I Grieve

This week, a friend from church's mother died.  Though I never met her, I grieve for him and for his family.  It made me think of my own family, and loved ones we have lost in the past few years.  And so, I grieved anew for the loss of my loved ones, and for those who were even closer to those who have died than I, and the continual ache that such loss of a spouse or child creates.

But this week brought a new reason to grieve as well.  This week Indiana passed its version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, sparking protest and commentary--most blasting my home state for doing so.  As an historian who studies religion, politics, and law in American culture, as well as a Christian, the passage of the act, the reaction to it, demands of me some reaction.  And yet, I always try and be measured and let things digest before I write something (a trait I picked up early in my professional career, which more people on this and other issues should adopt, but that seems unsuited for the world we live in).  While I contemplated, a pall was cast over the place I am (still) proud to call home.

I grieve for the fact that Religious Liberty, a fundamental right and freedom, has become for Americans in the twenty-first century, a political football, to be used and abused by both the Right and Left in our politics.

I grieve for those who feel that this new law will unleash hate and persecution.

I grieve for those who feel that without this new law they will face persecution.

I grieve for those caught in between these positions--good people unfairly tarred as bigots.

I grieve for the increasing litigious nature of American society.

I grieve for those who protested against and for those who defend the new law, blindly--without actually reading it.  Such willful ignorance, and it can be found on both sides, saddens the part of me that still cares for politics.

I grieve for those--including friends and businesses--who have called for a boycott of Indiana because of this law.  Not because of the economic impact such threats carry, nor for the political implications, but because they are targeting Indiana for having passed a law that over 30 other states have versions of, and that originated at the federal level.  While there are differences and equivocations that can be made about these versions of RRFAs, the fact remains that if Indiana's law is bad, so are these.  If there are to be boycotts, then be consistent and work to change the law.

I grieve for decline in journalism I have witnessed in the past few days.  In particular, one newspaper's decision to use quotation marks around "religious freedom"--as if that is something that is not real or a term to be used sarcastically.

I grieve for a culture where celebrity opinions are given equal, if not exalted, weight to elected officials.

I grieve that the very topic of religious freedom has divided Christians, rather than bringing us together with other people of various faiths.

And so, I grieve.  But as this Holy Week begins, with a glorious sunrise on this Palm Sunday, I know that grief is but momentary and temporary.  And so, I have hope.