Alarmed by the “Christian Subculture”
I spent one decade submerged into a subculture which I didn’t even realize existed at the time. As I found myself escaping the subculture, I realized I was living life only in the “Christian subculture“. Now, after spending a decade on the outside of the “Christian subculture“, I don’t consider myself bitter about the “Christian subculture” but alarmed about it!
Between 1988 - 1998, I lived and breathed everything “Christian“. Prior to that, I grew up in a “Christian home” for most of my childhood which included going to church many times a week and following a long list of rules and regulations. I was use to everything being “Christian“. Anyone I spent any amount of time with was wearing the label, “Christian“. I only listened to “Christian” music and read “Christian” books. I even tried working at a “Christian” organization because I felt it was necessary. I shopped at “Christian” stores, wore “Christian” jewelry and IF I would of had children during that time, they would of gone to a “Christian” child care and then to a “Christian” school. I supported businesses displaying the almighty fish symbol. I even wore “Christian” t-shirts. Unfortunately, I most likely even spoke “Christianese” during that decade although I can’t imagine it!
Today, the people in my life are a diverse group. There’s folks that are Christians, Jews, Agnostics, Athiests and Religious Zealots. There’s also folks in my life from different backgrounds, cultures and even of different lifestyles. I’m thankful for the diversity in my life and that I am not isolating myself to only having Christians around me.
Through a lot of different circumstances, life changed drastically and from 1998 until the present, I have been on the outside of the “Christian subculture” looking in with great alarm. Through this transformation from where I use to be to where I am today, my faith has grown into something even better, even more steadfast and authentic and I have became very disgusted with the label, Christian and the “Christian subculture”.
My musical taste is very eclectic and includes music from all different genres. I stopped listening to Christian music for many years. In 2002, the ONLY thing I would listen to during a very dark time in my life was John Tesh’s gospel music cd and then his show which aired on Sunny 95. It really helped me tremendously during that time. It was through that experience that I began to accept listening to SOME “Christian” music again. I’ll never limit myself to only listening to “Christian” music. I like to read and am particular about what I read. I love to read a great dog story, a great science fiction novel, success stories, inspirational stories, books about nutrition and food, The Message and The Bible. I have learned to LOVE the library and have expanded my horizons on what I read and again, will not limit it to having the label “Christian” on it.
I can’t believe I ever thought working at a “Christian” organization was important. It’s really bizarre to me today. I believe in doing GOOD no matter what I am doing which seems to be a basis of many religions. Call it Kharma, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, pay it forward or “what comes around goes around”. I do my best with any project I say YES to doing.
IF we had a kid, I would most likely put he/she in the “Christian” child care because I know a lot of great people who are there. I most likely would NOT put a child in the “Christian” schools in this area.
I no longer ONLY support businesses with a fish symbol. I am actually highly unlikely to support a business displaying the fish symbol because it causes me to expect mediocrity and dishonesty.
I do NOT wear Christian T-shirts or speak Christianese and I avoid most people who do! I don’t have my home cluttered with “Christian” plaques and stuff!
Believe it or not, I am still a Christian. God still loves me. Others seem to question my faith. I personally feel I have grown in my faith more in this last decade than I did in the decade I was submerged in the “Christian subculture”. I am alarmed by the “Christian Subculture”. I’ll be writing more about it and the brand of Christianity very soon.
Trina Daniels
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Trina, I’m with you. The Christian Subculture tends to want to look down on anyone who aren’t like them. With that, I’m the more likely candidate they will listen to when it comes to Christ. I’ve even had people try to convince me that I should put my children in private Christian school (we have some really great ones in our area), or homeschool. I’ve even entertained those options, but God wants me to leave my kids where they are.
I don’t own any Christian t-shirts either. My kids do, but they either received them as part of a camp or event, or they selected them. I’m glad that they feel comfortable wearing t-shirts they like as well as reflect God’s awesomeness, while they listen to Queen on the mp3 player. :)