Yeah Christians. I know you may have heard 85 percent of America claims Christianity and here we are in the Bible Belt of the South so certainly it seems hard to define Christianity as a counterculture. Social Explorer, a research database offered by the University of Texas at Austin, shows that Travis county has only about 30 percent practicing Christians.
So the number dwindles. Now think about at a liberal arts university. I've heard statistics between 6 percent and 11 percent. So truly when you think about it practicing Christians, at the University of Texas, are counterculture.
Now I am certain there are religious groups on campus that are an even smaller proportion than those of Christians, but I'm blogging on what I am most familiar with. For me to write about Islam or Hinduism on campus for example wouldn't do either justice. If you'd like to share, please comment I would love to learn.
In comparison to common themes of Americanism, Christianity is really radical if you go totally by the book. In America it is common to hear, "take care of yourself and family, and if you've got extra then you can give." A Christian is asked to give away his life in order to find it (Matthew 10:39).
Early Christians in the Bible even gave away all their possessions and considered nothing their own (Acts 4:32). Really when you look at that it's more Socialist or Communist than American! How many Christians do you know that live like that?
The truth is some do and while they are few you can certainly tell there are sub cultures within the counter culture. One simple way to look at it is simply observe the denominations. There are literally thousands, they fall under about eight meta-groups which all clearly fall under the "Christian" umbrella.
If Christianity doesn't seem like a place to observe sub-counterculture I don't know where else to look!
Some baptise, some take communion, and some practice ritualistic prayers. Some believe in predestination and others divine intervention. Some believe it will bring them prosperity and others believe they need to sacrifice everything.
Some Christians are Jewish. If Christianity comes from Judaism and continues to fulfill it's prophecies, it really does not seem strange to be a practicing, Christian-Jew.
When you look at it that way it doesn't seem so far fetched to call Christianity a counter culture.
I agree. A relationship with Jesus causes one to be set apart / radical / counter cultural.
ReplyDeleteRomans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (dependence = weakness in American culture)
Romans 13:14 says, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." (Americanism says the exact opposite!)
1Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (Do people think your foolish/radical/odd for your faith in God? If not, you probably aren't following Him.)
That's an interesting angle. I wouldn't generally think of Christians as counter-culture, but in a place like UT I think you have a valid point. Many who would identify with various counter or sub-culture movements in Austin may actually be part of the modern majority.
ReplyDeleteWow, great points Martin! Also love the verses. Love the point about Americanism & Christianity and Taylor's comment with the verse from Romans. I think Christians often get stereotyped as being extreme or radical and that's why it scares some people away, but I also feel like we've gotten really far from the Christian values our country was built on, and the new definition of "Americanism" is what's truly radical/extreme.
ReplyDelete