He ain't heavy. He's my brother.

"It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother"  The Hollies, 1969


It is very common for American Christians to express concern for those Christians around the world who are being ostracized and otherwise persecuted for their beliefs.  These persecutions are very real and sometimes very deadly.  I do not want to minimize the fact that multitudes of people are persecuted and even killed because of their Christian beliefs.

To be completely fair though, I think we need to show concern for  those of other faiths who are persecuted by Christians for their beliefs or are harassed for having no religious convictions at all. This type of discrimination and abuse is just as prevalent in the United States as anywhere else in the world.

One of the most horrible persecutions at the hand of Christians happened in the early 11th century. Hundreds of thousands of European soldiers under the banner of the cross, massacred thousands of Jews, Turks and other "infidels" in the name of Jesus Christ. The soldiers were promised by the church that all of their sins would be forgiven and that they would inherit a prominent place in the eternal kingdom of God.  Does that sound familiar?

About 400 years later came The Spanish Inquisition.  During the next 300 years there was an organized and deliberate effort to purge all of Spain of non-Christians.  Spain was supposed to literally become a "Christian nation."The property and businesses of hundreds of thousands of "heretics" were confiscated and several thousand people were executed for not converting to Christianity. In the 16th Century, during the Protestant Reformation, Christian on Christian persecution was a common occurrence.

By now you're saying, "Well that was hundreds of years ago in distant parts of the earth. What does that have to do with any of us living in the United States today?  Christians in America aren't like that." Although the examples I will reference do not involve torture and death, they do, in my opinion, involve oppression by Christians of non-Christians.

Look no further than Topeka, Kansas and the Westboro Baptist Church.  Before you tell me that they are not really Christians, go to their website and read it for yourself. Right under the link for their "Picket Schedule"  is the link for their "Confessions of Faith".  If you open those links you will find several historical confessions of faith that are 100% quotes from the Bible.  They base their "God Hates Fags" protests and vitriol on their understanding of the Bible.  Who am I and who are you to suggest that they are not Christians?  Regardless of whether or not you accept this church as a Christian church, they base  their bigotry and hatred on the Bible and they protest under the banner of the cross of Christ. No matter who you and I think they are, they certainly think that they are Christians.

To call this "persecution" would be a little strong, but it is another example of confessing Christians imposing their will on people of other faiths. The Oklahoma City courthouse  has been under siege by non-Christian groups for years because of  a prominent monument of the Ten Commandments. The Christian argument has been something like "America was founded on the Bible, i.e. Christian values. Therefore it is appropriate for this cornerstone of American values to be prominently displayed at a court of law." The counter argument has been "America was founded on the Constitution and not on the Bible. The first amendment of the Constitution expressly forbids the establishment of any official religion. Granted it forbids the impediment  of the practice of religion, but the Constitution of the United States forbids government sanctioned religion of any kind including the Christian religion." When  The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster had all but won the right to erect their monument beside the Ten Commandments, the monument was removed in the dark of night.  But the story doesn't end there. Just last week a group of cowboy Christians from Topeka, Texas arrived on horseback to present their monument of the Ten Commandments to the governor of Oklahoma.  God bless America!

So what's my point?  My point is that over centuries and even today Christians aren't the only people who are persecuted for their religion.  Furthermore, over the centuries and today Christians have done their share of the persecuting.

All major world religions hold at least a couple of things in common.  First, at their core they teach human compassion and kindness. "While we're on the way to there, why not share?" may not be a direct quote from the Bible or the Qur'an, but both of these holy books contain that principle.  But also at the core are doctrines and statements of faith which can be used as tools and weapons.  According to the more zealous devotees of every religion, those who do not obey a strict interpretation of these commandments are subject to judgment and punishment in this life and the next. Sometimes that punishment can be martyrdom. These believers are more than happy to help their Supreme Being exact that penalty. The members of the Westboro Baptist Church do not define Christians, just as suicide bombers do not define Islam.

Jesus said, "My yoke is easy. My burden is light."  The Hollies sang "and the load doesn't weigh me down at all." Jesus also said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free."  I say, giving up judgment of other peoples' beliefs will be one of  most freeing thing you'll ever do. Yes, "It's a long, long road," but there is enough room on it for all of us.