This last week has been a real eye-opener for me. As many of you know, my husband and I took our names off the rolls of our Southern Baptist church because they supported the Iraq War from the pulpit. They called us unpatriotic. I thought that would be apex of my disillusionment with the religious community.
No, it was not the apex. This week, while my husband was in the hospital I encountered something new.
Groups of young people roamed the halls of the critical care units, and they all wanted to pray with me. I pray in my own way, and I told them no. That led to their attempts to fill me with guilt over my lost soul. I was very upset and rather sickened at their numbers. More came along after they moved on. One man came carrying a bible with a flag stuck in it. He wanted to pray as well, I said no. I then said are you a minister approved by the hospital, he said no, he was doing God’s work.
When the man who delivers our bottled water came he was very nice, he put the bottles inside for me, very kind. Then he wanted to pray with me. I said ok, and he did. It was quite long, and very emotional. Then he gave me a huge hug in the name of Christ. I guess I should not disapprove, but it sort of bothered me since I don’t know him.
I was really not prepared for all those people roaming the hallways and wanting to pray. It apparently happens all the time. I know the water delivery man meant well, but that is mixing his religion with my grief and my needs. It is just not quite right.
Two incidents also stand out of a tough guy type of thing. A parking lot attendant yelled at me and came threateningly toward me for parking off to the side under a tree. It was not in the way, but he said it just was not done. I told him my husband had been brought in by ambulance unconscious, and asked him to back off. He kept yelling until others intervened and calmed him.
In ICU I arrived a few minutes late for visiting that night as I could not find parking. The huge male nurse told me I would have to wait two hours. I said the nurse had called me to bring some things he needed, and then he yelled even more….and he said he would report the nurse. I said report her, all my kids and I will report you. Finally he came back out and said I could have one minute. I said good, kick me out. Go ahead. He didn’t.
When did we get this tough guy mentality even in hospitals? When did this happen? Why?
I started to watch the NBC special this week on evangelical Christians. I had to turn it off as it disturbed me so to see young people jumping down and waving their arms. I hear Franklin Graham is on CBS tonight, but I don’t think I will watch.
We may have begun getting the truth out of this administration, per the Libby indictment. But that is only one battle we face. I think the fiercest one will be with the all-encompassing movement of the types I saw this week. I don’t think we have started this battle yet.
I think some of our own Democratic candidates are aiding this movement along with the anti-choice stances, and their lack of understanding about separation of church and state. I think that battle is going to happen sooner than later.
I know all the Baptist hymns by heart, I still cry when I hear Amazing Grace. I have all the music from when I was the church organist and pianist. But it is different now, not the same at all. I have the sheet music for the “Blind Ploughman”, and also for “How Great Thou Art”.
I determined this week that we will never donate to candidates who do not respect women as they should. I see the dangers lurking in all this pandering to the religious right. I will not donate to nor will I vote for any candidate who will not tell me he believes in separation of church and state. No equivocation, just plain answers.
I saw too much of the new religious right and their fervor this week.