Political rhetoric wrongly claims persecution of Christians in America

By K. Hollyn Hollman

Hollman Report
April 2006

The BJC, and others who share our commitment to religious liberty, has long been familiar with claims of "hostility toward religion," often used by those who have a very different understanding of the First Amendment. The assertions appear from time to time in political debates, analysis of court decisions, and sometimes even in judicial opinions. But lately, the declarations seem to be more prominent, even in areas where Christians make up an overwhelming majority of the population and hold most positions of power and influence. Strikingly, the charges are being recast as more than mere hostility, but as war.

The "War on Christians" was the theme of a recent two-day conference in Washington, sponsored by Rick Scarborough's "Vision America," an organization working to mobilize "values voters in 2006." The conference material included prominent conservative religious activists, as well as former majority leader Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas, and a few U.S. senators. According to news reports, the event featured personal accounts by those who believe Christianity in America is under attack by forces of secularism and pluralism. Examples ranged from an artist whose religious works were rejected from a city-sponsored display to a military chaplain who asserts he was persecuted by his commander's response to the content of a prayer at a memorial service.

The theme of the conference is not an isolated example. Such allegations demand a response. First, though it is tempting to dismiss such claims out of hand, we should always listen carefully and respond appropriately. Certainly, there are instances where Christians, even in this country, are treated unfairly. The desire to avoid conflict sometimes leads to an unnecessary repression of religious expression. While guarding against government advancement of religion, we also must ensure that "separation of church and state" is not used to quiet religious conversation. Often assertions are misleading, but at times we can learn a great deal from listening and even find common cause on issues of moral concern.

Second, when claims are patently false or obviously exaggerated, however, we should not hesitate to say so. When we fail to respond to misleading or unsubstantiated assertions in the media, such assertions receive an undeserved appearance of authority. While the contrast between the freedom Christians enjoy in America today and the experience of our forebears may seem obvious, we know that many Americans (including many Baptists) know little about the historical struggles for religious liberty.

Responding to outlandish claims offers an opportunity for education about the roots of religious liberty in American and Baptist experience. The BJC's day-to-day work is informed by our Baptist heritage and history. Our history includes the stories of early Baptists in England, and later in Virginia, who were jailed, whipped and banished from their homes because they practiced their religion. This history of persecution continues to inspire our commitment to fight for religious freedom for all and against laws respecting an establishment of religion. The careless use of persecution language to describe the state of religious liberty in America today demeans that history.

Finally, we should not ignore the blatant misuse of these claims for political purposes. In today's political environment, we are sure to find politicians eager to capitalize on the sentiment or inflame it for political gain. During the "War of Christians" conference, Delay was introduced as someone who had suffered greatly because of his Christian beliefs. In his remarks to the audience, he reportedly basked in a standing ovation after railing against the "enemies of virtue." The eagerness of elected officials to fan the rhetorical flames and claim virtue should be viewed with suspicion.

With mid-term elections coming up this fall, we are unlikely to see an end of the inflammatory rhetoric. The attendance at the recent conference, however, was far less than expected. As the country concludes its third year at war in Iraq, perhaps more Americans will reject attempts to make "wars" out of our religious differences at home and look for ways to exercise our freedoms responsibly through reasoned dialogue.