You might argue that you care more for your child’s eternal destiny than for stepping on their poor little feelings, but I’ve seen enough kids suffering under the torment of bad (or badly handled) theology to know that hell doesn’t just exist on the other side of the grave. I shake my head in bewilderment sometimes when I see Christian parents attempt to instill in their kids a healthy sense of self on one hand while indoctrinating them to believe they are fundamentally flawed and will never be good enough on the other. And then stigmatize them for seeking therapeutic help thirty years down the road because of it! Not only do I consider the outcome of their belief on their personal well-being, but I also look for the effect it has on other people in their care.įor instance: Do they believe in the doctrines of eternal punishment and total depravity? If yes, and they have kids, how do they handle that theology with them?
This is especially the case whenever it seems to me that a person’s beliefs have potentially harmful psychological underpinnings. In other words, I like to challenge underlying assumptions that inform a person’s theology. Based on my experience so far, I think some Christians might consider me a heretic because I tend to care less about what a person believes than why they believe it.
The answer I gave for the interview was somewhat jumbled, but I’ve been reflecting on it ever since, and I think I’ve boiled it down to a satisfying elevator pitch. I’d love to see the responses some people would give to that question!Īll kidding aside, though, I do believe there is value in understanding how people perceive me.