In what appears to be an effort not to fall behind in the victimization arms race, Vatican leaders are trying to push for international adoption of the term "Christophobia," an analogue to something like anti-Semitism or homophobia. Conservative evangelical Christians in America try to use the label against efforts to enforce church/state separation and maintain a secular government.
There's no question that some Christian communities in the world are persecuted; much of the persecution-rhetoric, however, tends to come from Christians living comfortable lives in nations where they have more religious freedom than most others in the world. Indeed, Christians complaining about the "intolerance" of secularism enjoy far more religious liberty than even Christians did while living under Christian rule -- during, say, the Middle Ages or the Renaissance.
One problem with the notion of "Christophobia" is the fact that it literally means "fear of Christ" and this is precisely how it is intended by some Christians using it. Thus, rather than a label for those who persecute and discriminate against Christians, it's actually a theological term for those who for some perverse reason oppose the love and salvation of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus is loving and offers a free gift of salvation, anyone who "fears" Jesus must have something wrong them psychological or emotionally.
Disagreement with Christianity is not Christophobia. Opposition to Christianity is not Christophobia. Criticism of Christianity and Christians is not Christophobia. Supporting strict church/state separation and secularism is not Christophobia. Even discrimination against Christians is arguably not "Christophobia," if it's supposed to mean "fear of Christ." A person who discriminates against Christians is a bigot, but not necessarily because they "fear Christ." They may not even believe in Jesus.
A major problem, then is how the label "Christophobia" gets used in multiple ways and has an ambiguous meaning. Unless Christians can be clear on what they mean, it's difficult to say for what, if anything, is valid behind the idea. Because the origin of the idea of Christophobia seems to lie more in attempts to justify or defend traditional privileges rather than out of concern for any genuine, organized efforts to suppress Christianity (as has been the case with Judaism and homosexuality), it's ultimately more likely that the concept should be rejected as invalid.
I had to look up Christophobia to see how the people who want to adopt it are defining it. The hits are telling. I found this article that seemed to focus on real persecution–at first. But by the end was claiming this:
http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/Christophobia.htm
>One tactic often used to silence Christians is ridicule. This encompasses everything from insults and name calling to character assassination.
This is where the author lost me. Ridicule doesn’t “silence” anyone–unless I’m talking over them as they try to speak. If you let me do and say what I want, and the only repercussion is that you say you think I’m a stupidhead for saying/thinking what I do–that’s not really threatening to me on the level of “silencing” me.
Also, “character assassination” is illegal if it’s done using false information. That’s called slander if it’s spoken, libel if it’s written. So, nobody in the U.S. can legally assassinate your character unless they’re doing so by describing things you’ve actually done and said. Not much of a problem that I can see.
Now, I can give my opinion that you’re a stupidhead–but that’s just an opinion–and other people can disagree with me and say, “He is not a stupidhead–you’re a stupidhead.”
Disagreement–even rude disagreement IS NOT silencing or attempting to silence anyone. That’s open, public dialogue–and it’s actually a good and healthy thing for a society. People _should_ disagree; people _should_ voice their disagreement. In fact, until they begin threatening to harm other people or actually harming them–nobody is being “silenced.”
If X fears being called stupidhead–and so won’t voice his opinions…that’s X’s phobia. No rational person could possibly believe that everyone else is going to think everything they say is brilliant. When I voice an opinion–it’s a _given_ there will be many, many, MANY people who are going to disagree with me–and probably think my belief is idiotic. If fear of being thought a fool “silences” anyone–then nobody would ever voice a belief or an opinion anywhere on the planet.
Maybe I’m Christophobic? But I definitely become afraid when someone says that my freedom of speech should be cut off so that they’re freedom of speech can be expressed unchallenged. Personally I think I have “They’re-gonna-strip-me-of-my-basic-Constitutional-Rights-phobia.” (But is it a “phobia” if there are actually people calling for it?)
A phobia is an irrational fear, but it is a very rational to fear the Christianism and the Christianification (another new pseudo term) of the United States.
This article is like “deja vu all over again”…
Given that ACTUAL persecution of Christians does happen in some parts of the world, what should that be called? Perhaps Christianphobia? But no, Christians here are not being persecuted. The Christian right thinks they’re being persecuted if they don’t get special privleges. They are rather like little kids in that way.
>Given that ACTUAL persecution of Christians does happen in some parts of the world, what should that be called?
How about Christian Persecution?
Isn’t that The American Way®?
My fear is of any gang of deluded people! I have been inside churches, mosques, and most of the historical/holy sites in Jerusalem…Being surround by people in these glassy-eyed trance-like states, most of them at mumbling, if not shouting, prayers or whatever, sure made ME uneasy. I felt like I was in a nut house.
If that’s a phobia, then guilty!
The way this whole religious zealot stance is I await the moment of Inquisition to arrive. It seems the only free speach available today is that of the “Christian” communities. I think they still have notions that the earth is flat, and that the earth is still at the center. Best one yet is the earth is only 6000 yrs old. What are they thinking?/Not!
Regardless of your position on Christianity, I do find it strange how opposition to Christianity has no label. Of course, being opposed to Jews is called antisemitism. Opposition to any minority is called racism. And lately we even have opposition to Islam being called Islamophobia. So tell me, what do we call one who is “opposed” to Christianity?
Why? What’s the label for being opposed to conservatism? For being opposed to liberalism? For being opposed to Utilitarianism?
Anti-semitism is much more than simply being “opposed” to Jews.
No, it’s not. Racism is about bigotry towards a group of people based solely on their race. Furthermore, notice that both of these examples involve people rather than an ideology. Is it really such a surprise that bigotry towards a class of people acquired a label while disagreement with an ideology has not?
Thinking your race is better than other races is racism, not “opposition to any minority”. It is specific to race and views of racial superiority.
Anti-government, anti-abortion, anti-islamist, anti-republican, anti-democrat, anti-anything. Lots of things don’t have special names. Its another example of christians wanting special treatment.
So would every non-christian religion therefore qualify as a christophic religion? I am so sick of christians pulling these ridiculous stunts time and time again. It got old a long time ago. A LONG TIME AGO!
And four years after the initial article, things have gotten even worse.
Tracie, I also have a steadily worsening case of “They’re-gonna-strip-me-of-my-basic-Constitutional-Rights-phobia.”
To the 300+ people who seem to believe “Christianity is increasingly persecuted and discriminated against, especially by secularists.”
Understand this: Persecution and discrimination is NOT, I repeat NOT, being told that you cannot force Christian ideology into public schools, government, women’s health, and/or American law.
You have your churches, your homes, and even the pubic to worship in whichever way you choose to.
There’s no freedom of speech being taken away from you.
Enforcing the law/fact that it is unconstitutional for any government body to openly endorse a religion is NOT persecuting, or discriminating against anyone or anything.
Seeing a billboard that reads “Are you good without God? Millions are”, is NOT being attacked, persecuted, or discriminated against in any way.
If you want to see persecution and discrimination, look at how your fellow American Christians treat non-believers, and the best example of all, how you treat those other followers of Abrahamic myth, American Muslims:
No, your new Mosque is not welcome here (even if the old one has been here for 30 years with no problems).
No, to offer Halal food in grocery stores or restaurants would be submitting to Sharia Law (even though anyone can get Kosher food anywhere despite the fact that America doesn’t submit to Judaic Law).
These whining claims of persecution are patently ridiculous, and your hypocritical butts are going to get called out on it every single time.
Which, of course, you will angrily (and falsely) cry, is being persecuted against.
I would definitely qualify as a “Christophobe”. Knowing what I know about Christians and experiencing what I have with them, I definitely want to get away from any Christian as soon as I can. In fact, in some overtly Christian circles, I feel physically ill if I have to listen to their bullshit stories for very long. I hate Christians and there’s nothing they can do to stop me from hating them. The ironic thing is: They’ve done this to themselves.
I would think Christophobia would be a fear of Christians which is certainly not an irrational fear given what Christians do around the world.
The persecution of Christians is pretty much something they have made up over the centuries.
Christian’s claim that the Romans persecuted them, throwing them to the lions and all that, but there is scant if any evidence to support that claim. Romans didn’t persecute other religions specifically they persecuted on the basis of political descent, challenges to the hierarchy or captured foes.
The Roman crowds wouldn’t have really been big fans of feeble Christians being killed without much of a fight.
That didn’t change until the Romans converted en mass after which it was one Christian group against another.
They love to claim they are persecuted in the ME and other non-Christian regions but they are no more persecuted than atheists, or other religious groups, are.
It is really just an excuse to whine and make claims that they should be legally protected by outlawing the free speech of others.
With luck, there must be Christianaphobia – in much the same way as there is Islamaphobia! ALL religion is evil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A phobia is an irrational fear. Since it is perfectly reasonable to fear those who are willing to use arms to further their agenda (witness that South Dakota politician’s attempt to decriminalize shooting doctors), it cannot be a phobia to fear what Christians are up to.