't pay close enough attention. But that's just it--you can avoid political things.
It's such a stark contrast to the way I grew up, where not only was everything political, but it was entirely one-sided: there was no nuance, no discussion of differing perspectives, it was used to just stir up emotions instead of looking at things in a rational way. Trying to untangle a certain brand of politics from my faith has taken so long and been so difficult. And then I'm always trying to check myself, now that I'm on the opposite end of the political spectrum--am I sure that I'm not being irrational or just being manipulated from the opposite end now? I feel that stress whenever I'm back with people from my previous church life--because those discussions seem to pop up when you least expect it.
It all came unraveled a bit this evening, because apparently some of the leaders of my tradition are aligning against one of the propositions on a state ballot and were sending out email blasts about it, etc. I just want church to be the one place where I don't have to deal with politics, and don't have to constantly be disappointed or sitting there in silence--too upset to try and speak up to discuss my views or put out a counterpoint to something being said. And then being mad at myself later for not speaking up. It seems like a simple thing, and it is, but it's just one more place where I have to be a little bit more anxious now, a little more on my guard.
+Athena
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