Quite the Useful Term, Christianism

I just may be slow, but I came across the term "Christianism" in a recent blog post and it caught my eye. The link is here: CHRISTIANISM REDUX. 


The concise definition he gives is: "the fusion of politics and religion for the advancement of political goals." Nifty, eh?

World Trade Center Cross - Should It Stay?

If you haven't heard, recently a steel beam cross has been erected at the site of the World Trade Center as a memorial. It's set to become a permanent exhibit at the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. So the American Atheists have filed a formal complaint to have the cross removed (Atheist group wants to stop World Trade Center cross).


However, proponents claim the cross wasn't chosen because it represents Christianity, but because the symbol "provided comfort to so many people - it is a part of the history of the space." - Joe Daniels, President of the Memorial Foundation. As an interesting point, the cross-shaped girder was left standing in the midst of the wreckage, which is the why the symbol has gained fame (which makes sense given how buildings are constructed).


 He also went on to state that steel girders of other Eastern religious symbols would be part of the museum as well. Plus, proponents have stated that no complaints or concerns were filed during the discussion process. Does that matter here?


This has to do with the issue I brought up in my previous post of an "atheocracy" America's Atheocracy?. Should the government be indifferent towards religious expression in the public sphere, or should it seek to squelch religion expression in the public sphere? What do you think? How is an American Christian to view this?

America's Atheocracy?

I'm not sure if the author coined the term or not, but I read an interesting article by Denver Bishop James D. Conley where he used the term "atheocracy." The article is found here, http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2011/07/americarsquos-atheocracy

I share here a few excerpts:


But as we celebrate this Fourth of July, we need to recognize that some of the deepest problems in our public life can be traced to our collective neglect of America’s great founding document.

Is Jesus' Kingdom Political?

Joel at Unsettled Christianity made a great post about the political implications of our Baptism and the Eucharist:

http://thechurchofjesuschrist.us/2011/06/the-bible-as-a-political-book/

Now, I of course wouldn't limit Baptism the Eucharist to what he states there (nor do I think he would, either). However, as he's getting at, I think too often there's been this tendency in Christianity today to think, "God's up there in heaven doing his thing and preparing a place for me while I'm down trying to get as many people to come with me as possible."