Christians and multiculturalists

Tim Tebow is a football player who openly expresses his Christian beliefs, and has thus become a polarizing figure -- beloved by Christians, often attacked by progressives, quite apart from his achievements on the field.

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Many people who identify themselves as Christians feel under siege. This poster is an expression of their sense that multicultural “political correctness” has become a cudgel to beat them into silence. Justice Alito, in the recent Supreme Court case on gay marriage, expresses the same basic fear that “Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy,” will be “vilified”,  driven to “whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes.”

I do not agree with the opponents of the Court's decision, but I think they have a point. On one hand, the public recognition of gay unions is, from the perspective of community and trust, a great step forward. It opens a new realm of relations, and makes it possible for more people to develop their full capacities as contributing members of society. This is part of broadening relations, essential in an increasingly complex society.

But many “progressives” in the cosmopolitan centers -- and I am one of them -- are not consistent in our embrace of multiculturalism: we don't include those with whom we disagree. We too easily associate Christianity with ignorance and  intolerance; we denigrate it, laugh at it. We celebrate the Supreme Court decision as a victory -- not just an advance, but a triumph over opponents who are (we think) stupid and out-of-date. stereotyping, Within our own circle, we unthinkingly lump all Tebow-supporters as a caricatural  bunch of intolerant boors. We engage in smirking exchanges with our own tribe - “See how foolish they are? See how wise we are?”

In that sense we do indeed preach a “new orthodoxy.” And to the extent that multiculturalism becomes orthodoxy, it perpetuates what it is trying to overcome.

The Court's decision is not a victory over regressive opponents, a win for our side: it is a chance to expand the dialogue and the range of human expression. When we treat it as a triumph in a battle, we diminish the whole process.

We should state clearly how a consistent multiculturalist point of view applies here:

1. Tebow, and those who support him, should not be expected to keep their beliefs to themselves, or to “whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes.”

2. If I see their beliefs as intolerant, we should talk about it.

3. If they see my beliefs as a new orthodoxy, we should talk about that.

4. We all need to accept both sides of the problem implied in the poster. If Jenner supporters should try to understand Tebow, then Tebow supporters should try to understand Jenner. Christians and multiculturalists, in their own circles, can be challenged to listen.

It’s not that this approach will lead magically to agreement. Some people believe at a very deep level in marriage as a union of male and female; a smaller number believe deeply that homosexuality is inherently sinful. They do not see themselves as bad, and they will fight with fury -- as would any of us -- against those who laugh at them or tell them they are morally wrong. They will not change their essential point of view, which is embedded in a complex web of philosophical, creedal, and historical perspectives.

We can, however, expect that consistent respect, true conversation, may enable us to better live together despite the divide, to work together, to walk together; to have some sympathy with each other even though we disagree; to have some care for each other despite the differences. That would help a great deal in healing our fractured society.