Monkey Town

I mentioned "Evolving in Monkey Town" in my last blog. I thought about rereading it or at least part. It is as interesting as I remembered. I don't know how I came across it. I had never heard of the author before I read it, but she became quite well known. Her passing last week was in the news.

The book is about her growing up in a Christian home and herself being pretty much a 100%  committed Christian who then began to have some doubts. It is honest and, at times, troubling. Here is one of the things she has doubts about.

She talks about a lady in her town where she grew up. June was a totally committed Christian - at least by most people's standards. At church every Sunday, singing hymn solos at special events, countless letters to the editor on religious topics, etc. She was full of love. Unless you had certain characteristics, then she let loose with her righteous anger. She tore down other religions, other races. On Martin Luther King Day, she put up a sign saying, "Nice shot". I think you get the idea. Anyway that caused problems for the author, Rachel.

I thought about all this as I listened to June sing under the golden arches that night about being in heaven for then thousand years, "bright shining as the sun." When the hymn concluded, she closed her eyes and said, "Thank you, Jesus," which was followed by an obligatory "amen" from a smattering of seniors in the crowd. A I wondered for a moment what on earth God does with people like June when it comes time for judgment. She's certainly not the only one who professes the name of Jesus Christ in one breath and then curses her neighbor in the next. Is that profession enough to save her? Is it worth more to God than the faith of a Buddhist or Hindu or Muslim who practices kindness and compassion? 

Like I said, honest and troubling.