The "R" Word:
What's Wrong With Religion?

Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true.
Blaise Pascal

Not long ago I heard a radio interview with a modern-day witch. It was half campy send-up, half New Age solipsism. The witch was there to “raise awareness” and the interviewer was in it to have some fun. Along the way, I learned some things. You’ll be relieved to discover that, although they still cast spells, modern witches are bound by a strict ethical code that forbids them from using their magic for evil purposes. It turns out that a coven of witches is one of the most supportive, self-actualized groups of people you will ever meet.

One thing this spokesperson on a broomstick wanted to make perfectly clear was that Wicca is not a religion; it’s a spiritual path. When she pronounced the word ‘religion’ I could imagine her lips curling down in disdain—and the interviewer seemed genuinely relieved to find that, as strange as these people were, at least they weren’t religious.

If there is one thing people can’t stand, it’s religion. Today, the word is synonymous with hypocrisy. Even among Christians, it is common to hear believers make a distinction between their own faith and mere religion. Every week I receive at least one brightly colored postcard from one of the local aspiring mega churches—the last one featured a pastor with goatee and Hawaiian shirt in one of those ridiculous Glamour Shot poses. The message is loud and clear: our church is not like, well, church.

Why do these people go to such lengths to disguise what church is all about? Because they know that men despise religion, and they don’t want men to despise them.

Pascal said man’s animosity toward religion is based on his fear that it might be true. In other words, religion is an offense because it makes moral claims on mankind. It sets a limit on an individual’s freedom—and that’s something we don’t put up with anymore. So the church has two options: to don our Hawaiian shirts and try to minimize the offense, or to admit what we are and face it head on. After all, if we follow Christ, men who hate Him ought to despise us, too. What does it say about us if His enemies get along fine with His bride?

According to Pascal, the answer to men’s spite is a ready answer. We must demonstrate that religion is not contrary to reason (as if the divine logos could be); instead, it is worthy of both reverence and respect. Next, he says we must make religion attractive, so that good men wish it were true—and then show them that it is. Pascal isn’t arguing for pop bands and tropical attire. Instead, we need a vigorous apologetic that emphasizes that our faith is worthy of reverence because it alone understands human nature (as any repentant sinner will admit). Our answer must also show the true Good promised by the faith—the reconciliation of God and man.

Let the Wiccans disavow religion, but as Christians, we ought to embrace the word and make it our own. Ours is the one, true Religion, serving as it does the only God and the one Savior Jesus Christ. Does it matter what the world thinks? Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel, and we should be proud of it, too.