Last month, the U.S. Army chaplains paid tribute to a Hindu holiday by posting a picture of the Nataraja, an image well known in Hinduism. It depicts the god Shiva in his “dancing” pose, standing with one leg raised and crossed over the other, and a small, troll-like beast crushed under his foot. It’s a beautiful image which symbolizes the Hindu philosophy of “victory over ignorance.”
Speaking of which — commenters weren’t too happy. They saw this post as an attack on Christianity and interpreted the Nataraja as a demon stepping on a child. Some defended the page, arguing that an Army chaplain’s job is to defend all faiths. But many called it un-Christian and un-American.
In another case, I heard an elderly lady refer to Juneteenth as “sinful.”
Murky comments like this are characteristic of a rising trend. Christian nationalism, which is an abominable caricature of both faith and patriotism, is poisoning the mainstream. Most of its adherents couldn’t quote you the Bible or the Constitution, but they insist the two should be linked.
There may be a sliding scale, some more extreme than others. The old lady, for example, could potentially be written off as a victim of propaganda. But many are actively and consciously using religious values to promote ethnic dominance. They see themselves as cultural warriors under constant barrage by things like Black holidays and Spanish speakers. I see them as heretics.
Michael McCool
Bethel Park