Worldviews

How we see the world will show up in our writing. It has to, if we want to be honest about what we write. But what happens when our worldview is one that others mock? I’m not talking about when a story becomes so preachy it’s ridiculous. I’m talking about when what someone believes is mocked for no other reason than the person believes it.

Intolerance?

Perhaps.

But when members of your own worldview are considered intolerant, somehow the worldview is now fair game for ridicule. It’s like when someone on the Internet is trolling. Apparently, the rest of us reasonable people can troll them back simply because they’re trolls and have forfeited their rights to being treated decently. So, in a similar fashion, if a worldview has a history of “trolling” other worldviews, then it is somehow okay to go ahead and troll back, even if the person on the other end has and would never commit the atrocities others who profess the same beliefs as them have done in the past.

I, for one, would be terrified to tell anyone my worldview if it meant such treatment. Can you imagine hiding what you believe simply to avoid others lumping you into a category that you know you don’t belong in? And then, imagine the fear of writing anything honestly, because sharing a story is sharing your soul, and what others see of your soul may too easily stop at a label saying “I’m ____, therefore I am a bigoted, judgmental, homophobic, hypocritical, uncaring, intolerant jerk. Feel free to use me as your punching bag. In fact, here’s a reflection of the deepest part of me to tear to shreds. Enjoy.”

Anyone else feeling sick?


I am a Christian.

I believe that God created the world perfectly and with purpose and that Adam and Eve messed it up and tried to do his job for him. I believe that, because of what they did, they cut off the rest of humanity from God, and that our continuation of that alienation means we deserve death, but that God cared for us all too much to let things stay that way. I believe that he sent his son, Jesus, who is also God, to live a perfect life because we couldn’t and die in our place, so that we wouldn’t have to. I believe that Jesus defeated Satan and rose from the dead, breaking the power of death. I believe that Jesus set me free to live the life I was meant to live.

I am a Christian.

I believe that everyone is worthy of dignity and respect.
I believe that, no matter who we are or what we have done or thought or said or imagined, God cared so much for all of us that, when it seemed that we were going to be completely separated from him, he said “Over my dead body” and the least I can do is say the same.
I believe that the things that people have done in the name of God that have caused others to hate him are atrocious.
I believe that when Jesus said to his followers “They shall know you by your love”, he meant it.

I am a Christian.

Beat on me, mock me, mock my God, tell me why I’m such a fool for believing in him, burn my books, scoff at everything I have to say; I don’t care. I’m tired of hiding.




(this was first published at theasworld.doxa-canada.com/Blog)