Christian privilege (America, church, atheist, Muslim)
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That's a very well-written article. It's very good at describing the structural advantages of a dominant religion in any society, and the ways in which it retains those structural and exclusive privileges at the expense of the Other.
That's a very well-written article. It's very good at describing the structural advantages of a dominant religion in any society, and the ways in which it retains those structural and exclusive privileges at the expense of the Other.
Also, below, an interesting Power Point, but I couldn't figure out how to copy the web address...so Google this: Thinking through Christian Privilege - CSUSM
I think the best evidence of Christian Privilege particularly in our part of the country is the inevitable "Have you found a church home" that you get from anybody you meet after you move to a new town.
Atheists don't get to go around saying "Have you figured out that God is just a figment of your imagination yet?"
It would be rude to do so. And any Christian would tell you that as would probably 99% of atheists.
But Christians don't see it as being rude when they ask about the "church home thing" even though it is really uncomfortable to deal with for non- believers. The funny thing is that Christians see it as a nice thing to do.
But Christians don't see it as being rude when they ask about the "church home thing" even though it is really uncomfortable to deal with for non- believers. The funny thing is that Christians see it as a nice thing to do.
I see it as social triangulation. Are you in-group or out-group? Are you a compatriot or a mark? Are you safe or unsafe? If 99% of the time the answer is the name of a church, then they probably don't worry much about the other 1% being offended.
Here's a parallel outside of religion. Ironically, by the lights of most Europeans, Americans are terribly boorish in that the first question out of their mouth tends to be, "so what do you do for a living"? I never considered this boorish or an attempt to shame anyone should they have a "lowly" job or something, it is just what I was socialized to do. But since most of the world finds that an impertinent question, I do it much less than I used to, and I never lead with it anymore. It's just a function of believing people when they tell you it makes them uncomfortable, and being respectful. Though to be honest I still think that the malfunction with it is less a matter of real faux-pas, than it is just what people are socialized to expect. In the US in "polite company" one never discusses religion or sex, and in the rest of the world, I guess they don't discuss work either. Probably because they don't look at work like we do, as some all-consuming source of identity and accomplishment. It is a necessary evil so they can get on with their actual life. We could learn something form that, lol.
Im agnostic, but it doesnt bother me that most people I encounter are Christian. I dont consider myself "unprivileged" because of it. Most countries have a main religion, or least they used to, so why shouldn't the US?
Do Hindu nations worry about their Hindu privilege? Do Muslim nations fret about their Muslim privilege? Should they?
It feels like every shred of culture and past historical norm is trying to be wiped out in the US. I realize we're called a "melting pot," but I do often wonder if other countries are ashamed of their culture and their various majority groups the way many Americans seem to be.
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